{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"101967","rtpr_id":"nPn82N134a","ticker":"TRV","exchange":"NYSE","all_tickers":["TRV"],"title":"Simply Business and Sky's the Limit Announce Winners of 2026 Big Dreams Grant","author":"PR Newswire","published_at":"2026-07-29T12:00:26.433Z","article_body":"Simply Business and Sky's the Limit Announce Winners of 2026 Big Dreams Grant\n\nPR Newswire\n\nBOSTON, July 29, 2026\n\nFive trailblazing small businesses selected from more than 6,500 applications\nto receive funding, mentorship and resources\n\nBOSTON, July 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Simply Business, the leading digital\nmarketplace for small business insurance, and Sky's the Limit, a digital\nbusiness accelerator for early-stage entrepreneurs, today announced five\nwinners and an additional 20 finalists of the 2026 Big Dreams Grant\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=2284768141&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simplybusiness.com%2Fcampaign%2Fbigdreamsgrant%2F&a=2026+Big+Dreams+Grant)\n. The grant is a part of Simply Business's global Big Dreams Project, which\naims to help 10,000 small businesses start or scale by 2030.\n\nAfter reviewing more than 6,500 applications from across the United States,\nfive standout businesses were selected for their community impact, potential\nto scale, and clear, strategic plans.\n\nThe Big Dreams Grant Winners\n\n * BirdieBlue\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=2053660892&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shopbirdieblue.com%2F&a=BirdieBlue)\n\n is a Vermont-based sustainable outdoor adventure brand that upcycles\nhard-to-recycle outdoor gear into premium, American-made bags.\n * KneadED NEO LLC\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=2361049634&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kneadedneo.com%2F&a=KneadED+NEO+LLC)\n\n is an Ohio-based worker-owned cooperative bakery and shared commercial\nkitchen space designed to empower aspiring local food entrepreneurs.\n * Rise & Ritual\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=1801200610&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.riseandritual.com%2F&a=Rise+%26+Ritual)\n\n is a Pennsylvania-based tea house and apothecary that blends plant medicine\nwith preventative care.\n * Select Auto Parts & Sales\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=230853332&u=https%3A%2F%2Fselectautopartsmilwaukee.com%2F&a=Select+Auto+Parts+%26+Sales)\n\n is a Wisconsin-based indoor salvage facility that services over 400 repair\nshops while offering community workforce training.\n * Stereotype Co\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=1598386825&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stereotypeco.com%2F%3Fsrsltid%3DAfmBOoq1bPE-s4nAy-ZdeQicE6fRG-a4Ia8Wnsh7-EnDmb1cdDdkfWKj&a=Stereotype+Co)\n\n is a New York-based lifestyle brand and creative agency that empowers New\nYork City public school students to design, manufacture, and launch\nmerchandise-driven businesses directly from their classrooms.\n\"These entrepreneurs show us exactly what is possible when passion and\ncommitment meet a big dream,\" said Samantha Roady, U.S. CEO of Simply\nBusiness. \"We are proud to support them as they build strong, lasting\nbusinesses.\"\n\nBoosting Small Business Growth\n\n\"The first thing I'm going to do with this grant is to hire someone who can do\noutreach,\" said Dave Nudelman, founder of Stereotype Co., \"Right now, I'm\ndoing everything. I'm doing the sales calls. I'm doing the zooms. On top of\nthis, I'm in the schools throughout the week to run the programs and I'm\npreparing all of the orders for the projects. Yes, it's been fun and given me\na good workout, but I feel the burn from it.\"\n\nHis experience reflects a common challenge. According to a 2026 Simply\nBusiness survey, 80% of small business owners reported spending significant\nhours on tasks like administration and finance rather than focusing on growth.\nSimply Business and Sky's the Limit designed this year's grant package\nspecifically to counter those operational bottlenecks.\n\n\"A strong support system helps a small business endure,\" said Bo Ghirardelli,\nCEO and Co-founder of Sky's the Limit. \"We're excited to welcome the finalists\ninto our vibrant entrepreneur community and equip them with our Launchpad\nprogram, including mentorship and software tools to help secure long-term\nsuccess.\"\n\nFor business owners on the ground, that sense of community isn't just a perk\n– it's essential for survival.\n\n\"Be in the community. Don't do this alone. It can be a lonely thing to be a\nbusiness owner,\" said Natasha Broxton, owner of Select Auto Parts. \"Talk about\nyour business. Share your journey. You never know who might have a resource or\nsolution that you don't even know about. There are so many people inside and\noutside the community who want you to succeed.\"\n\nAbout the Big Dreams Grant 2026 Program\n\n * Direct Funding: Five winners will each receive $5,000 to fuel their next\nstage of growth.\n * Mentorship and Training: Winners and finalists will join Sky's the Limit's\nbusiness accelerator and mentorship program, receiving strategic guidance from\nexperienced business leaders.\n * Tools and Systems: Winners and finalists will gain access to Sky's the\nLimit's Launchpad platform, a suite of tools to streamline operations,\nautomate workflows and focus on revenue growth.\nFor more information on the winners and finalists, please visit\nhttps://www.simplybusiness.com/campaign/bigdreamsgrant/\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=1649184570&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simplybusiness.com%2Fcampaign%2Fbigdreamsgrant%2F&a=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simplybusiness.com%2Fcampaign%2Fbigdreamsgrant%2F)\n.\n\nAbout Simply Business\n\nSimply Business\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=3809958454&u=https%3A%2F%2Fedge.prnewswire.com%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D4679955-1%26h%3D3189968393%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.simplybusiness.com%252F%26a%3DSimply%2BBusiness&a=Simply+Business)\n helps small businesses compare quotes and buy insurance from leading\ncarriers in minutes and manage their coverage all in one place. The company is\ndedicated to making small business insurance simple and accessible by offering\ntransparency, choice and value. Simply Business's product offerings include\ngeneral liability, professional liability, business owner's policies, workers\ncompensation, cyber insurance and more.\n\nAn insurtech pioneer, Simply Business has 20 years of experience supporting\nthe needs of small businesses, with over one million active customers. Founded\nin the UK in 2005, Simply Business launched its U.S. operations in 2017.\nSimply Business is a subsidiary of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=2691360079&u=https%3A%2F%2Fedge.prnewswire.com%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D4679955-1%26h%3D2943581523%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fedge.prnewswire.com%252Fc%252Flink%252F%253Ft%253D0%2526l%253Den%2526o%253D4671396-1%2526h%253D673672844%2526u%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.travelers.com%25252F%2526a%253DTRV%26a%3DTRV&a=TRV)\n).\n\nAbout Sky's the Limit\n\nSky's the Limit is a nonprofit digital business accelerator that helps\nearly-stage, underestimated entrepreneurs gain traction, generate revenue and\nbuild scalable businesses through mentorship, community, startup grants, and\nhands-on execution support. For more information, visit\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=1632148980&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skysthelimit.org%2F&a=%C2%A0)\nhttps://www.skysthelimit.org\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=2038237254&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skysthelimit.org%2F&a=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skysthelimit.org)\n.\n\nMyAnh Nghiem, myanh.nghiem@simplybusiness.com\n(mailto:myanh.nghiem@simplybusiness.com)\n\nView original content to download\nmultimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/simply-business-and-skys-the-limit-announce-winners-of-2026-big-dreams-grant-302837122.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/simply-business-and-skys-the-limit-announce-winners-of-2026-big-dreams-grant-302837122.html)\n\nSOURCE Simply Business\n\n\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mmx.prnewswire.com/media/MS1189319/Simply-Business-Logo.jpg?id=OA2798512\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved.","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nPn82N134a","title":"Simply Business and Sky's the Limit Announce Winners of 2026 Big Dreams Grant","author":"PR Newswire","ticker":"TRV","created":"2026-07-29T12:00:26.433Z","tickers":["TRV"],"exchange":"NYSE","article_body":"Simply Business and Sky's the Limit Announce Winners of 2026 Big Dreams Grant\n\nPR Newswire\n\nBOSTON, July 29, 2026\n\nFive trailblazing small businesses selected from more than 6,500 applications\nto receive funding, mentorship and resources\n\nBOSTON, July 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Simply Business, the leading digital\nmarketplace for small business insurance, and Sky's the Limit, a digital\nbusiness accelerator for early-stage entrepreneurs, today announced five\nwinners and an additional 20 finalists of the 2026 Big Dreams Grant\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=2284768141&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simplybusiness.com%2Fcampaign%2Fbigdreamsgrant%2F&a=2026+Big+Dreams+Grant)\n. The grant is a part of Simply Business's global Big Dreams Project, which\naims to help 10,000 small businesses start or scale by 2030.\n\nAfter reviewing more than 6,500 applications from across the United States,\nfive standout businesses were selected for their community impact, potential\nto scale, and clear, strategic plans.\n\nThe Big Dreams Grant Winners\n\n * BirdieBlue\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=2053660892&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shopbirdieblue.com%2F&a=BirdieBlue)\n\n is a Vermont-based sustainable outdoor adventure brand that upcycles\nhard-to-recycle outdoor gear into premium, American-made bags.\n * KneadED NEO LLC\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=2361049634&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kneadedneo.com%2F&a=KneadED+NEO+LLC)\n\n is an Ohio-based worker-owned cooperative bakery and shared commercial\nkitchen space designed to empower aspiring local food entrepreneurs.\n * Rise & Ritual\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=1801200610&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.riseandritual.com%2F&a=Rise+%26+Ritual)\n\n is a Pennsylvania-based tea house and apothecary that blends plant medicine\nwith preventative care.\n * Select Auto Parts & Sales\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=230853332&u=https%3A%2F%2Fselectautopartsmilwaukee.com%2F&a=Select+Auto+Parts+%26+Sales)\n\n is a Wisconsin-based indoor salvage facility that services over 400 repair\nshops while offering community workforce training.\n * Stereotype Co\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=1598386825&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stereotypeco.com%2F%3Fsrsltid%3DAfmBOoq1bPE-s4nAy-ZdeQicE6fRG-a4Ia8Wnsh7-EnDmb1cdDdkfWKj&a=Stereotype+Co)\n\n is a New York-based lifestyle brand and creative agency that empowers New\nYork City public school students to design, manufacture, and launch\nmerchandise-driven businesses directly from their classrooms.\n\"These entrepreneurs show us exactly what is possible when passion and\ncommitment meet a big dream,\" said Samantha Roady, U.S. CEO of Simply\nBusiness. \"We are proud to support them as they build strong, lasting\nbusinesses.\"\n\nBoosting Small Business Growth\n\n\"The first thing I'm going to do with this grant is to hire someone who can do\noutreach,\" said Dave Nudelman, founder of Stereotype Co., \"Right now, I'm\ndoing everything. I'm doing the sales calls. I'm doing the zooms. On top of\nthis, I'm in the schools throughout the week to run the programs and I'm\npreparing all of the orders for the projects. Yes, it's been fun and given me\na good workout, but I feel the burn from it.\"\n\nHis experience reflects a common challenge. According to a 2026 Simply\nBusiness survey, 80% of small business owners reported spending significant\nhours on tasks like administration and finance rather than focusing on growth.\nSimply Business and Sky's the Limit designed this year's grant package\nspecifically to counter those operational bottlenecks.\n\n\"A strong support system helps a small business endure,\" said Bo Ghirardelli,\nCEO and Co-founder of Sky's the Limit. \"We're excited to welcome the finalists\ninto our vibrant entrepreneur community and equip them with our Launchpad\nprogram, including mentorship and software tools to help secure long-term\nsuccess.\"\n\nFor business owners on the ground, that sense of community isn't just a perk\n– it's essential for survival.\n\n\"Be in the community. Don't do this alone. It can be a lonely thing to be a\nbusiness owner,\" said Natasha Broxton, owner of Select Auto Parts. \"Talk about\nyour business. Share your journey. You never know who might have a resource or\nsolution that you don't even know about. There are so many people inside and\noutside the community who want you to succeed.\"\n\nAbout the Big Dreams Grant 2026 Program\n\n * Direct Funding: Five winners will each receive $5,000 to fuel their next\nstage of growth.\n * Mentorship and Training: Winners and finalists will join Sky's the Limit's\nbusiness accelerator and mentorship program, receiving strategic guidance from\nexperienced business leaders.\n * Tools and Systems: Winners and finalists will gain access to Sky's the\nLimit's Launchpad platform, a suite of tools to streamline operations,\nautomate workflows and focus on revenue growth.\nFor more information on the winners and finalists, please visit\nhttps://www.simplybusiness.com/campaign/bigdreamsgrant/\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=1649184570&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simplybusiness.com%2Fcampaign%2Fbigdreamsgrant%2F&a=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simplybusiness.com%2Fcampaign%2Fbigdreamsgrant%2F)\n.\n\nAbout Simply Business\n\nSimply Business\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=3809958454&u=https%3A%2F%2Fedge.prnewswire.com%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D4679955-1%26h%3D3189968393%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.simplybusiness.com%252F%26a%3DSimply%2BBusiness&a=Simply+Business)\n helps small businesses compare quotes and buy insurance from leading\ncarriers in minutes and manage their coverage all in one place. The company is\ndedicated to making small business insurance simple and accessible by offering\ntransparency, choice and value. Simply Business's product offerings include\ngeneral liability, professional liability, business owner's policies, workers\ncompensation, cyber insurance and more.\n\nAn insurtech pioneer, Simply Business has 20 years of experience supporting\nthe needs of small businesses, with over one million active customers. Founded\nin the UK in 2005, Simply Business launched its U.S. operations in 2017.\nSimply Business is a subsidiary of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=2691360079&u=https%3A%2F%2Fedge.prnewswire.com%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D4679955-1%26h%3D2943581523%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fedge.prnewswire.com%252Fc%252Flink%252F%253Ft%253D0%2526l%253Den%2526o%253D4671396-1%2526h%253D673672844%2526u%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.travelers.com%25252F%2526a%253DTRV%26a%3DTRV&a=TRV)\n).\n\nAbout Sky's the Limit\n\nSky's the Limit is a nonprofit digital business accelerator that helps\nearly-stage, underestimated entrepreneurs gain traction, generate revenue and\nbuild scalable businesses through mentorship, community, startup grants, and\nhands-on execution support. For more information, visit\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=1632148980&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skysthelimit.org%2F&a=%C2%A0)\nhttps://www.skysthelimit.org\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4740929-1&h=2038237254&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skysthelimit.org%2F&a=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skysthelimit.org)\n.\n\nMyAnh Nghiem, myanh.nghiem@simplybusiness.com\n(mailto:myanh.nghiem@simplybusiness.com)\n\nView original content to download\nmultimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/simply-business-and-skys-the-limit-announce-winners-of-2026-big-dreams-grant-302837122.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/simply-business-and-skys-the-limit-announce-winners-of-2026-big-dreams-grant-302837122.html)\n\nSOURCE Simply Business\n\n\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mmx.prnewswire.com/media/MS1189319/Simply-Business-Logo.jpg?id=OA2798512\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved."},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-07-29T12:00:26.530302142Z","server_sent_at_ms":1785326426530},"received_at":"2026-07-29T12:00:26.579Z","source_url":"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/simply-business-and-skys-the-limit-announce-winners-of-2026-big-dreams-grant-302837122.html"},"analysis":{"id":"90988","press_release_id":"101967","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Insurance","sector":"Financials"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"other","narrative":"Simply Business, a subsidiary of Travelers, announced five winners for its 2026 Big Dreams Grant, awarding $5,000 and mentorship to each selected small business.\n\nThe grant program attracted over 6,500 applications, with winners chosen for their community impact and potential to scale.\n\nThis initiative is part of the company's Big Dreams Project, which aims to support 10,000 small businesses by 2030.","sentiment":"neutral","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Subsidiary announces micro-grant winners."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"grant_winners":5,"grant_finalists":20,"grant_applications":6500,"grant_amount_per_winner":5000}},"quotedText":"These entrepreneurs show us exactly what is possible when passion and commitment meet a big dream","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Samantha Roady","role":"U.S. CEO of Simply Business"},{"name":"Dave Nudelman","role":"founder of Stereotype Co"},{"name":"Bo Ghirardelli","role":"CEO and Co-founder of Sky's the Limit"},{"name":"Natasha Broxton","role":"owner of Select Auto Parts"}],"products":["Big Dreams Grant","Big Dreams Project","Launchpad"],"companies":[{"name":"Simply Business","relationship":"subsidiary"},{"name":"Sky's the Limit","relationship":"partner"},{"name":"BirdieBlue","relationship":"grant winner"},{"name":"KneadED NEO LLC","relationship":"grant winner"},{"name":"Rise & Ritual","relationship":"grant winner"},{"name":"Select Auto Parts & Sales","relationship":"grant winner"},{"name":"Stereotype Co","relationship":"grant winner"},{"name":"The Travelers Companies, Inc.","ticker":"TRV","relationship":"parent company"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$5,000","context":"grant amount per winner"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"Small-scale grant program ($25,000 total funding) operated by a subsidiary; financially immaterial to the parent company."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"TRV"},"globalImportance":5,"audienceRelevance":10,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"large_cap","eventGravity":"subsidiary_csr","financialMateriality":"negligible"}},"event_type":"other","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"neutral","material_impact_score":1,"narrative":"Simply Business, a subsidiary of Travelers, announced five winners for its 2026 Big Dreams Grant, awarding $5,000 and mentorship to each selected small business.\n\nThe grant program attracted over 6,500 applications, with winners chosen for their community impact and potential to scale.\n\nThis initiative is part of the company's Big Dreams Project, which aims to support 10,000 small businesses by 2030.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"grant_winners":5,"grant_finalists":20,"grant_applications":6500,"grant_amount_per_winner":5000}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Samantha Roady","role":"U.S. CEO of Simply Business"},{"name":"Dave Nudelman","role":"founder of Stereotype Co"},{"name":"Bo Ghirardelli","role":"CEO and Co-founder of Sky's the Limit"},{"name":"Natasha Broxton","role":"owner of Select Auto Parts"}],"products":["Big Dreams Grant","Big Dreams Project","Launchpad"],"companies":[{"name":"Simply Business","relationship":"subsidiary"},{"name":"Sky's the Limit","relationship":"partner"},{"name":"BirdieBlue","relationship":"grant winner"},{"name":"KneadED NEO LLC","relationship":"grant winner"},{"name":"Rise & Ritual","relationship":"grant winner"},{"name":"Select Auto Parts & Sales","relationship":"grant winner"},{"name":"Stereotype Co","relationship":"grant winner"},{"name":"The Travelers Companies, Inc.","ticker":"TRV","relationship":"parent company"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$5,000","context":"grant amount per winner"}]},"model_name":"glm-4.7","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-07-29T15:59:16.698Z","global_importance":5,"audience_relevance":10,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"large_cap","eventGravity":"subsidiary_csr","financialMateriality":"negligible"}},"durationMs":158078,"modelName":"glm-4.7"}}