San Diego Startup Wins National Competition; November's Contestants Are Lined-Up

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Dream Big America, the first-ever live nationally syndicated radio show pitting startup business ventures against each other, and broadcast on Doug Stephan's Good Day Show (www.dougstephan.com) each Tuesday at 9:10 am EDT, announced today the October Dream Big Champion is The Portfolium (www.ThePortfolium.com) from San Diego, CA.

Neal Bloom, VP of Business Development for The Portfolium, initially pitched on the October 22^nd Dream Big America Show. Bloom's pitch received the highest voting support, beating two other startups, Voncierge and TheraSpecs. The Portfolium then advanced to the Finals Show on October 29^th, where their startup was voted the Dream Big Champion for the month of October, garnering the most votes over two other weekly winners, Learn Everywhere and Life Equals.

The Portfolium will receive a prize package that includes support and resources up to $20,000 to aid their startup. The Portfolium is an online experience portfolio solving the LinkedIn problem for students with no work history.

The contestants for first week of the November Dream Big America competition were also announced today. The competing startups include Paper Clouds Apparel, Pet Cooler Carrier and World Housing Solution Inc.

Paper Clouds Apparel, from Phoenix, Arizona will be presented by Robert Thornton, the Founder (www.PaperCloudsApparel.com). Paper Cloud Apparel raises funds and creates jobs for those with special needs using their own art.

Pet Cooler Carrier, from St. Louis, Missouri will be presented by Elizabeth Lakamp, the President and Co-Founder (www.PetCoolerCarrier.com). Pet Cooler Carrier is the world's first lifesaving cooling and hydration station for pets using ice.

World Housing Solution Inc., from Edgewater, Florida will be presented by Ron Ben-Zeev, the Co-Founder and President (www.WorldHousingSolution.com). World Housing Solution Inc. is a manufacturer of rapidly deployable and reusable thermally efficient composite structures and shelters.

"October was filled with nine amazing startups," said Doug Stephan, host of Dream Big America. "We congratulate The Portfolium team on their win, and are excited to see what November's contestants will bring to the Dream Big America competition!" 

Dream Big America (www.DreamBigAmerica.us) airs each Tuesday at 9:10am to 9:40am EDT on Doug Stephan's Good Day Program, syndicated to 485 markets across the United States with a weekly listening audience of 3.5 million. In addition to being broadcast on the radio, the Dream Big America Show can be heard via live podcast on the DreamBigAmerica.us website.

Voting begins immediately after the show at 10:00am EDT and continues for 28 hours until 2:00pm EDT each Wednesday. Voting is by text (Text DBA to 612-22-DREAM (612-223-7326) once voting is live or via the DreamBigAmerica.us website.

The Dream Big America Show features three entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas for two minutes each, followed by an expert panelist who offers feedback and suggestions. Tapping into the surging entrepreneurial movement spreading across the country, Dream Big America strives to educate and support startups, all while providing an exciting venue for America to choose which new businesses it wants to see hit the market.

Dream Big America partners with the Kansas City-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (www.kauffman.org) and its 1 Million Cups (www.1millioncups.com) startup education program, and the San Diego-based Nutritional Capital Network (www.nutritioncapital.com). Each organization supports the show by providing vetted startup ventures for consideration to the Dream Big America selection committee.

For more information about the Dream Big America competition or to schedule an interview with any of the Dream Big America participants please call Beth Chapman at 816.835.0306 or Email.

Media Contacts:                    
Beth Chapman, Dream Big America                                                                     
816.835.0306, Email

Barbara Pruitt, Kauffman Foundation
816.932.1288, Email

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SOURCE Dream Big America