Say It Forward With This Connecticut Startup INTERVIEW

By now everyone has seen the startups pop up that let you put all of your Instagram photos on just about every product under the sun. We’ve even reported on a startup that prints your tweets onto toilet paper. Connecticut startup Say It Forward, curates meaningful and inspiring social media content and puts them on greeting cards, with other products soon to follow.

Say It Forward says they do this to promote positivity and inspire people. Their goal is to inspire, share and connect. Surely the founders at Say It Forward know what the real world is like, which is precisely why they’ve created Say It Forward. Now rather than turning to the inspirational minds at Hallmark, Say It Forward uses messages from the public at large for their inspirational products. Think of it as crowd-sourced inspiration.

The Connecticut startup’s founders are two sisters Steph Centorino(22) and Allie Centorino (18) they’ve also enlisted the help of their mother as the chief ideas officer. Step and Allie are no strangers to the world of good. Their previous startup, which is still in operation today, is called CUREchiefs which are funky and soft bandanas designed for people with cancer who’ve lost their hair due to chemo-therapy.

We got a chance to interview mom, the Chief Ideas Officer, Sandra Centorino. Check out the interview below:

What is your startup, what does it do? 

Our start up is called “Say It Forward” we are a unique social enterprise that uses the power of social media and technology for social good. SIF’s  focus is on people and using them to create positivity and change in the world.

Our mission is simple- we curate messages from ordinary people of all ages, races and backgrounds, we do this online, then we create “by-products” cool colorful items such as cards, t-shirts, and other accessories and sell them (also online) **currently we are beginning with just the cards, then expanding.. We also want to “share” the messages and inspire those in need. So we have created when you BUY one we SHARE one program!

Our goal is to INSPIRE-SHARE and CONNECT people with positive words:)

and PS** we have handed out over 7000 free  Say It Forward cards to test our start up idea in the past year!

Who are the founders and what are their backgrounds

The founders are two sisters Steph (22) and Allie(18) with their  mom as the Chief Ideas Officer!

Our backgrounds are all about hope and inspiration, we have also founded a non-profit charity in 2000 called The CUREchief Foundation,  a grass roots 501c3 charity who makes and delivers CUREchiefs (soft bandanas) to people with cancer that have lost their hair. It is an all  volunteer organization that began when the girls were 6 and 10 and has delivered over 500,000 CUREchiefs worldwide free of charge.

Where are you based?

Connecticut

What problem does your startup solve?

Say It Forward founders Steph and Allie  (that’s us!) were disturbed by the negative news on TV, internet and newspapers and they were directly effected by cyber bullying. “It’s perfect timing for Say It Forward says Steph and Allie, it spreads positivity and solves the problem of communication. In a society where people text, IM  and tweet as a way to communicate , Say It Forward is a lasting message and brings people together face to face!

What is one challenge that you’ve overcome in the startup process?

NOT SURE… we are still in the Start-up process.  Learning and planning, taking steps to do it the right way and making connections to the right people.

Who are your mentors and role models?

Our mom is our main mentor! But we have so many mentors in different areas and know that is so important to partner up and collaborate with those that have the same passion as we do. Most of all we feel it’s important to count on our mentors who are professionals.

Whats one thing the world doesn’t know about you or your startup?

That  SAY IT FORWARD will be a LIFE CHANGING MOVEMENT!!!  Such a simple idea that can really change the world and spread happiness.

What’s next for your startup?

Getting the word out and collecting the messages online, then funding. It would be awesome to get exposure on Nibletz and use that to get the word out and collect messages!

Linkage:

Check out Say It Forward Here

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