From left: Former VCU basketball players Rob Brandenberg, D.J. Haley, and Marketing Director Jeremy Senseng are working toward the launch of a new startup. Photo by Will Weaver.
Two members of VCU’s 2011 Final Four men’s basketball squad are drawing up a new game plan in the nonprofit sector.
D.J. Haley and Rob Brandenberg are working to launch Empower Card, an online platform that will connect consumers and businesses to funnel portions of debit or credit card purchases to participating nonprofits.
Upon its launch, as planned for next year, Empower Card users will be able to send 5 percent of their purchases at registered businesses to various nonprofits that Haley and Brandenberg are working to get into the Empower Card system.
“We are focused on increasing awareness for nonprofits,” Haley said. “Our initial scope is based in Richmond. Our long-term plan is to expand up and down the East Coast.”
There are four nonprofits registered to receive funds from Empower Card once it launches: VCU Alumni, Beds for Kids, Autism Society of Central Virginia and Friends Association for Children.
Rob Brandenberg (left) and D.J. Haley make a play during a VCU basketball game. Photo courtesy of Empower Card.
The company is then betting that participating businesses would also benefit from the goodwill of being involved in charity and from marketing campaigns that Empower Card will blast out to its users promoting the participating businesses.
Haley and Brandenberg have the Empower Card website up and running and are applying for nonprofit status for the company. The former Rams hope to work with a company called Linkable Networks that would provide the technology to connect users’ bank accounts with Empower Card accounts and then safely transfer money to the nonprofits.
On its end, Empower Card does not plan to charge any fees; the company is banking on grant money and donations from users.
“We’re betting on the intent of doing good works,” Haley said.
For now, the venture is still in its early stages and is part-time for the pair. Haley works for a marketing advisory and data intelligence firm in Northern Virginia, and Brandenberg works for CornerstoneRPO, a corporate recruiting company in Richmond.
Haley said it will take about $50,000 to get Empower Card launched.
“We are in talks to look for sources of funding,” Haley said.
While it’s early in the game for Empower Card, Haley said he and Brandenberg are both used to having people waiting to watch them perform.
Haley played center for the Rams in 2011 when it went on its Cinderella run to the NCAA’s Final Four. Brandenberg played guard for the celebrated team. Both were freshmen that year.
Haley said there are more than 100 people signed up to be alerted once Empower Card goes live, and he thinks Ram Nation will step up for the startup.
“We were fortunate to be exposed to great people and great principles,” Haley said of his and Brandenberg’s time at VCU. “The other thing that we’re working with is how intertwined we are with the VCU community. We’re confident we have the support we need to make this thing happen.”
From left: Former VCU basketball players Rob Brandenberg, D.J. Haley, and Marketing Director Jeremy Senseng are working toward the launch of a new startup. Photo by Will Weaver.
Two members of VCU’s 2011 Final Four men’s basketball squad are drawing up a new game plan in the nonprofit sector.
D.J. Haley and Rob Brandenberg are working to launch Empower Card, an online platform that will connect consumers and businesses to funnel portions of debit or credit card purchases to participating nonprofits.
Upon its launch, as planned for next year, Empower Card users will be able to send 5 percent of their purchases at registered businesses to various nonprofits that Haley and Brandenberg are working to get into the Empower Card system.
“We are focused on increasing awareness for nonprofits,” Haley said. “Our initial scope is based in Richmond. Our long-term plan is to expand up and down the East Coast.”
There are four nonprofits registered to receive funds from Empower Card once it launches: VCU Alumni, Beds for Kids, Autism Society of Central Virginia and Friends Association for Children.
Rob Brandenberg (left) and D.J. Haley make a play during a VCU basketball game. Photo courtesy of Empower Card.
The company is then betting that participating businesses would also benefit from the goodwill of being involved in charity and from marketing campaigns that Empower Card will blast out to its users promoting the participating businesses.
Haley and Brandenberg have the Empower Card website up and running and are applying for nonprofit status for the company. The former Rams hope to work with a company called Linkable Networks that would provide the technology to connect users’ bank accounts with Empower Card accounts and then safely transfer money to the nonprofits.
On its end, Empower Card does not plan to charge any fees; the company is banking on grant money and donations from users.
“We’re betting on the intent of doing good works,” Haley said.
For now, the venture is still in its early stages and is part-time for the pair. Haley works for a marketing advisory and data intelligence firm in Northern Virginia, and Brandenberg works for CornerstoneRPO, a corporate recruiting company in Richmond.
Haley said it will take about $50,000 to get Empower Card launched.
“We are in talks to look for sources of funding,” Haley said.
While it’s early in the game for Empower Card, Haley said he and Brandenberg are both used to having people waiting to watch them perform.
Haley played center for the Rams in 2011 when it went on its Cinderella run to the NCAA’s Final Four. Brandenberg played guard for the celebrated team. Both were freshmen that year.
Haley said there are more than 100 people signed up to be alerted once Empower Card goes live, and he thinks Ram Nation will step up for the startup.
“We were fortunate to be exposed to great people and great principles,” Haley said of his and Brandenberg’s time at VCU. “The other thing that we’re working with is how intertwined we are with the VCU community. We’re confident we have the support we need to make this thing happen.”
Looking forward to the launch! I love you son!