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Unique ID:
#2458
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Price:
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Location:
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Posted on:
30th of July 2014 at 7:23 AM
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Expires in:
Expired
Lionel Manigalt served 6 years in prison; through Defy Ventures, he started his own marketing company, made $33,000 in his first three months, and took third place in Defy’s business plan competition.
Coss Marte served 5 years in prison; through Defy Ventures, he launched Coss Athletics, a “prison-style” workout business. He won $5,000 from Defy to expand his business.
These are just two of 71 companies founded by Defy grads (all of whom have been behind bars) in the past two years in New York City.
Building upon our great success in New York City, Defy Ventures is now expanding nationally, with the Bay Area as our first stop! Defy will now be serving the entire Bay Area: Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, and surrounding cities. We’ve already recruited some of the Bay Area’s top investors who are ready to see your ideas!
If these statements below describe you, Defy Ventures could provide you with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to earn a start-up grant to launch the business you’ve spent years dreaming about, or have the doors opened to your dream career:
· You have hustle, business savvy and drive.
· You know how to persuade and motivate people around you.
· You can turn a quick profit.
· You’re competitive and take risks.
Ready to prove it?
If you have a criminal history and are ready to “transform your hustle,” Defy Ventures wants to see what you’ve got. Show us your A-game and we’ll help you take it to the next level by introducing you to investors, executive mentors and employers.
Defy is a nonprofit organization that encourages aspiring entrepreneurs with criminal histories to get legal ventures off the ground.
But you should know. . .
We’re not playing around.
Defy partners with top business executives, proven leaders, and generous funders to provide an MBA-style curriculum, executive mentorship, job opportunities, Shark Tank-style pitch competitions, a startup incubator, microloans, and capital investments and seed funding. Our program is open exclusively to men and women with criminal records. The bar is high, the
competition is steep and the pay-off is huge. We don’t accept slackers and we don’t give handouts.
Our deep network of top-tier CEOs, venture capitalists and successful entrepreneurs is committed to helping the sharpest hustlers, the bravest risk-takers and the scrappiest go-getters achieve their legal business dreams. We make bosses, start companies, transform lives and change mindsets.
We’re changing the game. Our founder was recognized in Fast Company magazine as one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business. Defy could be for you.
We’re looking for the next class of CEOs-in-training right now. Spots are limited so sign up before it’s too late: learn more at our Open House and come prepared for a tough interview.
You MUST RSVP:
San Jose area – July 31st
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/defy-ventures-admissions-meetings-tickets-12362682115
Oakland area – Aug. 4th
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/defy-ventures-admissions-meetings-tickets-12361255849
Once you RSVP, you will receive a call from our Program Manager who will conduct a 10-minute preliminary phone interview to see if you have what it takes. If you make the cut, we will give the location of our invitation only Open House next month for an in-person taste of Defy.
Check out our New York City results:
• In two years, Defy grads legally incorporated 71 businesses and received $140,000 in start-up grants. Nearly all generated revenue within 90 days; the businesses generated 35 new employment opportunities for Defy grads and others.
• 87.5% of grads gained employment and reported an average increase of 122% in annual income within 7 months.
• We engaged 2,000+ executives who have contributed 11,000+ hours of volunteer service, including providing grads with pro bono startup services (legal, marketing, accounting, etc.).
• Our recidivism rate is less than 5%
For more information, contact Jose Vasquez, Program Manager: (646) 661-3960 ext. 102 or at: jose@defyventures.org
See our web site for more awesomeness: www.defyventures.org.
Defy’s results have been celebrated in national media. Check us out:
• See what Richard Branson wrote about Defy
http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/everyone-deserves-a-second-chance
• Fast Company
http://www.fastcompany.com/3029526/most-creative-people-2014/catherine-hoke
• The New Yorker
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/6825772/The%20New%20Yorker%2C%20Feb%2010%2C%202014%20Formatted.pdf
• Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ashoka/2012/11/05/why-ex-cons-make-great-entrepreneurs/
• Inc. Magazine
http://www.inc.com/magazine/201206/kris-frieswick/catherine-rohr-defy-ventures-story-of-redemption.html
• The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/24/nyregion/helping-ex-criminals-develop-start-ups.html?_r=1&
• Biz Journal
http://upstart.bizjournals.com/companies/rebel-brands/2013/05/14/defy-winners-from-prison-top-founders.html?page=all