Rising Tide Capital Starts Something with JPMorgan Chase
Jersey City, NJ (PRWEB) October 28, 2015 -- Rising Tide Capital (RTC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming lives and communities through entrepreneurship and JPMorgan Chase, will host the 2nd annual Start Something Challenge Finalist Reception at the JPMorgan Chase Headquarters in New York City on October 29.
RTC’s Start Something Challenge (SSC) is a statewide business pitch competition and business strengthening opportunity for New Jersey Entrepreneurs that has been underwritten by JPMorgan Chase since its inception. Since 2012, 344 contestants from 78 NJ towns and cities have entered the SSC.
The reception is will showcase the work of the ten entrepreneurs who made it to the finals of the 2015 Challenge and give them an opportunity to connect with high-level business executives for an evening of networking and inspiration.
“As a firm, we understand the important role entrepreneurs and small businesses play in their communities,” said Michael Haberman, Managing Director and Northeast Region head of Global Philanthropy for JPMorgan Chase. “We’re excited to host the Start Something Challenge finalists at this reception and hear about some of the great things they’re planning.”
The 10 Finalist of the Start Something Challenge:
First Place & $10,000: Omar Ruffin - Biarte Biker Gear Corporation
Biarte Biker Gear Corporation created the BIKER-SOC, a protective shoe cover for motorcyclists. It protects the rider's footwear from scuffs and abrasions, as a result of unavoidable gear shifting while riding.
Second Place & $7,500: Angela Huggins - Angel Hugs 4 All
Angel Hugs 4 All teaches children ages 4-17 how to create handcrafted cloth dolls and doll cloths. Sewing is a life skill that everyone could benefit from when they learn how to do it.
Third Place & $5,000: Myani Lawson - Bergen-Lafayette Montessori School
Bergen-Lafayette Montessori School is a dual-language (Spanish/English) preschool and kindergarten center, dedicated to providing an affordable, high-quality education to its students.
Tina Bologna - Just Jersey
Just Jersey is a retail store, school fundraising catalog and online marketplace whose mission is to grow the “buy local” culture and raise awareness about the value that small, independent businesses bring to their local communities.
Dawn McLaughlin - Positively Publishing Kids
Positively Publishing Kids is a unique multicultural book publisher working with kids to create books.
Crystal Jones - Loving Heart Patient Advocacy
Loving Heart Patient Advocacy's is a patient advocacy service that assists in securing medical services, social services and support for our clients.
Karla Jimenez Moreno - Caídos del Cielo Bakery
Caídos del Cielo Bakery specializes in homemade Mexican bread, desserts, and cakes.
Adrienne Fudge - Meals Express
Meals Express provides healthy meals that are cooked and ready to eat. We use all natural and organic ingredients. Our focus is helping people stay healthy by providing them with awesome tasting balanced meals.
Kenneth Pickett - Think Forward Innovations LLC
Think Forward Innovations LLC., is a multi – faceted company that features products and services to help improve upon the quality of life as we know it. The Company's inaugural product is the patent–pending Quick Switch Air Filter.
Jennifer Henry - HillPoint Preparatory
HillPoint Preparatory is a school where learning is interactive, differences are celebrated, and the world is our classroom. HillPoint Preparatory nurtures children ages 0 to 6 in small classes to provide an individualized learning environment.
Rising Tide Capital will honor JPMorgan Chase for their consistent support of Rising Tide Entrepreneurs and the Start Something Challenge, at the 4th annual Start Something Champions Gala, on November 5 at Liberty House Restaurant in Jersey City.
“We designed the Start Something Challenge to empower entrepreneurs to communicate about their businesses across a variety of platforms,” said Alfa Demmellash, CEO of Rising Tide Capital. “We are so grateful to have a visionary partner like JPMorgan Chase that not only understands how important it is for us to meet this particular need in our community of business owners but has also been a committed, long-term sponsor of this initiative.”
Speakers at the reception include Managing Director, Head of Global Philanthropy for the Northeast Region of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation Michael Haberman, Chairman and Founder of Mary’s Gone Crackers Mary Waldner, CEO of Rising Tide Capital Alfa Demmellash and the three winners of the Start Something Challenge, Omar Ruffin, Angela Huggins and Myani Lawson.
About Rising Tide Capital (RTC)
RTC is a Jersey City-based nonprofit organization founded in 2004 by Harvard graduates Alex Forrester and Alfa Demmellash. RTC helps entrepreneurs start and grow successful businesses by providing a 12-week Community Business Academy—supplemented by year-round workshops, coaching and networking events. These programs are currently offered in Spanish and in English in four cities across Northern New Jersey: Jersey City, Newark, Union City, and Orange Township. As of June 2014, 1114 entrepreneurs have graduated from the CBA and together, they operate 515 businesses in New Jersey. RTC’s model of entrepreneurship development has received national recognition from President Obama to CNN Heroes.
To learn more, visit http://www.RisingTideCapital.org.
About JPMorgan Chase & Co.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.4 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. The firm uses its global resources, expertise, insights and scale to address some of the most urgent challenges facing communities around the world including the need for increased economic opportunity. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at http://www.jpmorganchase.com
Tatyerra Spurlock, Rising Tide Capital, http://www.risingtidecapital.org, +1 (201) 432-4316 Ext: 117, [email protected]
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