When Alissa and Noah DeRouchie take their two toddler sons to a restaurant, they dream of eating at a place that has no whine as they dine.
That dream just got one step closer to reality, courtesy of Intuit Inc., sponsor of the Just Start contest in which the couple was voted grand winner. The contest was part of Intuit’s larger Just Start campaign to inspire and guide the 72 percent of Americans who dream of starting their own business. The Columbus, Ohio couple will receive a $50,000 in value startup grant to help them open a kid-friendly café that offers both healthy food and a play area for youngsters.
“When we take our kids out to eat usually they’re really hungry first,” said Alissa. “Then we have to cut their food and get them fed. By the time we get a chance to eat, they’re bouncing off the walls. They’re running around the restaurant. So we wanted to create a place where it would be OK for kids to run around and play while mom and dad sat down to a nice, healthy meal.”
Entering the Just Start contest whetted their entrepreneurial appetite; winning gives them the chance to succeed.
“Throughout the contest, we’ve received a lot of great support and positive feedback – especially from our community,” said Alissa. “It’s still an expensive proposition, but this gives us a jump start. It gives us the cash and expert guidance we need to make this dream a reality.”
The DeRouchie’s contest entry received the most votes at www.IWillJustStart.com, where Americans were asked to select from among five budding entrepreneurs vying for a business grant of $40,000 in cash and $10,000 in products and services. Voters were asked to review the finalists’ entries and decide which offered the clearest, most viable business plan. In addition to the contest, IWillJustStart.com offered visitors useful getting-started tips and resources to start a business, including free QuickBooks Simple Start accounting software.
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