Congratulations to the Idea Village entrepreneurs selected to receive investment:
- Feelgoodz is a lifestyle brand built upon a unique triple bottom line business model of ‘People, Planet, Phitsanulok.’ Feelgoodz uses sales of eco-friendly products as a pathway to creating positive social change in Thailand and, one day, beyond. The Feelgoodz eco-friendly flip-flop is marketed as the most comfortable rubber flip-flop in the world. Made from all natural latex in Thailand, Feelgoodz uses 70% more rubber than any other brand on the market. In addition to being dyed naturally, the product is recyclable and biodegradable.
- Drop the Chalk is an educational software company that allows teachers to track data on student performance, learning, and discipline. The method was developed in KIPP schools and the product is currently being beta-tested in 9 charter schools in New Orleans. The entrepreneur, Jen Schnidman, is a software engineer who also taught in low-income schools for three years. The target customer is data-driven, results-oriented charter schools in high-poverty areas
- Jack and Jake's Local and Organic Foods is creating a food distribution system that emphasizes supply chains that allow food providers to buy from local farmers. They are also creating a chain of retail stores that operates in underserved markets. Jack and Jake's was founded in New Orleans and seeks to change the way food gets to the table. Their motto: "Local first, everything else second."
The Idea
Village provides strategy, resources, and talent to launch entrepreneurs at
critical growth junctures, and elevates entrepreneurship and New Orleans as a
hub for innovation. Each entrepreneur is assigned to a member of The Idea
Village team who develops a customized scope of work to fit each entrepreneur’s
needs to accelerate the growth of the venture. The Idea Village Entrepreneur
Challenge culminates with the New Orleans Entrepreneur Week '10 from
March 20-27, 2010. The nominees and winners of the Village Capital financing
will be announced at that time.
If you would like to keep up to date with future versions of the Idea Village’s Entrepreneur Challenge, please complete the Entrepreneur Information Form or visit their website.
