Latest news with #TheBlox
Associated Press
27-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Ryan Rydell Returns to the National Spotlight on The Blox to Showcase a Industry Shaking Business Opportunity
Janesville, WI June 26, 2025 --( )-- With camera crews rolling, the pressure on, and dozens of entrepreneurs in the same room, Ryan Rydell knew he wasn't just there to compete. He was there to lead. As the founder of My City Guide, a fast-growing community-based business platform, Ryan enters Season 17 of The Blox not only as a contestant but as the face of a movement to transform how small businesses thrive in the digital age. 'Most of the people on this show came to launch something. I came to scale a revolution,' Rydell said. That revolution is already in motion. My City Guide just launched in four new cities — Denver, Colorado, Schaumburg, Illinois, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Boone County, Illinois — bringing the total to eight live cities across four states. The team is currently negotiating seven more licenses in five additional states, all while supporting local entrepreneurs who are passionate about building up their own communities. The Power of Showing Up In a world flooded with viral hacks and overnight success stories, The Blox offers something different: real people building real businesses. For Ryan, the show wasn't about flash or fame. It was about focus, clarity, and being surrounded by a room full of people bold enough to chase something bigger than themselves. 'The experience cracked something open in me,' Rydell said. 'Being around founders who are raw, driven, and deeply committed reminded me that entrepreneurship is not about being perfect. It's about showing up for what you believe in, every single day.' The Blox, created by serial entrepreneur Wes Bergmann, features 60 hand-selected business owners who live and learn together for one intense week. The result is something closer to an entrepreneurial boot camp than a traditional reality show. Contestants dive deep into strategy, storytelling, and identity while forming the kind of connections that don't fade after filming wraps. Rydell admits the pressure was real, but so was the purpose. 'This was about legacy. About using my story and my platform to show others what's possible when you stop waiting and start building.' A Platform with Purpose My City Guide started as one local site in Rockford, Illinois. It's now a customizable, turnkey solution for entrepreneurs who want to run their own local business directory, event calendar, and marketing platform. The brand provides every licensee with the tools they need to own and operate a hyper-local site that promotes small businesses, drives visibility, and builds community pride. It's more than a directory. It's a platform for local entrepreneurship. 'This isn't about tech,' Rydell said. 'It's about people. We're giving real humans in real cities a chance to build something that matters, something that helps their neighbors, their economy, and their legacy.' Each new My City Guide city is led by a licensee - a local business owner or startup founder who takes the reins in their own market. They receive a full website, CRM, automation tools, and a proven blueprint. What they do with it? That's up to them. Ryan's appearance on The Blox spotlighted the entire model, showing viewers across the country how accessible entrepreneurship can be when the right systems are in place. More Than a Founder — A Builder of Businesses and Communities Before launching My City Guide, Ryan Rydell spent more than two decades helping other entrepreneurs grow their brands from the ground up. Through is multiple businesses, he's worked with startups, established companies, and national franchises to refine messaging, increase revenue, and create memorable customer experiences. Ryan's work goes far beyond business strategy. He's known for rolling up his sleeves and showing up, whether it's mentoring students, organizing local events, or serving on nonprofit boards. He's volunteered thousands of hours with organizations like the American Cancer Society, Stateline Baseball, and local Chambers of Commerce. 'Community isn't just a buzzword to me. It's the center of everything I've ever built,' Ryan said. 'If your business doesn't lift someone else up, what's the point?' That heart for service is what shaped the foundation of My City Guide. It's not just a tech solution. It's a human one — a way for locals to support locals, and for entrepreneurs to build something meaningful right where they are. Growth, Grit, and the Road Ahead Since filming wrapped, Ryan hasn't slowed down. In fact, his team just completed another startup accelerator to sharpen the My City Guide expansion strategy and prepare for national scale. 'This is a real company solving a real problem for real people,' he said. 'We've built a framework for scalable impact. The show helped us get sharper. Now we're building faster.' While Ryan remains humble about what's coming next, momentum is clearly on his side. From local business partnerships to national licensing conversations, the movement is catching fire. And with the premiere of The Blox Season 17 just around the corner, more people are about to meet the man — and the mission — behind it all. 'The show is launching soon. When it airs, you'll see what we built. But more importantly, you'll see why we built it,' Rydell said. 'My story doesn't matter unless it empowers someone else to start their own.' About The Blox The Blox is an unscripted entrepreneurial competition series produced by BetaBlox. Founded by entrepreneur and reality TV celebrity Wes Bergmann, the show brings together startup founders from across the country to live, work, pitch, and grow in a highly immersive business accelerator. With 17 seasons and a fast-growing audience, it has become a leading platform for founders who want to build with intention, not just attention. Season 17 is expected to premiere soon and will be available to stream on multiple platforms, including The Blox App and Facebook Watch. Some previous seasons have also been featured on Prime Video. Contact Information: My City Guide Ryan Rydell 608-295-5355 Contact via Email Read the full story here: Ryan Rydell Returns to the National Spotlight on The Blox to Showcase a Industry Shaking Business Opportunity Press Release Distributed by
Chicago Tribune
19-06-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Elgin News Digest: Participants sought for Elgin's annual new citizen event; Nanni Nikki to perform for kids at the Elgin library
The city of Elgin is seeking participants for its 25th annual New Citizen Recognition Ceremony being held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, in the Heritage Ballroom at the Centre of Elgin. New citizens who register for the event will receive a certificate and a U.S. flag pin and will be personally congratulated by Mayor Dave Kaptain and members of the Elgin City Council, according to a social media post. This event is organized by YWCA Elgin, Centro de Informacion, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, City of Elgin, Elgin Community College, Elgin History Museum, Gail Borden Public Library and The Literacy Connection. Anyone in the Elgin area who would like to be recognized at the event can register online at A free concert featuring children's musician Nanny Nikki will be held from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 27, on the outdoor stage at the Gail Borden Public Library in downtown Elgin. The show will feature playful tunes and interactive rhythms geared toward young children, according to library information. The show is part of the library's Little Listeners outdoor concert series designed for infants through 6-year-olds. In the event of bad weather, the performance will be moved indoors. For more information, call 847-742-2411. Grants from the Hanover Township Mental Health Board have been awarded to local organizations, including the Ecker Center for Behavioral Health, PADS of Elgin and Hanover Landing. The board awarded $20,000 in capital funding to Elgin's Ecker Center to assist in office renovations that will allow for more programs and therapy space, according to a news release. Another $5,000 was awarded in emergency funding to PADS of Elgin for operational expenses. The Hanover Landing apartment development in Elgin will receive $34,500 to fund a supportive housing services coordinator position, the release said. In related news, Streamwood resident Tarah McShane and Jordan Wildermuth, an Elgin resident, have been appointed to the board as new members. Jemma Cabral, owner of the EZ Clean Group in Elgin, is competing on Season 17 of 'The Blox,' which bills itself as 'the largest competition TV show on the planet for startups.' The series puts startup founders into a high-pressure, week-long bootcamp, where they engage in business challenges, including marketing, fundraising and customer acquisition, a news release said. Cumulative scores determine the winner. Season 17 debuted this month on Prime Video, the BetaBlox app and Cabral is a two-time survivor of Stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma, the release said. She spent 19 years working in accounting before starting her cleaning business in 2021. Elgin dentist Frank Maggio, who is also a professor of periodontics at the University of Illinois Chicago, has been appointed to the board of directors for the Association of American Dental Boards. Maggio will help shape dental policy and regulations and represent the interests of dentists, hygienists and patients from the northern region of the United States, a news release said. For more information about the association, go to Gail Borden Public Library and Fox River Valley Public LIbrary districts are participating in the statewide Museum Adventure Pass and Explore More Illinois. The programs offer passes for discounted or free admission to participating cultural attractions, museums, zoos and gardens across the state, according to the Fox River Valley Public Library District's website. The Gail Borden website says libraries have a limited number of passes for each participating organization, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, go to or
