Meet Social Venture Studio’s Emerging Changemakers

The second cohort of the Rustandy Center’s Social Venture Studio (SVS) has wrapped, and participants are now carrying those lessons into the next stage of their ventures. Open to students across the University of Chicago, SVS supports early-stage social entrepreneurs as they explore, build, or launch a social venture, no matter the stage of development.

Two members of the cohort, Masha Galenko and Ade Oparinu, share more about their involvement with the program and the ventures they are developing. Galenko, an MPP student at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, shares how SVS guided and supported her through the evolution of her venture, which aims to increase early detection rates of breast cancer. Oparinu, a current student in the Full-Time MBA Program at Chicago Booth, explains that SVS helped build frameworks to more effectively apply his research to his venture, which utilizes AI to support patients and their care teams.

Why Join SVS?

Masha: In Russia, I was a serial entrepreneur: I founded two agencies with a focus on viral and social advertising. Though I read books on entrepreneurship, nobody has ever consulted me in the context of my specific venture. So even though we made great ads and managed to stay just above breakeven, I never actually built a business which could bring consistent profit and become scalable.

By my third venture, it was obvious I needed a different approach. In the winter quarter, I joined Social Venture Studio to continue developing my project that I had started in autumn. Already having the experience of playing by ear, I could fully appreciate the learning and support the Rustandy Center provides to aspiring founders, and see how weekly workshops and office hours are making a real difference.

Ade: One of the things that drew me to Chicago Booth was the opportunity to explore how technology can address complex social challenges. SVS felt like a natural place to do that. For me, SVS was a chance to study a healthcare problem I’ve grown more interested in: how care teams often feel overwhelmed after patients leave the hospital, and how this impacts patient outcomes. Above all, SVS is a community where people ask thoughtful questions about how to make an impact. It’s a place to test assumptions, challenge ideas, and learn with others who are also looking for solutions to important problems.

What Social Challenges Are You Interested in Addressing?

Masha: With my venture Sis-to-Sis, I explore removing obstacles to early detection of breast cancer. Today, early detection largely depends on yearly mammograms, but on average, 30 percent of women fall behind these screenings. Women aged 35–50 are at the highest risk of undetected cancers because they are considered “too young for cancer,” guidelines can be unclear, and access to healthcare is uneven among the US population. On top of this, even when women from this “sandwich generation" are well insured and know that they have to get a mammogram, screenings tend to be postponed because they often have to put the needs of children and aging parents first.

Ade: Growing up watching my mom, a nurse for over 30 years, sparked my interest in the challenges patients face after leaving the hospital. Many patients, especially those with chronic conditions, have trouble following complex discharge instructions, scheduling follow-up appointments, or noticing when their symptoms get worse. At the same time, nurses and care coordinators are often responsible for calling large numbers of patients to check on them, which can be time-consuming and difficult to scale.

As part of my academic work, I’ve been studying whether conversational AI systems could help with some of these communication tasks. This work is part of a project called NuraCareAI, which looks at how AI-driven communication tools could support care teams and improve continuity of care.

How Has SVS Helped You Build Your Social Venture?

Masha: Raising breast cancer screening rates is a complex behavioral and systemic issue, and finding paying customers in a market that doesn’t fully exist yet is quite an ambitious task. That's why SVS, with its network of peers and mentors that are wholeheartedly interested in a venture’s success, has been incredibly helpful.

Over the past few months in SVS, I learned what to prioritize in the endless founder's task list. Failing quickly and then moving on to other opportunities is not scary anymore. I love how the Rustandy Center helps broaden perspective by organizing workshops with entrepreneurs who have already solved similar problems. Also, building a venture from scratch can be a lonely journey, and having strong support in your corner means a lot

Ade: SVS has been incredibly helpful in structuring the early exploration of this idea. One of the most helpful frameworks introduced by the program is the Customer–User–Beneficiary (CUB) approach. This framework encouraged us to think about all the stakeholders in a healthcare system, not just the organizations that might use a solution, but also the clinicians who work with it and the patients who benefit from it.

The program has also helped guide the process of stakeholder interviews and research design, including conversations with clinicians in the Urology Department at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Through mentorship and structured discussions, we’ve been able to refine the key questions we’re exploring and consider how to responsibly structure research pilots to test whether this type of technology could actually help clinicians and patients.

What Has Been the Most Rewarding Part of Joining the SVS Cohort?

Masha: My venture concept has pivoted multiple times since I joined SVS, and it keeps evolving. I found it amazing how carefully my mentors listen and take into consideration new developments, help me adjust strategy, and connect with new relevant resources. I’ve moved from early ideas to consulting projects in this area. And though it's not a business yet, it's something real. I think seeing results that grew out of collaboration with the SVS cohort is the most rewarding.

Ade: The best part has been learning with students from all over the University of Chicago. Some of the most insightful conversations about this project have come from peers in medicine, public policy, and social work, who each bring a unique perspective on healthcare systems.

These conversations have helped me see the problem in a broader way, not just as a technology issue, but as part of a bigger system that includes patients, clinicians, health systems, and policy. Being part of the SVS cohort creates a space where people openly explore how to apply their skills to meaningful problems, and that shared sense of purpose makes the experience especially rewarding.

How Can We Keep Up with Your Venture and Continue to Support Your Mission?

Masha: Staying in touch, continuing conversations, and making introductions are the most valuable forms of support at this stage. I’d always welcome being connected with people interested in women’s health or community outreach in the SVS ecosystem.

Ade: NuraCareAI is currently an academic project in the early stages. Most of the work now involves research, interviews with healthcare professionals, and learning from clinicians about where communication gaps happen after patients leave the hospital. I’m always thankful to learn from clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals who share their perspectives and experiences.

*Since completing SVS, NuraCareAI has dissolved and transitioned into a new venture.