Investing in Energy Solutions
The Steven Tarrson Impact Investment Fund, one of the largest student-managed impact funds, announces its first investment.
Investing in Energy SolutionsFrom food deserts and school bus emissions to end-of-life planning and legal access, the sixth annual John Edwardson, '72, Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC) featured new ideas to tough social and environmental problems. On May 24, the seven SNVC finalist teams pitched their social impact start-ups to a panel of judges including Rachel Kohler, ’89, founding principle of KoHop Ventures and CEO of NowPow; Eric Weinheimer, ’94, president and CEO of Forefront; and Marguerite H. Griffin, director of philanthropic services at Northern Trust.
Judges awarded the following prizes:
There were no second place winners. Other finalists were ACT3, Mind Matters, and ReadAskChat.
The social impact track of the Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge, the SNVC is the cornerstone of the new Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program, which expands resources and programming available to UChicago students, alumni, and faculty interested in social-impact startups. UChicago Trustee and Booth alumnus John Edwardson, ’72, donated $5 million earlier this month to establish the Edwardson Program, building on his initial $5 million gift in 2013. Edwardson is the retired chairman and CEO of CDW.
"This year’s SNVC teams brought innovative solutions to a range of social, environmental, and cultural problems," said Robert H. Gertner, Joel F. Gemunder Professor of Strategy and Finance and faculty co-director of Chicago Booth's Social Enterprise Initiative (SEI). "With the of the Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program, SEI now has even more resources to support these teams and all of UChicago’s social entrepreneurs as they take on big, global issues.”
The Steven Tarrson Impact Investment Fund, one of the largest student-managed impact funds, announces its first investment.
Investing in Energy SolutionsHow can private market investors and entrepreneurs identify and utilize creative strategies to work toward social equity?
Innovating for Social Equity: How Private Market Investors Affect ChangeFinalists will compete for at least $100,000 in cash prizes at the SNVC virtual finals event on Tuesday, June 2.
16 Teams Advance in the 2020 Social New Venture Challenge