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.
SPARK YOUR RESUME
Leander Howard II, CEO
Alumni (’20), B.B.A. Marketing & Finance
[email protected]
Launched March 2020
PROBLEM
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it takes on average 6 months to land a new job.
SOLUTION
Spark Your Resume cuts the average duration in half and helps entry-level, mid-career, and executive professionals get hired in 30-90 days.
BUSINESS MODEL
We package our productized services into 4 different bundles and sell them to consumers directly (B2C) who are looking to transition into a new job or career.
TARGET MARKET
Entry-level and mid-career professionals with business backgrounds looking to make a pivot in their careers.
KEY COMPETITORS
TopResume, Monster, Indeed, iHire, ZipJob
USE OF FUNDS
40% Human Capital,
30% IT Infrastructure,
30% Marketing
Why did you launch your company?
I launched Spark Your Resume to make the job search easier. It took over 6 months for me to find a full-time job after graduation and I told myself there has to be an easier and faster way. It was this personal experience that helped me decide to start a business to help other entry-level, mid-career, and executive professionals.
What is your long-term goal? For you? For the company?
The long-term goal is to serve 1M+ job seekers across the world and become a staple in the market for career advancement and professional development. The goal is for Spark Your Resume to be the first company you think about when someone is looking for help in their career.
Was there ever a moment when you wanted to quit entrepreneurship?
I have a moment at least twice a year. It usually happens when something goes completely wrong or we have a bad month. However, I continue to remind myself that it’s only temporary and anything can be fixed/restored. I take my failures as learning opportunities to not make the same mistake again. I simply go back to WHY I started in the first place and remember that I have people counting on me, so I can’t quit even if I wanted to.
What does entrepreneurship mean to you?
I earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Georgia State University. The J. Mack Robinson College of Business taught me how to think on my own and create opportunities for myself. I believe this directly correlates to entrepreneurship because you have to create opportunities for yourself and your team as an entrepreneur.
What is the most challenging aspect of entrepreneurship?
The most challenging aspect of entrepreneurship is waking up each and every day knowing that you are solely responsible for the results of your business. I have nobody to blame but myself if things go wrong, which is hard for most people to do.
What advice can you offer to entrepreneurs?
Never let your dreams die without giving them a chance to breathe.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I am a black belt in Taekwondo.
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.