3 Startups Earn SpringBoard Prizes

Three area entrepreneurs got a big boost on Dec. 17, as the SpringBoard business incubator announced the winners of its Startup Challenge. 

The first-place winner is AbleRacers, which works to adapt toy cars and other toys so they are accessible to all children.

There were two second-place winners: Hoop Stars, a business that looks to encourage and teach basketball skills to young students; and Dana M. Ray Consulting, a communications consulting business.

The challenge was open to businesses that were less than 3-years-old, as well as to aspiring entrepreneurs who might not have even started their business yet. Contestants submitted a summary of their business plan and a marketing plan that detailed how they would use any funds awarded to them from the contest.

The three prizes awarded by SpringBoard went to three entrepreneurs that presented the most compelling or achievable marketing plan, as determined by a panel of local judges that work in the marketing industry. Because of a very close race, there were two second-place prizes awarded.

“The panel of judges for the challenge was thrilled with the entries that we received for the contest, and it was a really close race between each entrant. Because we couldn’t come up with a way to break a tie between two really fantastic second-place winners, we were happy to award two second-place prizes instead,” said SpringBoard manager Ellen Matis.

First-place winner AbleRacers received $3,000 to execute its marketing plan and a six-month SpringBoard full-desk membership. The two second-place winners received $2,000 to execute their marketing plan and a six-month SpringBoard co-working membership.

“These winners will now have the opportunity to work from SpringBoard and really focus on the growth of their respective businesses,” Matis said. “This, in turn, helps SpringBoard’s overall mission of promoting economic development in downtown Bellefonte. It is our hope that, through the awards, they’ll be able to get their business in a place where, someday, they can give back to Bellefonte in the form of becoming permanent businesses within our community.”

SpringBoard is a business incubator and co-working place located at 120 S. Water St. It provides a work space for professionals, entrepreneurs and early-stage firms. SpringBoard is just one facet of an overall economic development plan for the nonprofit organization Downtown Bellefonte Inc. SpringBoard will have desks available to rent in 2019, so for those looking at starting up a new business or growing their current one in the New Year, SpringBoard is a great place to start, Matis said.

AbleRacers started when it saw a need in the community for access to adapted toy cars and other adapted toys so that every kid can play. AbleRacers makes ride-on toy cars that require minimal assembly, so that parents can set them up on their own without having to wait for a workshop to put them together. At AbleRacers, experienced electronics technicians complete all the electrical rework, component installation and testing that adapting a toy car requires. 

Dan McKenna, from Hoop Stars, is excited for the opportunity to get his marketing plan going strong with his relatively new business. McKenna is a “basketball guy” who played for Penn State in the 1990s. He has been coaching and teaching basketball for the past 25 years and he saw a need in the community for a structured environment for young children to learn the game.

Working with preschools and after-school programs, Hoop Stars offers a chance to learn the love of the game from “Coach Dan” at an early age and improve and enhance motor skills and coordination while having fun in a positive environment.

Dana M. Ray Consulting helps businesses take their complex ideas and focus them to clarify their unique value, mission and vision, company culture and values, brand choice and project direction.

The winners will receive coaching from representatives from three Bellefonte-based agencies, Hello Social Co., Loaded Creative and 3twenty9 Design, and prizes from local businesses.