Greater STL-based and Black/LGBTQIA/Asian-owned EDUrain.org needs your vote to win a chance to get a $100,000 Grant in the TechRise Finale

December 1, 2022, 6 of the top Founders who have appeared and won in the TechRise weekly Pitch Competition will compete onstage to win $100K.

EDUrain.org is a marketplace similar to apartments.com, however, we have a free credit-building program that is proven to make our students more reliable tenants and in turn more attractive as renters. We’ve also integrated key features such as roommate search, background checks, and renter’s insurance to streamline the student rental process. We provide our platform to colleges as a free white-label program positioning EDUrain as the official off-campus housing platform for that college. This platform is a closed ecosystem so students and landlords can interact in an environment that supports the student through what many students see as their first time renting and throughout their renting process in college.

EDUrain won a $25,000 grant on the TechRise Stage on June 24, 2022, and was then deemed eligible to compete for a chance to pitch for $100,000 in grant funding in the TechRise Finale! But, EDUrain cannot do that without your vote! EDUrain needs 1,000 votes to secure its spot on the TechRise stage! Link to vote for EDUrain in Block D here: https://www.tallyspace.com/6340503128aee

As a startup that has all minority founders and everyone under 30 years old, raising money has been extremely tough. We are not the most politically pushed and we are not backed by the biggest investors. We are a small group of young adults who come from a variety of minority groups. Every rejection we get has said we won’t be able to organize a community going towards the same goal and that it would be difficult for us to gain college partnerships. While in this competition we have closed on 4 colleges. We now need to show we can organize a community to vote. A vote for EDUrain means that you think every Black, LGBTQIA, Asian, Student, Foster-care youth, and in general any person should have a chance to chase their dreams in building a social impact startup that can change the world and that you can launch from St. Louis and the world will see you!

Important dates Friday, October 7th at Noon CST- Semifinalist Polls Open Friday, October 21st at Noon CST- Semifinalist Polls Close Monday, October 31st- 6 Finale Contestants Announced Thursday, December 1st from 5-10pm- TechRise Finale! (in person)

The Process: Businesses that competed on TechRise and either won or were determined ‘runner up’ by the week’s judges between October (Q4) 2021- September (Q3) 2022, AND completed their Q3 Update Survey, are eligible Semifinalists. Semifinalist companies are sorted into 4 randomly assorted ‘voter blocks’. (These were randomly generated and cannot be changed). Polls have opened on this webpage from Noon on October 7th- Noon on October 21st: Voters will have the option to select two companies from each of the four blocks Please vote for EDUrain.org using this link: https://www.tallyspace.com/6340503128aee When polls close on 10/21, the top three voted companies per voter block (12) will be shared with a panel of non-Chicago VCs, who will select the 6 companies to take the stage. Our 6 finalists will be notified on Monday, October 31st, giving you a month to prepare for the in-person pitch competition on December 1st.

Submitted October 18, 2022 at 10:36PM by GayBryon https://ift.tt/w1eKbyv