The JNP Project™ worked very hard to PITCH to Chase’s Mission Main Street $100,000 Grant opportunity — we were not successful in winning the for-profit business monies, BUT, we were successful in gaining exposure and excitement about JNP!
CONGRATULATIONS! To the recipients of the 2015 $100,000.00 award — 20 small businesses out of 30,000 business applications — an impressive win.
I had very high hopes for JNP in that being chosen was eminent — and we were not. How could we be overlooked? We are creating a global movement for kids’ healthy self-esteem and developing, and making available, products that will nurture kids’ inner awesome superpowers of character, courage, and confidence.
THE LET DOWN: When we weren’t called, and I saw the below list come through in an email, I was devastated. How could this be? Why not JNP? Ice cream and dog grooming is important too, I thought, but kids self-esteem—that takes the cake in my book! I am not a “crier” by any means, and I do get frustrated at times, and this was one of them. I was upset. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why JNP was not chosen.
THE ASSESSMENT: I reached out to my Business Consultant Team to evaluate the winning businesses. They are literally, single, small “Main Street” businesses. JNP’s brand is focusing on a “global movement.” That was the difference we assessed. Even though JNP’s Inner Awesome Factory Store is on a main street in Maryland (and our business plan has opportunity for licensing the brand as a retails store chain on Main Streets across the US+), we are growing a global brand—this model was not in running. And, there wasn’t even a business chosen from Maryland either.
THE POSITIVE TAKE-A-WAY: Overall, JNP got excitement from our local community on casting votes through Facebook (requiring minimum 250 for review entry), and we got 307. People were helping us to get recognition and support. That was the WIN for JNP. The Community saw the need for JNP’s products and strongly supported our mission. This is yet another example of the power of the kids’ healthy self-esteem products we are creating. In addition, this was an excellent learning experience on many levels, which is preparing me, as the Founder and face of JNP, to gain confidence in our voice, and products so I can regroup and pitch the next opportunity. That happens to be Rise of the Rest September 28, 2015.
Below is my application Q&A – this may inspire and assist you when you prepare to pitch your business. Good luck!
THE JNP PROJECT: OVERVIEW OF CHASE MISSION MAIN STREET GRANTS APPLICATION Q&A
1. Tell us about your business and what makes it unique. Please provide a general description of your product, customers, competitive landscape, and overall performance.
PRODUCT:
– The JNP Project’s (Jane NOT Plain) book series, Jane & Jake’s Adventures to Awesome, nurtures character, courage, and confidence in all boys and girls 5-12+ — strengthening their inner-awesome superpower values, such as: Truth, Kindness, Harmony, Forgiveness, Giving, Love, Determination, Compassion, Strength and Character;
– Through these adventures in the Undersea World of Awesome, kids learn that: I Am. I Can. I Will. Empowered!
– Our adventure book series is supported by empowerment tools such as: music/songs, parent activity kits, educator curriculum, interactive activities, and Club Inner Awesome (CIA) for kids and grownups, all on an interactive website.
CUSTOMERS:
– Cross platform globally across all communities and corporations: Children 5-12+. Parents. Grandparents. Caregivers. Nannies. Educators. Homeschoolers. Counselors. Social workers, and anyone else who wants to improve children’s lives;
– A worldwide market w/no boundaries on race, ethnicity, religion or social stature.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE:
– Nothing else in marketplace w/ a well-rounded empowerment brand;
– Providing tools for pro-active change; JNP is the toolbox to empower parents and educators to have meaningful conversations to counteract all the negative social messages today.
OVERALL PERFORMANCE:
– Newly launched in March 2015 and already have reached 15 countries globally and across USA.
2. What inspired you to become an entrepreneur? Describe both your greatest achievements and biggest challenges.
INSPIRED TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR:
– My drive and compassion. My own childhood experiences;
– Passion and interest in developing super-power inner awesome (healthy self-esteem) core values in all kids today, who are entering into a world that has influential, negative social messages — desire to target a younger child audience (5 years old and up) — as kids are getting younger, wiser, to all the negative influences in today’s world and need an empowered esteem to be happy, healthy, and successful (and owing “their definition” of what success is);
– My desire for success.
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS:
– Developing this company, and actually implementing the strategy — working on for 6 years — seeing and experiencing the look on a child’s face when they read Jane & Jake’s Adventures to Awesome, and “get it!” — they realize that “they” are awesome, important, can do it too… and so on, etc… 🙂
– The overall brand excellence which has been created in development and implementation in which I have undertaken this project.
BIGGEST CHALLENGES:
– Finding the financial resources to continue the development of the JNP brand products/tool kits and outreach to all children, globally.
3. How is your business involved with the community you serve? Examples include: giving back to the community, sourcing locally, and/or contributing to economic development via hiring.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
– The JNP Project is reaching communities locally, regionally, nationally and globally:
LOCALLY:
– The JNP Project’s National Headquarter’s retail storefront presence, including creative offices;
– Free Tours to come into the creative office, meet me, the Founder, and get empowered with great information–connected to the Historic Arts Community and Visitor’s Center;
– JNP’s Advisory Committee of 12 professionals are local;
– Vendor hiring to develop, produce, market and distribute the brand;
– Support in donating time to schools; readings, public speaking, field trip presentations; interactive projects point back to inner awesome empowerment.
REGIONALLY and NATIONALLY:
– JNP Vendors are from multiple states across the entire USA; they in turn pass on the JNP mission and implement our Vision to kids they teach, know, love and come in contact with.
GLOBALLY:
– JNP writers are from the United States of America, Europe and Australia;
– As the Company grows, we plan to grow in all directions, locally, regionally, nationally and globally empowering kids (and adults, too) to ultimately understand, believe in, and live by the words: I Am. I Can. I Will. Empowered!
4. What would a $100,000 grant mean to your business and how will you utilize the funds? Please be as specific as possible.
$100,000 GRANT WOULD MEAN:
– Sustain business;
– Continued product development and roll-out (all brand structure has been completely developed and initial product roll-out is currently in progress);
– JNP is “right there”– and this grant would be the tipping point to get JNP “out there;”
– Chase will be making a substantial contribution to helping the world’s children — doing something good for humanity by doing something good for JNP.
FUNDS UTILIZED:
– Expand product development and implementation and outreach activities including:
– Complete Book-Series One;
– Begin development of: a social lecture series; animation apps for education and fun; and an animated series for devices, video and film;
– Expand outreach activities to maximize penetration into households and schools and engage as many children globally as possible.
5. What are your short-term (1-2 years) and long-term growth plans for the business? How will this grant contribute to your plan?
SHORT TERM GROWTH PLANS (1-2 YEARS)
– Finish the first series of books: Jane & Jake’s Adventures to Awesome (10 each X 3 +1 = 31 total) all supporting products for each individual core value;
– Back queue of books in production to print runs on various design options;
– Begin animation segment development and implementation plan for all mediums;
– Begin and complete second series of books and supporting products for each book;
– Staying the course however long it takes, regardless of obstacles that arise!
LONG TERM GROWTH PLANS (3-5 YEARS)
– Globalization continues;
– Back queue of books in production to print runs on various book options;
– Begin and complete third series of books and supporting products for each book;
– Animation in apps and feature film and television;
– Staying the course however long it takes, regardless of obstacles that arise.
HOW WILL THE CHASE GRANT CONTRIBUTE TO THE PLAN:
– Chase will be making a substantial contribution to helping the world’s children — doing something good for humanity by helping JNP increase exposure to strong values and empowerment ideas, concepts worldwide!
Join Jane, Jake and all their friends on the adventures to discover your inner awesome, together!
~ ~ ~
Note: This Blog is a chronological diary of a start-up-company—The JNP Project’s Journey—reading it from the start, will broaden your understanding of the path we are on, together, and hopefully, positively influence you in some way!
FYI Tip: Be confident and get-out-there and pitch your business. Win or loose, you still come out ahead for the experience and exposure. This is the website for this pitch and JNP’s next upcoming:
https://www.missionmainstreetgrants.com/
http://riseofrest.com/
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