by SpringFour | Jul, 3, 2017 | Post - Insights, Uncategorized
SpringFour Chosen as Top Venture for CivicX Accelerator
Last week, SpringFour was chosen as the top venture for the Points of Light CivicX Accelerator. We are thrilled to have been selected and this win is especially meaningful as SpringFour was one of 12 ventures focused on increasing economic mobility chosen for this cohort. The ventures included for-profit and nonprofits.
The investment came at the end of The Civic Accelerator’s ninth bootcamp-style startup program and investment fund. The Spring 2017 program convened 12 startups over 10 weeks for three in-person, weeklong sessions in Atlanta, New York and Seattle, in addition to an in-depth virtual curriculum. The participants peer-selected the two ventures that received $50,000 investments.
The Civic Accelerator is the first accelerator and investment fund in the country focused on “civic ventures” – for-profit and nonprofit startups that solve social problems by tapping into human capital as part of the solution. The goal of the accelerator is to equip each startup to seek investments and scale their social innovations.
The founding partners of the accelerator are PwC Charitable Foundation and Starbucks Foundation, with additional, notable sponsors including CapitalOne Investing for Good, Vodafone Americas Foundation, U.S. Small Business Administration, Dentons, Singing for Change, and Hilton Worldwide.
The Spring 2017 Cohort of the accelerator addressed the financial health of typically overlooked populations through:
- Inclusive financial health
- Opportunity though innovation
“SpringFour is excited and honored to have been selected by our peers. It provides strong validation of our mission and our solution to connect consumers to resources that increase opportunities for financial health,” said Rochelle Gorey, co-founder and CEO of SpringFour.
“With this investment, we plan to continue to provide people with the resources they need to reduce their household expenses so that they can begin to pay back past-due bills and save again.”
![Why Employers Need to Take Part in Employee Financial Health]()
by SpringFour | May, 26, 2017 | Default, Post - Insights
The gig economy, generational differences in the workplace, and changing family structures. These are the issues that workplaces are tackling as they seek to provide their employees with comprehensive and flexible benefits.
According to MetLife’s 15th Annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study, there are some key benefits and resources that employees want from their employers. Employees agree that they want more options when it comes to benefits, and more guidance when it comes to their finances.
The study notes that the percent of employees who believe that employers are responsible for their financial well being has risen in recent years to over 40%. Employees often turn to their employers to help them navigate and find solutions to financial stressors.
Employers should be listening.
When employees feel a greater sense of financial security, they are far more productive and loyal to their employer. Offering programs that help employees feel more financially stable is extremely attractive to potential employees as well.
23% of employees feel that they are less productive at work because of financial worries.
The study found that employees would more likely accept a job and stay loyal to their job if their employer offered financial planning benefits.
[insert picture and link it to the study]
Source: MetLife’s 15th Annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study
What can employers do encourage employee financial health?
Knowledge is a key driver of financial fitness. According to the study, employees who feel knowledgeable about their finances and options available to them are more financially secure. Employers can and should provide resources that educate employees on their financial options.
This is not always easy for startups or small businesses lacking the resources to provide extensive benefits. However, the study notes that it is important for employers to ensure that they offer the benefits that employees want, even if the company doesn’t pay for them. For example, even if an employer does not offer monetary assistance with student debt, they can connect employees to external resources that help pay back or educate employees on student loans.
At SpringFour, we seek to help employers provide knowledge and guidance to their employees, in turn fostering employee loyalty, productivity, and, most importantly, financial health. Our platform helps companies connect their employees to the resources they need to stay current on their mortgage, pay off personal debts faster, obtain affordable health care, or just spend less every month.
Financially healthier employees, empowered with tools and products that build credit, savings, and overall confidence, miss less work and are more productive, a win-win for everyone.
Rochelle Nawrocki Gorey
Co-Founder & CEO
![Why Employers Need to Take Part in Employee Financial Health]()
by SpringFour | May, 12, 2017 | Default, Post - Insights
Rochelle Nawrocki Gorey, CEO of SpringFour, talks with TastyTrade hosts Kristi Ross and Tony Battista about our mission to help consumers achieve financial health through our partnerships with financial institutions, cutting edge fintech companies and non-profits.
You can watch the full interview here.
by SpringFour | Apr, 19, 2017 | Post - Insights, Uncategorized
Selected for Points of Light CivicX
Through our innovative, SaaS platform, we help consumers more readily access financial resources, leading to greater financial freedom and opportunity.
As a part of the cohort, we’ll be participating in a 10-week boot camp and investment fund that will accelerate our mission and vision along with those of the other ventures that are working to improve financial outcomes and prepare families for financial success.
The 12 companies and their teams start the 10-week boot camp in Atlanta (April 17-20) then travel to New York (May 16-19) and Seattle (June 20-23). The boot camp includes mentoring, education, peer support, and networking. Each of the sessions includes a pitch night so please come by and say hi.
We are thrilled to join the Civic Accelerator, an influential leader for social entrepreneurs, and grateful to learn and grow alongside an extraordinary group of social impact ventures that are committed to increasing access to financial health and economic mobility.
by SpringFour | Mar, 21, 2017 | Default, Post - Insights
CEO and CoFounder Rochelle Gorey was recently featured on the BAI Banking Strategies Podcast, a weekly podcast focused on key issues facing financial services leaders in order to empower them to make smarter decisions.
Rochelle spoke to how financial institutions can benefit from making consumer consumer financial wellness a top priority.
Most Americans can’t afford an unexpected $400 expense and are living paycheck to paycheck. As increased awareness around financial health grows, more banks and financial institutions are looking for innovative ways to help their customers stay on top of payments and increase opportunities for savings.
Rochelle explains that connecting consumers to financial resources that allow them to save an extra $200 a month, for example, not only increases the rate at which they are able to make payments, but it strengthens the banking relationship.
If a consumer feels that their banking partner is taking a genuine interest in understanding their unique situation, and then assisting them in finding the resources to help, they are far more likely to trust and continue to bank with that institution. Additionally, as their financial situation improves they may be eligible to purchase better financial products.
Listen to the entire podcast to hear more about the importance of financial wellness in banking and visit our site to see how SpringFour is working with financial institutions to help their consumers access important cost-saving resources and improve payments.
![Why Employers Need to Take Part in Employee Financial Health]()
by SpringFour | Mar, 8, 2017 | Default, Post - Insights
In the Fall of 2016, SpringFour was selected to join 1871’s WiSTEM cohort, a program designed to foster success and opportunities for women in technology through intensive mentorship and programming. As part of the cohort, our team went through the rigorous twelve-week program along with twelve other women-led tech companies, culminating in a final showcase.
The WiSTEM showcase was held in February, where each of the Fall 2016 WiSTEM cohort companies presented and their hard work was celebrated. The showcase allowed each of the companies the opportunity to communicate their mission to an enormous crowd of over 500 leaders in the tech community throughout Chicago. Additionally, the attendees included students from the Walt Disney Magnet School Computer Science Club and the Chicago-area members of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, inspiring the next generation of innovators and creators.
Photo Credit: Gregory RothsteinWiSTEM cohort members with 1871 CEO, Howard Tullman.
SpringFour was able to showcase to this audience not only the platform’s capability to connect consumers to financial resources, but why consumer financial health is also great for business. CEO Rochelle Gorey shared real stories of consumers whose daily financial lives and health were transformed because they were allowed access to excellent resources. Connecting these consumers to the right resources significantly changes their financial outlook and in turn improves the rate at which they are able to pay back a loan or pay off their credit card debt.
SpringFour is uniquely beneficial for both consumers and businesses alike, and the opportunity to showcase the impact of our win-win model to an audience of leaders in the Chicago tech community was invaluable.
WiSTEM also provided the opportunity to work closely with, and learn from, the fellow women in our cohort. As we each continue to work on strengthening our businesses, even after the conclusion of the WiSTEM program, the cohort group will build upon these relationships. These fellow founders and CEOs have inspired us and proved to be invaluable sources of support and guidance as we continue to grow. We are extremely grateful to have been a part of this amazing group of entrepreneurs and to have the support of the community at 1871.
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