More than 100 people turned out May 16 at the Ohio City Firehouse to celebrate the newest graduates of
Bad Girl Ventures’ business plan competition.
Babies Travel Too was the recipient of a $25,000 loan from
KeyBank.
Babies Travel Too was created by Alison Musser, who based the company on her own experiences as a parent. The company provides nightly and weekly rentals of full-size cribs, car seats, strollers and other essential baby gear to people traveling to the Cleveland metropolitan area. The equipment is JPMA-certified and sanitized before every rental.
“Musser not only had a good idea; she was the right person to run the business,” says Rachel Czernin, director of marketing and developments for BGV. “She is smart, dedicated, and has personal experience in this area. She uniquely understands the predicament traveling mothers have and has the business sense to develop her concept and turn this regional business into a national business.”
Three additional companies received $5,000 loans from The Giving Back Gang. Those companies were: Anne Hartnett, creator of Harness Fitness, Inc., Cleveland's first sustainably run group cycling studio and fitness clothing retailer; Karen Malone Wright, creator of
TheNotMom.com, a blog for women who are childless; and Kelley Hynds creator of
Hyndsight Media, an online video journalism platform that provides short-form video web spots on current social and civic topics.
The event was sponsored by
Huntington Bank, Additional support came from
The Cleveland Foundation and
The Business of Good Foundation. “Catering was provided by past finalist and loan recipient
Hungry Bee Catering.
Source: Rachel Czernin
Writer: Karin Connelly