ABOUT THE FUND
TheMain Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund supports Georgia State student entrepreneurs, recent alumni and Georgia State community entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentorship to start and grow new ventures.
HomeTele SLP
Meridith Rose, Owner & Founder
Graduate Student, Ph.D. in the Education of Students with Exceptionalities
MeridithRose@HomeTeleSLP.com
Launched June 2020
PROBLEM
Lack of culturally responsive pediatric speech-language therapy services available to children and families unable to receive in-person therapy sessions due to having health-related concerns and/or live in remote/rural areas
SOLUTION
Provide culturally responsive pediatric speech-language therapy services via teletherapy, which allows caregivers flexibility and gives their child access to these services regardless of their physical location, as long as they have access to a phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer and a WiFi connection
BUSINESS MODEL
Service-oriented business to consumer (B2C) model providing both client-centered and family-centered services
TARGET MARKET
75% children and caregivers: children ages 3-18 and caregivers ages 25-55; 25% schools: daycares and preschools/private schools/public schools
KEY COMPETITORS
EZ Speaking Therapy, Speech Works, Atlanta Pediatric Therapy
USE OF FUNDS
10% Insurance (professional liability
and business owner’s policy)
15% Branding, Marketing, and Advertising
5% Legal
10% Website Development
Why did you launch your company?
I was operating my business as a sole proprietor, and providing in person pediatric speech-language therapy services to children in their home environment or day care centers. However, COVID-19 eliminated my ability to service clients in person. As a result, I launched HomeTele SLP during the Summer of 2020, and began providing pediatric speech-language therapy services to children via teletherapy.
How has your formal education/experiences at Georgia State played a role in your becoming an entrepreneur?
My formal education and experiences at Georgia State as a doctoral student and Georgia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (GaLEND) Program trainee have further confirmed to me that I am on the right path in becoming an entrepreneur. Both are aligned with my business and current research interest which is related to minority caregivers’ ability to effectively advocate for their child/children in special education.
Have you always been entrepreneurial?
I have been around entrepreneurship my entire life and highly influenced by my parents. My father owned a tile and stone installation and maintenance business, and my mother has founded several for profit and non-profit businesses over the past 25 years. I began my entrepreneurial journey nearly 15 years ago after graduating with my master’s in Speech-Language Pathology in Audiology at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida in 2007 and earning my Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association in 2008.
What advice can you offer to entrepreneurs?
My piece of advice to entrepreneurs is to start where you are and build from there. I love the following quote by American tennis player Arthur Ashe, “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.”
What is your long-term goal(s)? For you? For the company?
My long-term goal is to eventually hire staff to increase the number of children and families that HomeTele SLP is able to serve. An additional goal for me is to start a 501c3 for the advocacy components of the business. I personally look forward to writing books and speaking at engagements for professionals and caregivers.
Share a fun fact about yourself that most people don’t know.
I enjoy making bath and body products with essential oils.
Is there anything about you, your business and/or your team you would like to share?
My youngest brother, William, has shaped my professional career and entrepreneurial path. He is the reason why I am so passionate about the work that I do with the children and families who I feel incredibly privileged to serve. I started my journey to become a pediatric speech-language pathologist over 20 years following his diagnosis with an autism spectrum disorder.
FOUNDER INTERVIEW
Coming Soon
ABOUT THE FUND
The Marcus Foundation supports Georgia State student entrepreneurs, recent alumni and Georgia State community entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentorship to start and grow new ventures.