StreetShares Foundation Rewards Three Veteran Business Owners with $10,000
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The StreetShares Foundation announced today at Bunker Labs DC the winners of its monthly Veteran Small Business Awards. StreetShares Foundation is granting three winners awards of $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000, supported by JPMorgan Chase & Co.
February Winners
1st Place: Brian Zimmerman, Marine Veteran and Founder of Income Designers (Castle Rock, Colorado)
2nd Place: Richard Sanders, Army Veteran and CEO of SHplates (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
3rd Place: Jaime Velez, Army Veteran and Co-Founder of PingMomo (Chicago, Illinois)
"We're thrilled with the enormous support we've received from veteran business owners, sponsors and supporters from across the country," said Mark L. Rockefeller, Director of the StreetShares Foundation. "This week is National Entrepreneurship Week, but every week is Veterans Entrepreneurship Week here. We encourage all veteran supporters to join us."
About the Winners
Brian Zimmerman spent nine years in the Marines. While working full time, he built side businesses to earn more income. After attending Purdue University's Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans, he realized he could build a business on his passion for teaching others how to build wealth.
"Income Designers is not about getting rich quick," said Zimmerman. "It's about showing others who may be struggling financially, how they can create extra income."
Richard Sanders, Army veteran, used ruck plates, usually used for military training, and turned it into a business. Sanders created décor from steel plates using his patented technology to engrave customized images with lasers. Plates are typically 1-inch thick, weighing up to 40 pounds. Sanders' mission is to continue to donate to dozens of charities, hire veterans and mentor youth.
Jaime Velez, started a tech company called PingMomo. As a single parent, he found it challenging to transport his children before and after school.
"As an Army combat engineer, when you see a problem, you have to solve it," Velez said. "PingMomo was created to solve the transportation problem for parents by leveraging social communities and bringing them together with technology."
He met his partner, Jan Gorospe, at Bunker Labs, Chicago. The mobile app will launch on iOS soon.
About StreetShares Foundation
StreetShares Foundation, located outside of Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit affiliated with StreetShares, Inc. The mission of the StreetShares Foundation is to inspire, educate, and support veterans' business ownership. Awards are given monthly to veteran, current reserve, active duty members and military spouse business owners.
Contact:
Shauna Vo Pulayya
347-330-4104
shauna@streetshares.com
SOURCE StreetShares
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