[April 11, 2012]

As Obama Signs JOBS Act, Prosper Inc. Supports Startups and Small Businesses with One-to-One Mentoring Programs

President Barack Obama signed bipartisan jobs legislation last week that will be a "potential game changer" for startups and small businesses.

The JOBS Act-the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act-aims to ease access to money for entrepreneurs, including facilitating the practice of online "crowd-funding"-allowing all Americans to invest in new companies-and reducing the red tape involved in publicly selling stock.

Among those entrepreneurs applauding the JOBS Act are Justin and Ann Swank, a married couple from Plains, Kansas, and e-commerce students at Utah-based Prosper Inc., a leading one-to-one distance education company specializing in entrepreneurship and e-commerce, among other business disciplines.

"We started with Prosper in hopes of developing a part-time business," said Justin Swank, a full-time paramedic. "Our Prosper coach began by guiding us through the basics of developing and marketing a website."

"With Prosper's help, we were able to launch our site pretty quickly," ffirmed Ann Swank, an elementary school teacher. "We have been growing ever since, and recently hired a few people part-time to help us out with the added business."

The Swanks' website, www.Fire-Gear.net, sells firefighting and EMS products. Last year, the site generated more than $45,000 in revenue. Today, Fire-Gear.net is on pace to achieve a 300 percent increase in revenue in 2012, having already grossed more than $50,000 in sales this year.

"At Prosper, we've helped thousands of working couples such as Justin and Ann Swank realize their dreams of growing a business or diversifying their income," said Ethan Willis, Prosper co-founder and CEO and co-author with Randy Garn of the New York Times best seller Prosper: Create the Life You Really Want (Berrett-Koehler). "The economy may have its ups and downs but the success of our many of our students remains constant."

Prosper Inc. is a global one-to-one distance education company for students seeking greater personal and financial prosperity. Founded in 1999, Prosper offers fully customized mentoring programs in real estate and stock market investing, entrepreneurship, e-commerce, personal finance, and personal development. For more information about Prosper programs, visit www.prospering.com.

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