Big Winners of Entrepreneur® Magazine's Entrepreneur of 2014 Contest Revealed
Entrepreneur and The UPS Store® will honor awardees at 2015 Growth Conference
IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Entrepreneur® magazine and small business solutions provider The UPS Store® have selected the winners of the magazine's Entrepreneur of 2014 contest: Dan Price, founder of Gravity Payments; Maria Seidman, CEO of Yapp; and Aaron Goldstein, co-founder of Fever Smart. These entrepreneurs will be recognized at an awards luncheon during the 2015 Growth Conference in Miami Beach.
"These three winners have captured our attention with their remarkable contributions to entrepreneurship," said Amy Cosper, VP and editor in chief of Entrepreneur. "Their on-point assessments of problems in need of solutions within their respective sectors lead them to capitalize on a business opportunity. The finance, mobile app and healthcare industries were enhanced thanks to their companies."
Dan Price, the magazine's Entrepreneur of 2014, has had a knack for business since he was in high school, which is when he started a tech consulting and procurement business. After helping his clients negotiate with credit card processing companies, he decided he could offer the service himself, thus sparking the development of Gravity Payments. Armed with the knowledge of the less-than-stellar experience small-business owners endured, Price's strategy was to be as transparent about his practices as possible. It's been 11 years since Gravity Payments launched, and now in addition to credit card processing, the company offers other services such as administering loyalty programs, offering low-cost loans, and analytics.
Maria Seidman, winner in the Emerging category, didn't let her lack of technical knowledge stop her from developing an app. In fact, that very obstacle spurred the idea for her company. Yapp is a platform that helps anyone develop their own mobile applications, regardless of their expertise level. The New York-based company has built hundreds of thousands of apps for a range of clients from schoolchildren to funeral directors.
"Being a true entrepreneur is daring. We commend this year's winners on their persistence to make change and serve their communities," said Tim Davis, president of The UPS Store, Inc. "The UPS Store celebrates their dedication to entrepreneurship, innovation and community."
The College winner is Aaron Goldstein, co-founder of Fever Smart, a wearable device that measures body temperature, sends readings to mobile devices and sets off an alert if the wearer's temperature rises too high. Along with his team, the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School junior has targeted the parent market, which could benefit greatly from using the monitor when children are sick. With the $5,000 contest prize money, Goldstein plans to manufacture 2,000 units and grow brand recognition.
The winners will each share their success stories at the 2015 Growth Conference to be held on Feb. 4, 2015, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. This one-day, complimentary event will also feature keynote speaker Barbara Corcoran; an opportunity to deliver a pitch to the business maven for her expert advice; numerous seminars on growth strategies led by a variety of small-business experts; and many networking opportunities. Attendance is free with online registration at entrepreneur.com/growthcon.
About the judging process: Candidates were narrowed down to five finalists per award category by a panel of judges. Their online profiles together with their videos were featured on Entrepreneur.com, where visitors could vote for their favorite contestant. The Established, Emerging and College Entrepreneurs of 2014 were then determined based on a point system that reflected the number of online votes they received and the judges' individual choices.
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SOURCE Entrepreneur Magazine
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