May 2017
Esqalate, an Orange County nonprofit, won the third annual Designing Solutions for Poverty Pitch Event hosted by the Blum Center for Poverty Alleviation. The nonprofit, founded by Chad Trainer, uses online services to connect experienced attorneys with the law school grads who can help them provide free and low cost legal services to poor people.
The Shark Tank-style pitch contest allows young people to connect with successful business people and entrepreneurs -- and to get advice. The many students and potential investors in Orange County make it the perfect place for such an event.
"It’s natural for Orange County because you have a lot of entrepreneurs here and you have a lot of students who want to do good,” Blum Center Director Richard Matthew told the Orange County Register.