Update 1/27/17 – SpareFoot once again won $20,000 for Kure It Cancer Research by participating in the Austin Startup Games in Austin, Texas, on Jan. 21. Over the years, the company has raised more than $90,000 for the charity, according to a press release.
Competitors from 16 Austin-area startup companies competed in games such as foosball, ping pong, shuffle board and trivia. SpareFoot received gold medals in four of the events, bronze in two other events and won by 11 points, for an overall point total of 27, the release stated.
1/27/15 – SpareFoot, an online marketplace for self-storage consumers, won $20,000 for Kure It Cancer Research by claiming the overall gold medal in the Austin Startup Games in Austin, Texas, on Jan. 24. Competitors from 15 Austin-area startup companies competed in 11 games such as ping pong, foosball, darts, trivia and a mystery event. SpareFoot received gold medals in five of the events, one silver and 28 points overall, according to “The SpareFoot Blog.”
SpareFoot has finished first in the competition for three years running. The company won $23,000 last year and $15,000 in 2013 on behalf of Kure It, a nonprofit dedicated to funding kidney and other cancer research. To date, SpareFoot has raised nearly $63,000 for the charity.
Each startup that participates in the Startup Games gains money for its designated charity, with the most cash going to the first-place team. SpareFoot finished first in flip cup, foosball, pop-a-shot, shuffleboard and trivia, and second in beer pong.
“I’m so proud of our team. We completely crushed it this weekend at the Startup Games,” said Chuck Gordon, co-founder and CEO. “Our athletes performed like the true champions they are, and allowed us to take home overall gold and nearly $20,000 for Kure It Cancer Research.”
Kure It was launched by self-storage industry veteran Barry Hoeven, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 1998. In April 2007, Hoeven partnered with cancer center City of Hope to create the Kure It! Kidney Cancer Research Fund, which raised more than $400,000. Kure It Inc. was established in January 2010 to grant funds to cancer researchers investigating progressive treatments and cures. To date the organization has raised more than $3.5 million.
Founded in 2008, SpareFoot.com helps consumers find and reserve self-storage units, with comparison shopping tools that show real-time availability and exclusive deals. Since its launch, the company has raised $26 million in venture capital. With a network of more than 7,000 storage facilities ranging from mom-and-pop operations to real estate investment trusts, the company reaches prospective storage renters though partnerships with brands including SelfStorage.com and Penske Truck Rental.
Sources:
- The SpareFoot Blog: Three-peat! SpareFoot Captures Gold (Again) at Startup Games