Dawn Dickson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dawn Dickson
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Dickson-Akpoghene in 2020
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| Born |
Dawn Dickson
January 1, 1979 Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Ohio State University |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
| Known for | Founder and owner of PopCom |
| Spouse(s) |
Frederick Kevbe Akpoghene
(m. 2019) |
| Children | 1 |
Dawn Dickson, born on January 1, 1979, is an American businesswoman, inventor, author, and investor. She is also known as Dawn Dickson Akpoghene. Dawn is the founder of PopCom, a company that makes smart vending machines. She also started Flat Out of Heels, a company that sells rollable flat shoes.
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Early Life and Learning
Dawn Dickson was born in Ohio. Her mother ran a daycare from their home, and her father worked on remodeling houses. Her family also had a business that took down old buildings. Even as a child, Dawn showed her business skills. She earned money by selling candy, old toys, and lemonade.
Dawn studied journalism at Ohio State University. She earned a Bachelor's of Arts degree there. Later, she did more studies in information technology at DeVry University. She was also chosen for a special program called Milestone Makers. This program helps experienced entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
Dawn's Business Journey
After finishing an internship, Dawn got a full-time job as a business analyst. She then managed online marketing for a part of the Nationwide company. In 2002, while still working and studying, Dawn started her first company. It was called TheUrbanStarr.com.
TheUrbanStarr.com was a website that shared information about local events and fun things to do in Central Ohio. It even streamed music and videos online before YouTube existed! In 2005, Dawn began her own consulting business. She helped other companies with online marketing and business growth. During the 2008 recession, she decided to close TheUrbanStarr.com website.
Flat Out of Heels: A Smart Idea
In 2011, Dawn had a brilliant idea for a new product. She had been wearing high heels all day at an event. Her feet hurt, and she wanted to find comfortable flat shoes at the airport. But she couldn't find any! She noticed many other women were walking barefoot because their feet hurt too.
Dawn's solution was to create rollable flat shoes. These shoes could fit easily into a purse. She planned to sell them in vending machines. This way, women could quickly find relief for their sore feet. Dawn raised $1.3 million from investors to start her Flat Out of Heels company.
PopCom: Smart Vending Machines
To sell her shoes, Dawn started a company called Shoe Vending International, Inc. This company later changed its name to Solutions Vending International, Inc., and then to PopCom in 2017. Her goal was to build special vending machines.
She found a supplier in the United Kingdom. Her first Flat Out of Heels machine was placed in the Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport. More machines followed in places like LIV Nightclub in Miami and MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas. In 2014, Dawn was invited to appear on a web show called "Your Biz Fix." After the show, she decided to make vending machines for more than just shoes. In 2020, Dawn received a patent for her PopShop Digital vending machine. This means she owns the unique design for her smart vending machines.
In 2019, Dawn raised over $1 million for PopCom using a special way of getting investments called equity crowdfunding. In 2020, she started another crowdfunding campaign and raised $1.07 million more. By 2022, PopCom had raised a total of $6 million from over 10,000 investors! Dawn also knows a lot about new technologies like cryptocurrency and blockchain. Because of this, she was asked to speak to a group in Congress in March 2020. She talked about how blockchain technology can help small businesses.
Other Exciting Projects
Dawn Dickson also hosts a podcast called BARS! On this podcast, she shares tips and ideas about how to be a successful entrepreneur. She also owns Nia Studio, a yoga studio in Columbus, Ohio. The studio is named after her daughter.
Awards and Recognition
In 2022, Dawn received a special award at the United Nations. It was the Technology Pioneer Award from the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization. This award celebrates women who are leaders and innovators in technology. The US Congress also recognized this important award. It highlights women entrepreneurs and the positive impact they have on the world.
Books by Dawn Dickson
In 2021, Dawn Dickson released a book with her co-author, Frederick Kevbe Akpoghene. The book is called Started in the DM: Using Social Media to Find the One. Dawn was very busy and didn't have much time for dating. The book tells the story of how her future husband first contacted her through Instagram messages. It also gives advice to business people on how to use social media for dating.
In 2021, Dawn signed a deal with Penguin Books. She plans to publish a new book called Built Differently in 2023.
