Science camp for girls:
- Business: Curious Jane
- Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Launched in 2009, Curious Jane offers after-school programs and summer camps geared toward getting girls excited about science, engineering and design.
“Moms have been very receptive to it,” said owner Samantha Razook Murphy. “And we’ve drawn an amazing staff of exceptional young women who believe in our concept and bring their own ideas to it.”
Best business advice: “Be resourceful and don’t give up on your idea.”
Biggest challenge: “There’s more demand than supply right now,” said Murphy. That’s where the $250,000 grant will come in handy.
What she plans to do with the grant money: “We’re running very basic programs in six other states. The grant will help our camp directors to develop those programs more fully.”
Jobs for Miami’s African American community:
- Business: Overnight Success
- Location: Miami
A former Air Force pilot, Samuel Lee Gilmore, Jr. started Overnight Success 21 years ago with a specific mission: To create jobs for the African-American community in Miami.
In the past two decades, he says the contracting firm has hired more than 500 people, paying these workers more than $14 million over the years. His key to success? Running his firm with the efficiency of the military.
Biggest business challenge: “Being a small business, I might not get the lowest price because I don’t have the volume,” he said “And because I’m an African-American business in Miami-Dade County, I might not get the best price because I’m not the right ‘culture.'”
Best advice: Gilmore has mentored many small business owners over the years, and stresses the importance of understanding the tax system. “If you lose track, it’s a rude awakening with the IRS,” he said.
“You also have to know who to work for. Check the person out: Do they pay on time? Do they pride themselves on paying on time? If they have a record of being sued for nonpayment, I advise businesses not to work for them.”
What he plans to do with the grant money: Gilmore said he will use the $250,000 to buy equipment to compete for the contracts, like Miami-Dade Sewer & Water’s $4.5 billion expansion project.
Legos and robotics class:
- Business: The Robot Garage
- Location: Birmingham, Mich.
The Robot Garage opened its doors in 2011, offering kids who love Legos and robotics a place to come together, to learn and to get creative.
“Lego has a huge following,” said co-founder Jonathan Jacobs. “We went to schools and saw groups of kids really interested in robotics. This is a place where kids and grownups can come together and invent.”
Best business advice: “Be prepared for the workload. I thought I’d be building robots all day, but I do that the least,” he said. “I spend a lot of my day running the business, handling payroll and other matters.”
Biggest challenge: “Marketing and getting the word out,” said Jacobs.
What he plans to do with the grant money: Jacobs plans to revamp the business website, open a second location and “set up a mobile unit to do more outreach in the community.”
Jeans for the disabled:
- Business: ABL Denim
- Location: Los Angeles
After her stepsister ended up in a wheelchair, Stephanie Alves realized how limited the clothing options were for people with disabilities. With a background in fashion, she set out to change one crucial item: jeans.
She began doing custom tailoring in 2011, and in March 2013, launched a line of denim products with special features like side zippers and extra fabric on the seat to prevent sores.
Biggest business challenge: “The greatest challenges are production issues that have nothing to do with the disabled community,” Alves said. “Jeans or any other clothing line can’t fit everyone, but you want to fit as many people as possible.”
Best advice: “Know every part of your business. That way, when you delegate, you can find the right people.”
What she plans to do with the grant money: “I’m going to hire two people who are key to this business to make it grow,” Alves said. “I’ve been doing everything.”
Catering for Detroit’s schools:
- Business: Edibles Rex
- Location: Detroit, Mich.
Tammy Tedesco founded Edibles Rex two decades ago to cater corporate and social events. In 2001, she refocused and started catering to schools. Now, her company provides 10,000 nutritious meals a day to students at charter schools in Detroit.
Biggest business challenge: “Detroit is really depressed right now, and it’s hard for small businesses to get capital from banks,” Tedesco said. “It’s also hard to find qualified people, especially middle management, as we try to scale to the next level.”
Best advice: “It took me a long time to understand the importance of networking and getting connected,” she said. “The connections are what get you to the next level. It’s what got me to this grant.”
What she plans to do with the grant money: “We purchased a building a few years ago that needs a $2 million renovation,” she said. She plans to expand their kitchen capabilities so Edibles Rex can manufacture and distribute some of the most successful food items beyond metro Detroit.
Headwear for cancer patients:
- Business: Chemo Beanies
- Location: San Clemente, Calif.
Losing her hair after undergoing treatment for breast cancer was hard enough for Angelle Albright. What made it worse were all the scarves and wigs that made her feel like a poster child for cancer. So in 2011, Albright launched Chemo Beanies, stylish, one-size-fits-all headwear for cancer patients.
The idea has since taken off. And Chemo Beanies was even a finalist last year in Wal-Mart’s “Get on the Shelf” contest, which seeks to find the most innovative new products in America.
Biggest business challenge: “Having enough money to make enough product to meet the need,” said Albright.
Her best advice: “Work hard everyday,” she said. “The harder you work, the luckier you’ll get.”
What she plans to do with the grant money: Ramp up manufacturing. “We want to be able to reach women everywhere,” she said.
Pain – relief products:
- Business: Buzzy4shots.com
- Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Seeking to make a trip to the doctor less stressful for her young patients, Dr. Amy Baxter, a pediatrician and pain researcher, launched pain relief product company Buzzy4Shots in 2006.
Three years later, she unveiled a line of reusable devices for kids and adults that uses an ice pack and vibrations to help dull the pain caused by shots, aches and injuries. “Pain is ignored by the medical community more than we like,” said Baxter.
Biggest business challenge: “Balancing my own fear of risk while supporting my passion,” said Baxter. “It’s hampered us and we haven’t expanded the way that we should.”
Best advice: “Don’t be secretive with your ideas,” said Baxter. “Put your product on Craigslist, on eBay. See if the interest is there from people other than your close family and friends.”
What she plans to do with the grant money: Baxter wants to assemble a design team, focus on packaging and marketing and “move the company out of my basement.”
Vitamins, supplements for Hispanic neighborhoods:
- Business: Milagros de Mexico
- Location: San Francisco
Milagros de Mexico launched three years ago and currently has five retail stores located in Hispanic neighborhoods in and around San Francisco. The chain sells health and wellness products, like vitamins and other dietary supplements.
Biggest business challenge: “Access to capital is always difficult,” said CEO Mauricio Simbeck.
Best advice: “Once you find a passion, just go for it,” he said. “You will always face obstacles as a small business owner, but you won’t give up if you’re passionate about it.”
What he plans to do with the grant money: Simbeck says he will use the grant money to open two more locations in the Bay area.
Catering on wheels:
- Business: Rolling in Dough Pizza
- Location: Greenport, N.Y.
Matthew Michel started his catering company, Rolling in Dough Pizza, about five years ago.
He caters out of his truck and receives about 95% of his business from referrals. “We offer a high-quality product and we’re not gouging people with outrageous prices,” Michel said.
Biggest business challenge: “Getting funding,” Michel said. “In the beginning, I couldn’t go to a bank because I had no credit to speak of,” In fact, his first $150,000 came from his great-grandfather.
Best advice: “Offer the highest-quality product from the start. The first thing they’ll see is what they’ll remember,” Michel said.
What he plans to do with the grant money: Open a small retail location with his own kitchen. He’ll do a lot of prep work out of the new kitchen, but will continue catering out of his truck.
Home-brewed kombucha:
- Business: Shaktea Kombucha
- Location: Fairfield, Iowa
This family-run tea brewery opened three years ago. It makes kombucha, a fermented tea, and organic soda that’s sold in 30 locations in Iowa, including Whole Foods. The family has been brewing kombucha for 10 years and now sells six flavors.
Biggest business challenge: “It’s been a challenge to meet the demand,” said co-owner Meghan Dowd. But the team plans to move into a new brewery this year, which should help them increase output tenfold.
Best advice: “Start small and test the waters that way,” Dowd said. “Sometimes new challenges come up and you have to be willing to meet them by educating yourself and finding the right people to help you.”
What they plan to do with the grant money: Expand throughout the Midwest.
Custom metalwork:
- Business: Living Design Studios
- Location: Lafayette, Colo.
Launched by artist Jessica Adams more than 18 years ago, Living Design Studios creates custom metalwork for commercial and residential projects, designing things like fireplaces and staircases. Some of the company’s work even adorns bus stops in the nearby city of Boulder.
“We’re part of a whole ecosystem in the construction industry. We work with architects, designers and other tradespeople of all kinds,” Adams said.
Biggest business challenge: “We’re a small company and often have to compete with really large national companies for large commercial projects,” she said.
Her best advice: “If you love it, go for it — and know that it’s going to be a roller coaster of a ride,” Adams said.
Tech to prevent sports injuries:
- Business: Axelo
- Location: Austin, Texas
Axelo uses 3D motion-sensing technology to help prevent injuries while playing sports and among the elderly. CEO Pierre A. Touma answered our questions via email.
Why the community rallied behind the business: “Everyone can relate to the need of a child being able to play sports safely and we all have aging parents who need to be safe while remaining independent and mobile,” Touma wrote.
Biggest challenge: “The weak state of the economy in the years starting with 2008 was a major challenge,” he said. “Also, widespread awareness regarding the risks associated with sports, such as traumatic brain injury, was weak.”
What he plans to do with the grant money: “Axelo will be building a market-ready prototype for its traumatic brain injury and sports performance solution to be tested in a pilot program for the high school and college levels,” Touma said. They also plan to develop a fall-detection product for nursing homes.
*Nearly 35,000 small businesses from all 50 states submitted applications for consideration to receive a $250,000 grant from Chase and a trip to Google headquarters. More than 1.7 million people voted; businesses that received at least 250 votes continued onto the judging phase, where a panel of 12 judges selected these 12 businesses.* BY: Parija Kavilanz, Katie Lobosco and Aimee Rawlins at CNN Money / Article Source: CNN Money
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