Affinity Lab DC Prize 2009-2010
These prizes were offered to teams based in the Washington, DC area. The DC In-Kind Prize basket contains more than $10,000 worth of Affinity Lab Memberships and other professional services offered by DC-Area firms. Finalists received five picks from the DC prize basket. Runners up received two picks.
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Kwai
Kwai markets well-designed, eco-friendly disposable plates made of palm fronds from India. The products are sturdier than paper, natural, and 100% compostable.
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Company Social Hall
This community meal plan restaurant offers healthy affordable food to weekly members and empowers them to give back to their community through online and on-site social networking.
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BizWiz
The firm develops cell-phone-based software to help micro-entrepreneurs with record keeping, data storage and other business finance needs.
Honorable Mention Teams:
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Conservation and Climate Security International
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The Green Power Gym
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DC In-Kind Prize Basket
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Lead prize sponsor The Affinity Lab is a natural lead partner for this prize. They are an entrepreneurial launch platform serving a rich community of creative businesses, non-profits and start-ups. The Lab manages the shared business and operations needs of its member organizations, allowing them to better focus on mission and execution. While the convenience and cost savings are valuable, it is the culture, opportunity and idea sharing that makes Affinity such a compelling place start and grow your dream. Think Local First DC is also supporting this prize, and many of their members are reading judges and in-kind donors. Additional prizes have been provided by: |
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The Affinity Lab is an entrepreneurial launch platform serving a rich community of creative businesses, non-profits and start-ups. The Lab manages the shared business and operations needs of its member organizations, allowing them to better focus on mission and execution. While the convenience and cost savings are valuable, it is the culture, opportunity and idea sharing that makes Affinity such a compelling place start and grow your organization. The Affinity Lab has donated three prizes
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Affinity Lab prize package A is either 12 Months of Virtual Members OR 6 months of half-desk members OR 3 months of full-desk membership.
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Affinity Lab prize package B is either 6 months of virtual membership OR 3 months of half-desk membership OR 1 month of full-desk membership.
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Affinity Lab prize package C is either 3 months of virtual membership OR 1 month of half-desk membership.
Half- or Full-desk memberships are subject to availability. Memberships are valid at either the Adams Morgan or U Street Location.
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Joint Concepts is a visual communications firm based in Washington, DC. Their clients range from small, local groups to international organizations and corporations. They specialize in working with triple bottom line businesses They have donated 10 hours of consulting time to a DC Prize finalist. Joint Concepts is a member of the Affinity Lab and Think Local First DC.
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Community IT Innovators (CITI) serves non-profits, associations and socially responsible businesses. They combine technology expertise with unsurpassed service to more than 800 organizations, both locally and nationally, since 1993. CITI offers clients support for their network, database, website, software selection, technology planning and online strategy (communication / fundraising) needs. Community IT Innovators is donating 10 hours of business IT strategy consulting to a DC Prize finalist. CITI is a member of The Sustainable Business Network of Washington. |
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SpeakeasyDC, is Washington's expert on the art of telling a good story. Through live performances, podcasts, classes, and on-site trainings, SpeakeasyDC creates opportunities and provides support to people interested in practicing and experiencing the art of autobiographical oral narrative and becoming better, more impactful speakers. SpeakeasyDC is donating a 4 hour session of one-on-one coaching for a member of an entrant's leadership team. |
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Infield Communications provides marketing campaigns aimed at mobile phone users. Prospective customers and community members text in your custom keyword on their mobile phone and receive information about your product or organization: mini-calendars, announcements, or mobile coupons. They will provide a 3-month marketing campaign to two of the winning teams. Infield Communications is a member of the Affinity lab. |
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YES!Circle is a vibrant community of energetic, passionate, innovative entrepreneurs in all stages of business development, based in Washington, DC. The Yes!Circle is donating four prizes, which each count as a "pick" from the prize basket. Three individual one-year memberships and one month of free coaching ($900 value) to one of the winning teams. |
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Cardinal Bank, with over $2 billion in assets, is among the larger banks headquartered in the DC area. Lee Boyle, a Commercial Lender, Vice President of Cardinal Bank, and board member of SBNOW, will donate four hours of his time to help a team prepare to apply for a commercial loan. This can include an introduction to SBA guaranteed lending. This does not constitute an offer of a loan from Cardinal or any other bank. |
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SB NOW is an independent not-for-profit organization that works to tap the incredible resources and ingenuity of the private sector -- in partnership with community groups, non-profits, and government -- to help make the Washington DC metro region a better place to live and work, now and in the future. They have donated a one year membership to a DC Prize finalist. |
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Staffmagnet advises Washington, DC area technology, web and interactive companies and management in the areas of recruitment and community engagement. Early stage startup companies typically hire staffmagnet to help evaluate whether they should tackle the challenge of building consumer facing web applications themselves or outsource the initial development, then again after the initial development has been completed when team members at all levels are needed to build product to market and engineering teams. |
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Apsara is a full-service creative studio. We specialize in branding, print and interactive design. Consult us to see how we can help your business grow by making attention-grabbing, targeted, professional collateral. Apsara has donated 40% of the total cost of the winner's logo or comprehensive identity creation for their new business. Apsara is a member of Think Local First DC |
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City Living DC is DC's Eco-Friendly Printed Magazine. They will donate advertising space in City Living Magazine or a one hour marketing consultation. |
2009 Affinity Lab - DC Prize Winners:
1st: SouperGirl creates, prepares, and distributes soups made primarily from ingredients from local farms that practice sustainable farming methods.
2nd: M3E Consulting trains undergraduate college students to offer a CSR assessment service to small businesses focused on the ideals of health, community, and environment in order to improve the ethical operations of small businesses, provide a professional learning opportunity for college students and generate more information for consumers on the ethical nature of businesses.
3rd: Z-Line - Communications for Community will be a low cost, telephonic interpretation service using VOIP technologies so government and community organizations can comply with their legal obligations pursuant to Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by making their programs and services accessible to the estimated 25 million residents of the United States who do not speak English well (English Language Learners - ELLs) while increasing job opportunities for individuals who have multiple language skills but have rare occasion to use them.
4th: EnergySeeded intends to create an informational and social networking website for green-minded individuals and organizations.
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