Joliet Tech Startup Giveth.net: 'This Is Going To Go Nationwide'

JOLIET, IL — Joliet native Jaime Frausto has launched a new technology company that he hopes becomes an international hit. It's called Giveth.net.

It's a way for people to make an online meal donation to a local restaurant, either as a gift for someone or perhaps to provide food for someone in need.

"I grew up in Joliet and that's my way of giving back," Frausto told Joliet Patch during a recent interview at Niko's Pizzeria, 20 Ohio Street.

A handful of Joliet restaurants have teamed up with Giveth.net: Niko's Pizzeria, Jerrie's Dogs And More, 1003 Essington Road; Jody's Hot Dogs, 326 Republic Avenue; and Louis' Family Restaurant, 1001 West Jefferson Street.

Frausto plans to add several more Joliet area restaurants in the coming weeks as more and more people become aware of Giveth.net. For now, Joliet and Dubuque, Iowa, are the two main communities where he has launched his new tech start up.

According to his website, someone making a gift has three current options:

• Your Registered Ministry/Community Center of choice. The Ministry/Community Center will receive your Giveth Gift Code and will distribute to recipients at their discretion.
• First Come First Serve Bucket. In this selection any recipient that has access to technology may log into Giveth and claim a Giveth Gift Code.
• Post to Facebook, in this selection your Giveth Gift Code can be seen by your friends and can be claimed by anyone.

"All we're doing is streamlining the giving process," Frausto told Joliet Patch. "The idea is to have this thing go viral. It's a technology start up, and it's for everybody, not just for the needy. This is going to go nationwide. We are starting with restaurants, and we eventually want to add hair (salons and barbershops), clothing stores, the veterinarians, for people who cannot afford to get their dog's shots."

People can make a donation through Giveth.net for someone's birthday. A business can gift a meal to their employees for a work anniversary. A parent of a college student in Joliet can gift a meal to their son or daughter in Joliet attending the University of St. Francis, as examples.

If people want to donate a meal for someone in need or to an organization such as the Spanish Community Center, they can make a donation through the giveth.net website for one of the participating Joliet restaurants.

"It's a win, win, win, for the giver, the service provider and the recipient," Frausto told Joliet Patch. "The giver, he feels fulfilled. He knows where his money went. The next one that wins is Niko's Pizzeria because he gets the full price. And obviously, the third win is the person that gets the Giveth Gift Code."

Frausto, a graduate of Joliet Central High School, said he is proud to have launched Giveth.net in his hometown of Joliet.

"Who says that only Silicon Valley can create technology startups," he said. "Joliet is up-and-coming and Giveth.net wants to be that technology start up that puts Joliet on a good name worldwide."

Actually, there is a Silicon Valley connection to Frausto's new Joliet startup.

He is working closely with Gauran Kumkar, Giveth.net's chief technology officer, who has made at least two trips to Joliet to help launch the new virtual business.

"He's out of Silicon Valley," Frausto said, "so we've got the expertise."

Below is the Giveth.net's YouTube video to show how the giving process works.

And more information, visit the Giveth.Net website here.