Gordon Duggins

Colfax, NC (USA)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal

Phoenix Rising, LLC

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Location: High Point
Industry: Healthcare
Year Founded: 2018
Number Employees: 1-10 people
Business Stage: Growth (not profitable)
Entity Type: Limited Liability Company
Description: My Shield sanitizing products are a new technology for killing bacteria and viruses, and keeps on killing for days or weeks after the liquid, gel or spray has dried and bonded to the surface ((URL removed)al or other surfaces). It is alcohol free and kills in three ways so that even the most challenging spores and superbugs are killed in such a way they cannot mutate. My Shield and the developed products have been created by two scientists who live, at least part-time, in my area of North Carolina, hence my opportunity to meet one of them, Bruce Smith, three years ago and begin learning of these products and to walk with him through the independent testing and various government approvals. Forty-one years ago I started mentoring a seven year old in upcountry Liberia. That relationship has continued and he is currently in charge of quality assurance in the Ministry of Health. His name is Ngormbu Jusu Ballah, MD, MPH. Currently he and his classmates are in charge of the ministries. Liberia was ravaged in 2014 and 2015 by Ebola, and there is currently an outbreak of Ebola in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Additionally there are numerous other superbugs that Liberians and other Africans succumb to. However this problem is a global issue. China has already embraced these products for use in hospitals and schools. The Chinese have proven in the field that My Shield technology kills the spores and bacteria that are so problematic in hospitals, as well as the viruses and bacteria in schools. In fact, the major company, Evergrande, has just acquired the distributorship from a small distributor like I am. So, I have the right products to meet a pressing need; I have the full involvement of the Liberian Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Institute, and the office of government purchases and contracts. I also have the involvement of the World Health Organization. So my potential purchasers are all considering the multiple tests of the product in the US and China. The government officials are all in contact with thei West African counterparts and we are already going beyond the Liberian border. We are on the ground in Liberia. We need to prepare for a large purchase by NGO’s of five sanitizing products that we have dubbed the Ebola Prevention Kiit. We are looking for a secure space of 2000 sq ft to hold the product for distribution. We need funds for product and transportation ($150k), office setup ($25k), staff salaries for five ft ($35k), vehicle SUV ($15k)and marketing of Ebola Prevention Kits across West and East Africa (25k). So, I am looking for $240k. I have already expended or committed to another $80k so far. I expect to invest another $200k in the next year. We are flexible in how an investor participates, from ‘first out” to permanent equity investor. I operated housing and services for homeless families in NYC for twenty years. As an independent operator, I was directly responsible to the Department of Homeless Services. Prior to that work, I worked in development where I was Director of Development for the Divinity School at Harvard University. I hold degrees from Duke and Harvard. The other member of Phoenix, Armando Dunn, is an economist, banker and holds degrees from Georgetown and the London School of Economics. His last position was as president and general manager of HSBC of Mexico. He is recognized as an expert in crafting laws and policies in the US and Mexico fighting money laundering.