New social ventures coming out of the University of Chicago are working to support emerging social entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa, expedite the pre-trial preparation experience, and connect advocacy and service organizations with individual donors and charitable foundations.
Behind those enterprises are three recent University of Chicago graduates who earned 2020 Tarrson Social Venture Fellowships, along with funding to pursue their social ventures full time after graduation. This month, the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business announced winners of the fellowships, selecting students from Booth, the College, and the Harris School of Public Policy.
The Tarrson Social Venture Fellowship provides $25,000 in funding and mentoring to graduating university students and recent alumni who are committed to growing a startup that helps solve a social or environmental problem. The fellowships are supported by Ron Tarrson, ’72 (XP-31), and matching funds from John Edwardson, ’72.
To be eligible for the fellowship, applicants must be committed to working full time for their startups, which should be focused on social or environmental impact. To view past Tarrson Fellowship winners, click here.
Two of the 2020 fellows participated in the John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC), which has helped jumpstart more than 100 startups that have gone on to raise more than $35 million. The SNVC is the social impact track of the University of Chicago’s nationally ranked business launch program, the New Venture Challenge (NVC).
“Social entrepreneurs in our fourth cohort of Tarrson Fellows represent diverse ways to create impact here in Chicago and across the globe,” said Robert H. Gertner, Joel F. Gemunder Professor of Strategy and Finance at Chicago Booth and John Edwardson Faculty Director of the Rustandy Center. “In the midst of a global pandemic and economic crisis, finding innovative ways to address complex social and environmental challenges is more important than ever before. With the fellowship, these rising social impact leaders will get the support they need to continue their vital work.”
