Lighthouse Solutions Wins the 2026 John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge

Lighthouse Solutions, a startup that deploys autonomous AI decoy agents to combat human trafficking and child sexual exploitation, took home first place and $200,000 in the 16th John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge (Edwardson SNVC). Lighthouse is building proactive AI infrastructure for digital crime prevention, starting with efforts to combat human trafficking and child sexual exploitation.

The Edwardson SNVC is the social impact track of the University of Chicago’s nationally ranked business launch program, the New Venture Challenge. It is run by the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation at Chicago Booth.
 
This year’s challenge awarded $400,000 in investment. The finalist teams that received funding are:

• Functional Housing and Haqqo tied for second place, winning $75,000 each. Functional Housing is building a full-suite unit acquisition platform that master-leases entire market-rate apartment buildings in desirable urban neighborhoods, and subleases units at deeply affordable rates to residents referred by homeless-services nonprofits. Haqqo is a direct procurement and decision intelligence platform that purchases rice from Pakistani farmers, then processes, ages, and sells it—all while offering farmers same-day payment at a fair market price.

• HandsIn won fourth place and $50,000 for its AI-driven, web-based ASL e-learning platform. Unlike traditional, static video courses, HandsIn utilizes real-time gesture recognition and supplemental learning tools to provide a flexible, accessible environment for learners developing their ASL skills.

• Ayllu won the Audience Choice Award of $5,000, earning the most votes from an audience of 875 people. The edtech company is delivering an upstream leadership and career-discovery program for high school students in Peru.

“As the 16th Edwardson SNVC Finals come to an end, it is encouraging to see students continue to lead with bold ideas, rigorous thinking, and a clear commitment to social impact,” said Rob Gertner, the Frank P. and Marianne R. Diassi Distinguished Service Professor of Economics and Strategy and John Edwardson Faculty Director Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation.
 
In February, 19 teams advanced to the second phase of the challenge and spent Spring Quarter working on developing their nonprofit or for-profit social ventures. Seven teams went on to compete in the Edwardson SNVC Finals. 
 
At the SNVC Finals, the winners were selected by a panel of twenty-one judges—including 15 Booth alumni—who have expertise in venture capital, entrepreneurship, and tech. Read more about the 2026 SNVC judges here.

“The students who competed in the 16th SNVC demonstrated skill, passion, and a deep commitment to making the world a better place,” said John Edwardson, MBA ’72. “Their ingenuity and creativity never fail to inspire me.”

The SNVC is the cornerstone of the Rustandy Center’s Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Chicago, an initiative named in recognition of a 2016 gift by John Edwardson, MBA ’72, retired chairman and CEO of CDW. This year’s SNVC sponsors are listed here.
 
Past Edwardson SNVC Highlights:

• Since 2011, the Edwardson SNVC has supported more than 250 companies and nonprofits.
• SNVC companies have gone on to raise more than $305 million in philanthropic dollars, grant support, and venture capital funding.
• Notable alumni include: Wasoko, a B2B e-commerce platform for Africa’s informal retailers;  LuminAID, a solar-powered light company; BallotReady, an online voter guide; Hello Tractor, a Nairobi-based tractor leasing company; AIM Clinics (now Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers), and autism therapy provider; and immersionED, a tech company creating adaptive, educational simulations.

About the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation
The Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation is the destination at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business for people committed to helping solve complex social and environmental problems. As Chicago Booth’s social impact hub, the Rustandy Center offers hands-on learning opportunities, supports innovative courses, and pursues research—all with the goal of developing people and practices with the potential to solve the world’s biggest problems.