Seattle University Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center awards two SU Alumni Business each $10,000 in 2020-2021 Jones Progress Awards (JPA), made possible by the Herbert B. Jones Foundation.
Now in its seventh year, the JPA supports graduating Seattle University students and recent alumni entrepreneurs by providing a solid infrastructure of mentoring, grant funds, and connections to local networks. SU Student or Alumni Entrepreneurs who are accepted into the program work with a team of expert coaches to set large “milestone” goals for their business, and then work towards those goals over six months under the advisement of their coaches. If teams are able to fully realize all their milestones, each business receives a $10,000 prize.
The accepted teams for the 2021-22 Jones Progress Awards include:
- Altitude Functional Beverages led by Thomas Angel. "We make plant based, better for you beverages that don't taste like better for you beverages and fit into your existing routine."
- Syntek Medical led by Tawny Fajardo, "Syntek Medical provides accessible, multi-adaptable devices to improve the safety of patients while being transported to different areas of the healthcare facility."
- Livelihood led by Pablo Gonzalez, "Livelihood helps environmentally-conscious buyers that love both city and nature make a difference and slow urban deforestation by planting one tree in an American city for every sustainable clothing item they purchase."
Past Jones Progress Award Winners include Encora, Actuate Media, Ro Health, React Mobile, and The Madrone School. Jeff Widmyer, CEO and Founder of Ro Health, credits the JPA with some of his company’s success: “The Jones Progress experience provided me access to mentors that helped me look at problems in a different light, and that perspective gave me the courage to make decisions and take action.”
As an added benefit, WTIA is offering the Jones Progress Award participants a free year’s membership to the WTIA Startup Club! Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) is the unifying voice for the technology community in Washington, consolidating the power of member companies to solve business problems they cannot solve on their own. For startups, WTIA provides a variety of stage appropriate resources including resources like investors, service providers, and relevant product discounts, HR benefits, discounts, and exclusive event invites.