Fund Me, KC: My Bear Jeff spreads comfort to child trauma survivors, bear to bear
December 5, 2019 | Startland News Staff
Startland News is continuing its “Fund Me, KC” series to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses. This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs — like Rachel Cohen with her My Bear Jeff campaign — to share their crowdfunding stories to gain a little help from their supporters.
Rachel Cohen, My Bear Jeff
Who are you?
Rachel Cohen, Chief Bear Officer at My Bear Jeff. I’m passionate about people, companies and movements that drive to create impact and positive change to everyone around us.
What is My Bear Jeff?
My Bear Jeff is a buy one, give one teddy bear company to support kids dealing with trauma. Every time a bear is purchased, its twin is delivered to a qualifying child through our nonprofit partners.
Click here for the My Bear Jeff Kickstarter page.
What’s your ‘why’?
I created this company from the intersection of several personal experiences. The first being a rare heart diagnosis at the age of 4 and recovering from a high-risk procedure that could have cost my life. The second came from my time in Southeast Asia working with children who were dealing with extreme trauma every day. I returned home with a pure, burning desire to support these kids.
My Bear Jeff
How much do you hope to raise with the crowdfunding campaign?
What do you plan to use the funds for?
To place our first production order of 2,500 bears.
How are you differentiating your campaign?
While the product has some uniqueness to it, the mission is unique. For each bear purchased, one will be donated to a nonprofit partner working with kids who deal with trauma.
My Bear Jeff
Is there anything quirky with your campaign?
Nothing super quirky about it unless you consider teddy bears quirky?
What’s some advice you have to others launching a crowdfunding campaign?
Tell all your friends, do lots of research, find where the real/raw pain is, hone in on exactly what your business is/what you’re selling and make it clear and concise.
If you or your startup is running a crowdfunding campaign, let us know by contacting news@startlandnews.com
This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.
For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn
2019 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Vote now: KCMO competing for spot in accelerator focusing on gender, racial inclusion
KCMO already is a five-star city, Mayor Sly James says, but a new accelerator program could make it even better. “Kansas City’s startup community is growing and innovating, but women and people of color are being left behind,” James says in a pitch video for Living Cities City Accelerator program. A coalition of local organizations,…
Go print yourself! Overland Park doob shop turns selfie concept into 3D replicas
A new shop in Overland Park is supplanting the selfie with the mini me. After first opening shops in Los Angeles and New York City, the Germany-based 3D printing firm doob has arrived in the Kansas City area to 3D print people, groups and pets. The technology, process and results capture moments in time customers…
KCultivator Q&A: Reggie Gray finds magic in connecting entrepreneurs with Black Privilege, no excuses
Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The KCultivator Series is sponsored by WeWork Corrigan Station, a modern twist on Kansas City office space. He’s left his “Magic Man” persona behind, but Reggie Gray can’t quite shake the performer inside him, he said. “Whenever I…
KCSF pivoting away from Village Square coworking, eyes bigger community impact
Village Square developed a waiting list soon after opening in 2015, said Adam Arredondo. But as larger coworking spaces with more amenities and resources debuted, interest waned in the 3,000-square-foot operation at 45th Street and State Line Road. “What’s our most valuable contribution to the community right now?” said Arredondo, CEO of the nonprofit Kansas…