0Get rewarded for investing more into Solutions Vending International
Female Founder | Minority Founder | Technology
Self-service and automation are the future of retail. PopCom has built an automated retail technology platform for vending machines and kiosks that allows retailers to engage and understand their customers, sell more products, and learn from big data.
After one of the most successful and oversubscribed Reg-CF campaigns on StartEngine, the company is opening a second Reg-CF offering to take its production-ready machines into mass production and fund additional Regulated Retail pilots with major alcohol and cannabis retailers.
Self-service and automation are the future of retail. But right now, it's a future without data. We're changing that.
We're redefining omnichannel strategy for worldwide brands– from Fortune 500 companies to nimble e-commerce entrepreneurs, providing a completely new direct-to-consumer channel backed by unparalleled data and frictionless transactions.
Automation is at the heart of a colossal shift in the retail paradigm, and in the midst of this phenomenon deemed “the Retail Apocalypse”, the self-service retail industry is exploding.² In fact, a recent survey showed over two-thirds of retail customers now prefer self-serve retail experiences 4 and over 100 million people are projected to use vending machines or kiosks each day in the U.S. ³
While automation and self-service are booming , valuable data is being lost on low-IQ machines. This is an opportunity where we are positioned to dominate.
While the majority of consumers enjoy added convenience and lower friction transactions, data also suggests that a personalized retail experience is still of great value in the buying process.5 Retailers, in the midst of reaping billion-dollar savings from self-service in the form of extremely low operating costs and 24/7 commerce, must address this need for personalized customer experiences without the help of humans at the point-of-sale. Hence, the arrival of smart vending machines was heralded. And with a forecasted CAGR of 34%, the industry is booming. 1
We believe we’re uniquely positioned in a market that is currently domiciled by slow-moving, behemoth hardware companies whose turnkey solutions are too expensive for even the largest CPG companies, let alone successful boutique brands. Our turnkey solution, the PopShop Kiosks with PopCom SaaS, are affordable for any team, from Fortune 500 to single-founder e-commerce brands. Not only is our hardware versatile, sexy, and affordable, we built exceptional software with features that facilitate fun, engaging customer experiences and allows retailers to glean powerful consumer insights and forge stronger relationships with their target demographic.
The last piece pièce de résistance? It's our goal to white-label our kiosk software for use in the 18 million existing machines worldwide16, powered by our innovations, partnerships, and acquisitions.
Bill Butler - CEO, KIOSK Information Systems
We're also disrupting a retail sector that has remained virtually untouched by automation: the Regulated Retail Economy.
We define the Regulated Retail Economy as the system by which consumers and retailers interface with government-regulated goods which require identification, sales compliance, supply chain information, or a combination of all three. It is projected to represent over $4 trillion in global revenue by 2022 6-10 and is severely underserved by automated transactions.
In 2019, we made sure to put our money where our mouth is. We spent the time after our Regulation Crowdfunding offering developing all facets of our software and hardware, but also focused on striking deals with market leaders in the regulated retail industry. We delivered. In Q1-Q2 2020, we have two very exciting regulated retail pilots with one of the world's largest wineries, and a popular cannabis retailer in the Netherlands named Coffeeshop Cremers.
The PopCom team and investor network is a family. We regularly schedule investor meetups around the United States and spend time talking with our investors face-to-face. We're proud to be a hub for connections, friendships, and candid discussion about our company's progress, hardships, and massive accomplishments. You'll join a growing family of over 2,200 like-minded, forward-thinking individuals that are just as excited about the future of retail as we are. Just take a look at what some of our investors have to say about us below! **
** Testimonials herein are unsolicited and are non-representative of all clients; certain investors may have different opinions and feedback than that indicated. All writers' opinions are their own and do not constitute financial advice in any way whatsoever and none of the testimonial content should be relied upon for any investment activities. Unique experiences and past performances do not guarantee future results.
Dawn is a serial entrepreneur with over 16 years in business development. Dawn has received numerous awards and regularly speaks on panels and workshops around the country. She's been featured in countless media outlets including Forbes, Inc Magazine, VentureBeat, Huffington Post, Essence Magazine, Ebony.com, Women’s World Daily, CNBC/Yahoo, MSNBC and on the cover of Black Enterprise.
*** All logos, brands, trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners. Use of these names, trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement. The photo above (top right) does not imply a current, future, or prospective listing on NASDAQ and should not be a relied upon whatsoever for any consideration of investment activity. More information on the NASDAQ Milestone Maker program can be found here.
Sources
1. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-global-intelligent-vending-machine-market-is-forecasted-to-grow-at-a-cagr-of-3441-during-the-period-2018-2022-300574545.html
2. https://www.cbinsights.com/research/retail-apocalypse-survival-technology-trends/
3. http://www.balancedforlife.net/pdf/About%20Vending.pdf
4. https://www.retaildive.com/news/study-73-of-consumers-want-self-service-technology/546044/
7. https://mjbizdaily.com/chart-us-marijuana-industrys-economic-impact-could-reach-80-billion-by-2022/
11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK343572/
12. https://www.fda.gov/tobaccoproducts/guidancecomplianceregulatoryinformation/retail/ucm205021.htm#references
13. http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-bethlehem-sands-underage-fines-20160713-story.html
14. http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-pot-shops-20160711-snap-story.html
Serial Entrepreneur Dawn W. Dickson, founder and CEO of PopCom, a software company for self-service retail, and Flat Out Heels, a producer of rollable flats for women and children sold online and through vending machines, always prepares for the next big opportunity.
Dawn Dickson got into self-service retailing in 2011 with a very simple plan: create a vending machine to sell flat shoes for women on the run. But in the course of launching this business, she learned that self-service retailing technology was not sufficiently developed.
I use my success and access to help other women and people of color, that is what I am most passionate about.
On this episode of StartupNation Radio, your host, Jeff Sloan, chats with Dr. Luke Pittaway, Ohio University College of Business Copeland Professor of Entrepreneurship, and Dawn Dickson, founder and CEO of PopCom and Flat Out of Heels.
Female founders are underfunded and underrepresented, but black female founders bear a disproportionate share of the burden. While female founders overall receive 2.7 percent of all venture funding relative to their male counterparts, black female founders receive 0.2 percent.
Vending machines as we know them—a customer chooses an item, inserts cash and punches in the corresponding letter and number combination—are on their way out. Modern digital technology is finally catching up with standalone retail machines, and Columbus company PopCom, formerly known as Solutions Ve
When you think of cutting edge technology, it’s unlikely vending machines pop to mind. But Dawn Dickson has a plan to change that with her startup, PopCom.
In retail, every transaction is an opportunity. An opportunity to make an impression. An opportunity to build revenue and turn product into profit.
As consumer technology brings new conveniences, retailers and brands are finding they have to work harder to stay on top of emerging innovations. Those attending the recent CES event in Las Vegas found a gold mine of self-service products designed to help retailers and brands stay relevant as e-comm
A full feature on PopCom and our CEO in Forbes.
For a demographic that has a consumer buying power of $1.3T by the end of 2017, there still seems to be a huge gap or disparity with the representation of Black Influencers in various industries.
Flat Out of Heels sells rollable ballet flats for women. CEO Dawn Dickson launched the Miami-based company in 2012, and the product has been selling like crazy ever since.
Dawn Dickson, PopCom CEO, mentioned as one of the Top 100 Female Founders in 2018 by Inc Magazine.
Fundraising lessons from a serial entrepreneur
Industry experts, investors, and users weight in on the potential of PopCom as a company. "...The PopCom kiosks fill every gap we've imagined."
In the blockchain and crypto community, there’s a major gender imbalance that’s even more pronounced for black women. These two entrepreneurs are trying to change that.
PopCom CEO Dawn Dickson speaks about why the company was looking to an STO for funding and how it successfully raised $1,070,000.
Startup raises $1M in crowdfunding for high-tech vending machines that could dispense cannabis
StartEngine's CEO, Howard Marks, covers our CEO and our company's journey on the StartEngine Blog.
Spotted: The American startup PopCom is working on a vending machine that would allow the legal purchasing of government-regulated items. So, alcohol, medication and cannabis vending machines could be around the corner.
Read about PopCom & our CEO Dawn Dickson in the extremely competitive Nasdaq Milestone Makers Cohort.
Read about PopCom and the automated retail landscape at NRF 2020.
Self-checkout is one of the hot-button technologies retailers are embracing as they embark on "store of the future" omnichannel initiatives. Checkout this breakdown of PopCom's tech.
Columbus native and Ohio State graduate Dawn Dickson has spent the last two years spanning the globe, marketing PopCom, a software company which uses data analytics for self-service retail.
Read about PopCom in an upcoming hearing in front of the US House of Representatives.
Experts tell Congress how the technology can drive costs down, while boosting security and operations.
On Wednesday, Dawn Dickson was one of two Ohio entrepreneurs in Washington to testify before the House Small Business Committee about the type of technology her company has embraced.
Read about PopCom at the Building Blocks of Change: The Benefits of Blockchain Technology for Small Businesses hearing at the US House of Representatives.
Dawn Dickons (PopCom CEO) is a witness at a US House committee hearing. Get the info here.
Read about PopCom's conversation with Congressional lawmakers.
Company | : | Solutions Vending International, Inc. |
Corporate Address | : | 997 N Fourth Street, Columbus, OH 43201 |
Offering Minimum | : | $9,999.55 |
Offering Maximum | : | $1,052,867.20 |
Minimum Investment Amount(per investor) | : | $250.25 |
Offering Type | : | Equity |
Security Name | : | Class A Common Stock |
Minimum Number of Shares Offered | : | 18,181 |
Maximum Number of Shares Offered | : | 1,889,435 |
Price per Share | : | $0.55 |
Pre-Money Valuation | : | $25,027,179.10 |
*Maximum Number of Shares Offered subject to adjustment for bonus shares. See Bonus info below.
Company Perks*
$250 Perk: Silver Tier
$500 Perk: Gold Tier
$2,500 Perk: Platinum Tier
$5,000 Perk: Emerald Tier
$10,000 Perk: Diamond Tier
*All perks occur when the offering is completed.
The 10% Bonus for StartEngine Shareholders
Solutions Vending International, Inc. will offer 10% additional bonus shares for all investments that are committed by investors that are eligible for the StartEngine Crowdfunding Inc. OWNer's bonus.
This means eligible StartEngine shareholders will receive a 10% bonus for any shares they purchase in this offering. For example, if you buy 100 shares of Class B Common Stock at $0.55/ share, you will receive and own 110 shares for $55. Fractional shares will not be distributed and share bonuses will be determined by rounding down to the nearest whole share.
This 10% Bonus is only valid during the investors eligibility period. Investors eligible for this bonus will also have priority if they are on a waitlist to invest and the company surpasses its maximum funding goal. They will have the first opportunity to invest should room in the offering become available if prior investments are cancelled or fail.
Investors will only receive a single bonus, which will be the highest bonus rate they are eligible for.
The Company will not incur any irregular use of proceeds.
A crowdfunding investment involves risk. You should not invest any funds in this offering unless you can afford to lose your entire investment. In making an investment decision, investors must rely on their own examination of the issuer and the terms of the offering, including the merits and risks involved. These securities have not been recommended or approved by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority. Furthermore, these authorities have not passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this document. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not pass upon the merits of any securities offered or the terms of the offering, nor does it pass upon the accuracy or completeness of any offering document or literature. These securities are offered under an exemption from registration; however, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not made an independent determination that these securities are exempt from registration.
NEW YORK - illiNews -- The inaugural OBWS Black Entrepreneur of The Year Awards, presented by Snapchat ran during the month of August, in honor of Black Business Month. Starting with open nominations, fifteen finalists were chosen by a panel of judges including OBWS Founder Mandy Bowman, Brianne Garrett of Forbes, Imani Ellis of The CCNYC & CULTURECON, Courtney Blount of Snap Inc, and Serial Entrepreneur Everette Taylor. The winners were then voted for by the wider Official Black Wall Street community.
The Winners
The OBWS Black Entrepreneur of The Year presented by Snapchat $15,000
Dawn Dickson from PopCom. PopCom equips entrepreneurs and brands with future-ready retail solutions that allow rapid retail expansion, incredible customer experiences, and powerful sales data.
WHAT IS POPCOM?
The PopCom team is rebranding our marketing and sales messaging to be more succinct about what we do. Our team has narrowed it down to our top 3 and we need your help to break the tie. Please take this 20 second survey and help us out.
The finalists are:
In this video PopCom CEO Dawn Dickson and Wyzerr Founder Natasia Malaihollo discuss the acquisition and path forward.
Many of you have asked about PopCom t-shirts and other items to show your support! Now you can purchase many items including t-shirts, sweatshirts, bags, and mugs with our logo. CLICK HERE to shop.
Greetings PopCom investors and supporters! The offering is officially closed, we have completed another successful fully subscribed Reg CF offering! If you are on the wait list, please remain on the wait list, we will have an update for you soon with more information. Thank you for your patience!
Since receiving our first disbursement this year the PopCom team has been very busy working to close major sales partnerships, grow our team, and take the proper steps to ensure a timely delivery of the first PopShops are delivered in 2020.
The COVID pandemic caused retailers, venues and restaurants to make some drastic changes in the way they deliver products to customers. In response to the need to maintain social distancing and the desire to reduce human interactions to slow down the spread of the virus, PopCom has made a few important product updates including upgrading our touch screens to be contactless, meaning they can be used with gloves on, a pen or a stylus. Though these product improvements delayed our production and delivery time (yet again) we felt it was critical for our products to scale in the market with this 'new normal'. We still expect and plan for a 2020 delivery.
We have also made a few important hires and are continuing to source candidates to fill open positions in the areas of hardware. software and sales. We are excited about the PopCom Virtual Investor Summit on July 14 where the team will share many more updates from the team. This event is for confirmed investors only (not waitlisted). However we will continue to keep you updated on our progress and we welcome you to follow us across all social media channels @PopComSaaS. Investors can reach us anytime at shareholders@PopCom.shop.
RECENT MEDIA:
Hey PopCom investors! We are excited to announce our first ever PopCom Investor Summit on Tuesday, July 14 from 6-8:30pm ET. We planned to host this event in-person in Columbus but due to COVID this one will be virtual. This is an opportunity for you to connect with and hear updates from myself and the team. You can also network with other investors on the platform. Confirmed investors only, no wait list investors at this time. If you are on the wait list don't feel left out, there will be future opportunities to connect with us!. Investors email us at shareholders@popcom.shop for the registration link.
[The following is an automated notice from the StartEngine team].
Hello! Recently, a change was made to the Solutions Vending International offering. Here's an excerpt describing the specifics of the change:
Solutions Vending International extended its campaign and increased its max raise amount.
When live offerings undergo changes like these on StartEngine, the SEC requires that certain investments be reconfirmed. If your investment requires reconfirmation, you will be contacted by StartEngine via email with further instructions.
[The following is an automated notice from the StartEngine team].
Hello!
As you might know, Solutions Vending International has exceeded its minimum funding goal. When a company reaches its minimum on StartEngine, it's about to begin withdrawing funds. If you invested in Solutions Vending International be on the lookout for an email that describes more about the disbursement process.
This campaign will continue to accept investments until its indicated closing date.
Thanks for funding the future.
-StartEngine
[The following is an automated notice from the StartEngine team].
Hello!
As you might know, Solutions Vending International has exceeded its minimum funding goal. When a company reaches its minimum on StartEngine, it's about to begin withdrawing funds. If you invested in Solutions Vending International be on the lookout for an email that describes more about the disbursement process.
This campaign will continue to accept investments until its indicated closing date.
Thanks for funding the future.
-StartEngine
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