Two Miami area small businesses -- a Doral preschool and a hospitality consulting company -- are in the top 10 finalists of The Small Business Challenge, a national competition that invited companies to compete for a share of $50,000 in cash and marketing resources to help grow their businesses and create new jobs. These 10 companies move on to the final round of public voting. There are just a couple of days left, and the Miami companies need your vote.
Each of the 1,000 small businesses that entered the SMB Challenge was required to submit an application, make a video pitch that included how the funding would create jobs, and receive at least 100 votes. The top 50 companies were named semifinalists, and a panel of judges selected the 10 finalists.
The public will choose the three winners during a voting period now in progress through Nov. 23 at SMBChallenge.com. You may vote for up to three companies. There are still a couple of days left to vote; the winners will be announced Nov. 26.
The finalists from South Florida are:
** Little Heroes Learning Center (14 employees) of Doral: Little Heroes is dedicated to providing a high-caliber preschool program in a "homelike" environment to children, parents and staff. The company would use the prize money to hire a curriculum assistant.
** Strategic Hospitality Group (6 employees) of Miami: Strategic Hospitality Group provides hospitality and restaurant consulting services. Founded by veteran chef and Miami Heat food-service provider Michael B. Jacobs, the company would use the prize money to open a small gourmet sandwich shop in Miami.
“We’re proud to announce that this competition has seen so many innovative ideas. The 10 companies now vying for the prize money have all shown a strong entrepreneurial spirit and took the SMB Challenge ideals to the next level,” said Maurice Lopes, founder and CEO of Miami-based EarlyShares.com, the key sponsor of the contest.
Congratulations to the South Florida finalists! Go to www.smbchallenge.com to vote and support these Miami companies.