Six ventures will compete in the Global Impact Award finals on Monday, October 23rd. Up to $50,000 will be awarded to one or more ventures.
Since the announcement of the 2017 finalists in April, all finalists have been paired up with industry mentors and have been polishing their pitches and Opportunity Summaries. Each week leading up to the finals in October, we will introduce one finalist team individually. Check back each week for a new profile!
This week is all about…
GiftAMeal:
Industry: Restaurant Marketing
Total Number of Employees: 4
When They Formed: 2014
Total Funding (as of September 2017): $100,000
What problem are you solving?
GiftAMeal is solving the problem restaurants have with high customer acquisition and retention costs, while also helping to solve the hunger problem in our communities where over 40 million Americans are food insecure.
How do you solve the problem?
GiftAMeal drives traffic to restaurants, engages their customers in a positive experience, and encourages promotion of restaurants to friends through its mobile application where a meal is provided to someone in need each time a user takes a photo at a participating restaurant location.
About the Founding Team Members:
Andrew Glantz, Chief Executive Officer at GiftAMeal. Source: GiftAMeal
Andrew glantz
Chief Executive Officer
Manage team, fundraising, sales meetings, set vision and strategy, and oversee app development.
Andrew received a BS in Leadership & Strategic Management from Washington University in St. Louis in 2017.
Aidan Folbe, Chief Operating Officer at GiftAMeal. Source: GiftAMeal
Aidan Folbe
Chief Operating Officer
Conduct sales, brainstorm strategic partnerships, manage restaurant payments, ideate creative innovations.
Aidan is currently receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Film & Environmental Studies at Dartmouth College.
Jacob Mohrmann, Chief Marketing Officer at GiftAMeal. Source: GiftAMeal
Jacob Mohrmann
Chief Marketing Officer
Lead marketing efforts: digital and non-digital, manage social media accounts, lead media outreach, manage website.
Jacob received a BS in Marketing & Psychological and Brain Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis 2016.
Michael Kaushanksy, Head of Business Development at GiftAMeal. Source: GiftAMeal
Michael Kaushansky
Head of Business Development
Lead sales effort and maintain restaurant relationships with monthly updates.
Michael is currently receiving a BS in Finance & Entrepreneurship from Washington University in St. Louis.
What is your favorite part about being an entrepreneur?
Andrew Glantz (AG): I love the creative problem solving that comes with being an entrepreneur. There is also a new challenge to tackle every day, and without a large corporate structure, I enjoy the ability to rapidly go from ideation to implementation.
Aidan Folbe (AF): My favorite part about entrepreneurship is the way in which company culture is created. I enjoy building an environment where employees are not only motivated to work but enjoy their work too.
Jacob Mohrmann (JM): My favorite part about being an entrepreneur is how you can test new ideas quickly and learn from them and adjust, and how you learn valuable new skills out of necessity.
Michael Kaushansky (MK): My favorite part about being an entrepreneur is how hands on everything is. Growing a company isn’t something that you can learn in the classroom, but rather it is a continuous learning process from day one.
What is the most challenging part about being an entrepreneur?
AG: The most challenging part of being an entrepreneur is the instability. There are always ups and downs and to succeed you need to be able to confront tough times and use happy times as fuel to push even harder.
AF: The greatest challenge of being an entrepreneur is finding creative ways to move the needle forward. It may take a while for obvious methods to produce results so it is important to constantly be looking for alternative means to move forward.
JM: The most challenging aspect is the pressure and personal responsibility. If you aren’t constantly focusing on making serious moves to move the company forward, the company will not move forward. If you slack off, the company suffers.
MK: The most challenging part about being an entrepreneur is being flexible and understanding that not every one of your ideas will be successful. What you may think is brilliant may not have the same response from your user-base.
What is your #1 tip for building a team?
AG: Choose people you want to work with and who you think will be eager to learn and be passionate for making your company a success.
AF: Partner with people who share the same values as you and try to find team members who have a diverse set of skills from your own.
JM: Find people that believe in what you are trying to accomplish and who are not above doing the “dirty work.”
MK: Learn about the unique expertise that each person brings to the table and place your faith in each team member that they will put 100% into everything they do.
What is your must-read book?
AG: The Brand Within by Daymond John
AF: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
JM: Joshua by Joseph Girzone (fiction) OR Nudge by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein (non-fiction)
MK: The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder
What is your favorite entrepreneurial news source?
EB: Follow your role-models on LinkedIn
AB: Fast Company
YK: HBR.org
EW: Under30 CEO
Like what you see? Follow along GiftAMeal’s journey:
