Founder Fridays - Meet the Founders of GMS, TONA Activewear and HomeStop!
A look at the founders of three emerging startups.
Welcome to our end-of-the-week edition of Startup Deal Desk – Founder Fridays!
Every Friday, we highlight several promising startups and the founders behind them.
Our goal is to foster connections between innovative founders and prospective investors, providing a community where both sides can learn (and potentially earn) from each other.
If you saw our Tuesday issue, you’re probably familiar with:
Graceful Management Systems (GMS) and co-founder/CEO Tommy Stanek
TONA Activewear and Founder/CEO David Dean
HomeStop Incorporated and CEO Amod Dandge
And if you’re not, we’re going to share a bit more about them. Enjoy!
1️⃣ Tommy Stanek pioneers autonomous construction project management with Graceful Management Systems
Tommy Stanek is a multifaceted entrepreneur and motivational coach who is using his experience to solve major problems in the construction industry. He founded Graceful Management Systems (GMS) with a vision to tackle the $400B wasted annually in material and labor costs due to poor project management.
GMS is a cloud-based, AI-powered construction project management software that autonomously analyzes project data and optimizes project costs, schedules, and estimates, and provides real-time adjustments. This not only reduces material waste by up to 25% and labor costs by 31% but also improves estimate accuracy to 95%.
GMS’ subscription model projects significant profitability, aiming to scale to over $2.2M in profitability by 2028. The company also has a head start because unlike their competitors, their software was engineered for AI/ML. Having already secured $600K, GMS is currently seeking an additional $900K to accelerate its next growth phase.
Learn more about GMS’ mission and capabilities here. Check out their deck here.
Click below to meet Tommy Stanek.
2️⃣ How David Dean is supporting a serious cause by redefining the gym experience
David Dean is an All-American athlete and successful entrepreneur who is tackling a critical social issue – teen suicide. Motivated by the impact of suicide on his family, David and his co-founder, the founding designer of Lululemon, founded TONA Activewear, not only to meet a market need but also to drive social change.
TONA offers high-end women’s leggings designed for serious gym-goers. Their leggings are engineered with proprietary Stay-Up Technology™ and TONAFit™ fabric, offering unparalleled softness, support, and durability. For every ten pairs of leggings sold, TONA will donate one free mental health counseling session to a teen in need.
TONA’s customers can attest to the quality and appeal of their products. The brand got over 170 5-star reviews and sold $228K with 1783 orders in their first beta test. TONA is currently raising a $3M Seed round with $2.2M already secured. These funds will be used to scale marketing, enhance product offerings, and drive revenue growth.
Find out more about TONA Activewear here. Check out their deck here.
Click below to meet David Dean.
3️⃣ Amod Dandge’s specialty construction company is building wondrous experiences
Amod Dandge is a seasoned entrepreneur with a track record of scaling four $100M+ growth/exits, including an NYSE IPO. He led over $1B of combined growth in past companies and grew and managed teams of thousand people across 10+ countries. He is now the CEO of HomeStop Incorporated, a specialty construction company.
HomeStop Inc. provides specialized services across commercial, residential, and community sectors. The company has a diverse portfolio with over 30k projects, from commercial aquatics to residential exteriors. HomeStop has also acquired or built different brands under each specialty trade with deep expertise and a stellar reputation.
HomeStop has achieved $7.5M in revenue and $400k in EBITDA over the past year and currently on an $11M revenue run rate with $900k EBITDA in 2024. The company is currently in the process of raising a $2M equity investment to expand sales, marketing, and partnerships, with a goal of reaching $100M in revenue within five years.
Get more information on HomeStop Inc. here. Check out their deck here.
Click below to meet Amod Dandge.
Thank you for sticking until the end!
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Until next time!