A Rhode Island entrepreneur may soon find out. Lisa Grant of Providence, RI is now a semi-finalist in Sprint’s SECOND CHANCE search for an entrepreneur with a new idea.
And Ms. Grant has one. Her new company, Good For You Goodies, makes all-natural Sugar-Free desserts with no preservatives, chemicals or artificial sweeteners.
“These desserts taste better than the usual sugar-filled treats, and are actually good for you,” she says.” “After giving up sugar I lost over 65 pounds – and I’m still losing. I went from a size 24 to a size 12, all while eating the very best sugar-free desserts I could make. Friends who helped me “taste-test” began to lose weight too, and if they were diabetic, they were able to substantially lower their blood sugar numbers. Being able to do the same for others on a larger scale – to do well by doing good – means a lot to me.”
Apparently it meant a lot to Sprint, AngelSoft Investors and MSN, the contest sponsors, who singled her out – the only woman among three male contestants – from among thousands of other applicants. The four semi-finalists flew to New York for a week in September, where they filmed five “challenges” now playing on Sprint’s Business on Main site. http://businessonmain.msn.com/videos/secondchance.aspx
Although all the contestants did well, the contest is far from over. The ‘community-at-large’ has now been invited to weigh in by voting for the strongest business idea from December 6 through December 20. The top two vote-getters will become the Finalists, and flown back to New York. Then it gets really exciting.
Both Finalists will present their business and marketing plans to the entire New York Angel Investment group and some of the top CEO’s in the city. And they will do so in the Boardroom of the New York Stock Exchange. As if that wasn’t electrifying enough, the winner will walk away with $150,000 and perhaps some Angel investment money as well.
Ms. Grant isn’t relying just on her chocolate cupcakes though. In addition to preparing for that presentation “if I’m lucky enough to get my Second Chance,” she’s set up a parody of a political campaign web site complete with an Attack Ad on her by the Sugar Industry: http://www.votelisa.com/
“At a time when so many people are struggling to keep their heads above water,” she says, “it’s wonderful that Sprint is willing to help a small business get started. And if I win, everyone wins. I’ll have the capital I need to get my healthy treats to the people who need them most, and I’ll get to hire a lot of people to make them. I can’t imagine a better Christmas gift than that.”
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Contact: Lisa Grant, 401-484-1290 Sugarfree.Goodies@gmail.com
