Congrats to the Wingman

So I was having trouble figuring out what I was going to write about for my last blog. I was sitting on the computer, surfing the web, when I got on facebook and found the perfect thing to write about. I found a linkthat Brian Rider, a 21 year old Grand Valley State student and my roommate from sophomore year recently posted. The link was to an article in the Grand Rapids Press that talked about how he won an award for the business he started that same year. Digital Wingman, his company, won $1,000 cash and free legal, product design and business services in Lakeshore's Next Top Entrepreneur contest organized by Lakeshore Advantage, the regional economic development agency.

I remember that year he had many sleepless nights trying to get the company started and I'm really glad to see he is seeing success from all those long nights. Brian created a software that is used by the housing departments of schools to allow students to create floor plans of dorm rooms on the school Web site without having to actually do any physical moving of furniture to try and find the perfect layout of their rooms. He has sold his product to GVSU, Central Michigan University and North Carolina State University. He said the company has made over $100,000 in revenue and typically sells his product for $10,000 to $30,000 a school.

I can't really believe that his business have come this far in the past two years. To tell you the truth, I had my doubts about if this would ever take off. But I was wrong, and I want to say congratulations to Brian and Digital Wingman for not giving up and starting what looks like it may become a very successful business.