Founder will use proceeds to support student businesses after getting publication's start at the University of Marylands business school
College Park, MD March 13, 2007 - SHOP DC, a Washington, D.C. shopping and fashion guide founded by Zoey Rawlins, was recently acquired by Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive (WPNI) and has been relaunched as DC Scout. A former University of Maryland MBA student, Rawlins announced she will use some of the proceeds to benefit student entrepreneurs at the Robert H. Smith School of Business.
Rawlins created SHOP DC two years ago while working toward her MBA at the Smith School and with $7,000 in startup funding from the schools Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. The Dingman Center assisted SHOP DC as part of $50,000 in seed stage funding the center annually makes available to student-run, start-up companies.
Its an amazing opportunity to become part of Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive and it gives me great satisfaction to be able to leverage my success to the advantage of other Smith School entrepreneurs. Without the Dingman Center, SHOP DC would never have launched or come this far, said Rawlins. This is a way to say thank you.
DC Scout caters to online residential shoppers eager to pinpoint local retailers, fashion trends, events and the best neighborhoods for shopping. Rawlins launched DC Scout on washingtonpost.com February 26, and has joined WPNI as its brand manager for the online product.
Were thrilled to offer our users the ability to find compelling fashion-oriented content on washingtonpost.com. We believe that DC Scout will provide an important service to our stylish readers and savvy local advertisers, said Henry Tam Jr., director, Local Product Development, WPNI.
Washington DC was really lacking a local shopping and retail source. In less than two years, Zoey came up with a concept, turned out a successful product and is now part of one of the worlds top media companies, said Asher Epstein, managing director of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. What an inspiration! Zoey sets a great example for the Smith Schools student entrepreneurs and cares enough to generously share in her success.
Financials of the deal were not disclosed.
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About Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive
Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive (WPNI) is the online publishing subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO). Its mission is to create truly interactive platforms that offer unmatched user experiences by developing editorial products with world-class reporting and award-winning content.
WPNIs news and information sites, which include washingtonpost.com, Slate, Newsweek.com and Budget Travel Online, inform and encourage conversation and debate while reaching millions of unique and active users each month. WPNI properties long lists of awards include the first-ever Emmy for original video journalism online awarded to washingtonpost.com.
The company is headquartered in Arlington, Va.
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About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.