The Rustandy Center’s capstone social entrepreneurship resource, the fellowship supports entrepreneurs as they raise philanthropic or venture capital for their enterprises.
In 2017, Ron Tarrson, ’72 (XP-31), managing partner and director of Santa Fe, New Mexico–based Santa Fe Aero Services, provided the funding to create the Tarrson Social Venture Fellowship.
Part of the Rustandy Center’s Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program, the fellowship receives matching funds from John Edwardson, ’72.
The fellowship includes both a funding package and sustained coaching from the Rustandy Center:
The fellowship accepts applications from Booth MBA students and non-Booth UChicago students who plan to work on their social or environmental startups as their main professional activity after graduation. Teams accepted into the Polsky Accelerator are eligible to apply. Applicants should have:
Applications for the 2023 Tarrson Social Venture Fellowship are now closed. Applications for the 2024 cohort will open in May 2024.
“We created the Tarrson Fellowship to provide financial and other supports to students who are committed to working on their startups full time after graduation. I’m proud to support the work of these talented, committed social entrepreneurs.”
Tarrson Fellows have gone on to achieve impact in every area of the social sector, from expediting the pre-trial preparation experience to supporting emerging social entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Hibiscus Health
Ashlin graduated from the Crown Family School in 2023. Hibiscus Health provides urgent and accessible therapeutic interventions for new parents suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. By providing virtual psychotherapy to postpartum mothers, it fills gaps in care and lessens the impact on the patients, families, and society.
Clause Out
Benjamin graduated from Booth in 2023. Clause Out is a for-profit civic engagement platform which uses gamified learning to incentivize users to engage with policy questions. Its innovative approach increases civic engagement, helps restore trust in the democratic system, and lowers barriers to taking informed civic action.
immersionED
Charles graduated from Booth in 2023. immersionED builds learning video game modules with high graphical quality ideal for schools at the junior high and high school level looking to increase engagement with content. The immersive approach provides students with active learning experiences perfect for the development of key transferable skills such as creative problem solving and critical thinking.
FreshX Logistics (formerly Orca)
Clay graduated from Booth in 2023. FreshX Logistics is a last-mile shipping company for ecommerce food brands with the mission of making shipping perishables seamless, affordable, and sustainable. Through an innovative “circular delivery” model, Orca recovers and reuses cold-chain materials to eliminate harmful waste and reduce costs for its partners.
Demi
Kristina and Andrew graduated from Booth in 2023. Demi is on a mission to make composting mainstream by offering sleek and convenient urban composting solutions to reduce food waste and encourage sustainable living habits. It is the first composting solution that is executing a nationwide strategy by partnering with residential and commercial buildings.
Social entrepreneurs focus on composting solutions, last-mile shipping models, e-learning video games, and more.
Rustandy Center Announces Six 2023 Tarrson Fellows
Social entrepreneurs focus on blood shortages, battery life, and access to mortgages.
Meet the Rustandy Center's Newest Tarrson Fellows
The fellowship provides 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.
Rustandy Center Awards Tarrson Fellowships to Rising Social Entrepreneurs
