Josh Cooper and Company, “SKOOP” Another Win

EAST LANSING, Mich. —
Josh Cooper, Chief Executive and Founder of Skoop Inc., took home a first place win and $15,000 scholarship in the Burgess New Venture Challenge Competition, a pitch competition bringing together Michigan State University student entrepreneurs and business leaders from across Michigan.

Cooper founded the company during his freshman year at MSU when he recognized the need for additional transportation within East Lansing, and the potential opportunities a pedicab company could offer local businesses.

SKOOP offers free transportation for passengers around the Michigan State University campus and outlining area. The digital billboards secured to the back of the cabs allow local businesses to promote their brand, store and deals. This allows SKOOP to provide their transportation free of charge to passengers.

Entrepreneurial success is not new to Cooper. In high school he founded an apparel company called Bullet Proof. His interests led him to be active in his high school business program at West Bloomfield High School in West Bloomfield, Michigan where he quickly rose to become the President of his high school DECA Chapter leading over 200 members of the student body.

Cooper’s efforts were recognized at the state and national level of DECA where he placed among the top twenty marketing students in the world. In his senior year, national DECA recognized Cooper and his leadership skills by awarding him the Emerging Leader Award.

High School DECA Advisor Julie Zalla shared, “Josh has a very special gift of being able to relate to everyone, has the ability to think outside the box and recognize niche markets and how to reach them. No matter who we introduced him to in the business world, within five minutes of meeting him, they wanted to work with him. He has a true gift.”

“This is only the beginning for him.” Lisa Sallen, West Bloomfield High School.

When asked about his thoughts on the significance of entrepreneurship, Cooper shared, “I truly believe that being an entrepreneur is one of the best ways you could serve your community and country. If you can pinpoint a pressing need or issue in the world and create a product or service to solve that issue and create jobs while doing that, than you are not only providing a solution to a pressing issue, but you are also contributing back to the economy.”

Cooper went on to share, “Working towards economic growth and development is one of the most important goals that we should all be focused on. Knowing that my business and my team are a major factor contributing to the growth and development of the cities we work in is incredibly important to me. I am confident that working towards economic growth will always be a goal of mine and I will work to make sure that all my future endeavors reflect that.”

To learn more about Skoop and their future expansion please visit http://rideskoop.com/