The Tamer Fund for Social Ventures, a Columbia Business School program that provides seed grants to nonprofit, for-profit, and hybrid early-stage social and environmental ventures, has awarded seed grants to four startups this spring. After 14 funding cycles, the growing portfolio is now composed of 52 ventures, which are either led by Columbia University students, alumni, faculty or researchers, or advised by Columbia University faculty or researchers. The most recent funding cycle represents four Columbia University schools, adding to the portfolio of TFSV ventures whose founding teams represent over 11 schools across Columbia University.  Upon selection, these entrepreneurs gain funding and access to a wide variety of connections and resources available through the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise at Columbia Business School. The following Tamer Fund for Social Venture awardees were selected after their participation in an application screening round, a due diligence process with student teams from a Columbia Business School course, and a final pitch to the fund’s investment board: Spring 2022 OkaySo, founded by Elise Schuster, ’09PH, and Francisco Ramirez, ’09PH, is a non-profit venture that offers a free app to connect young people to experts who provide personalized support and information on sexual health, identity, relationships, and more. Sortile, founded by Constanza Gomez, ’22BUS, Agustina Mir, ’21SIPA, and Florencia Valladares, is a for-profit venture that develops AI-driven solutions for the recycling of textile waste, with a specific focus on sorting by fiber composition and textile waste management. Thimble, founded by Manju Dawkins, ’01CC, and Armand Dawkins, ’01CC, is a for-profit venture and the first-ever integrated portfolio of products designed to lessen the pain and anxiety of needles; by offering greater control, by preventing early trauma, and by taking care of needle pain, everyone can take better care of their health.  Tough Leaf, founded by Amir Zahlan, ’22BUS, Wissam Akra, ’22BUS, and LF Finney, is a for-profit venture that facilitates a diverse and thriving environment where contractors can seamlessly meet and exceed their disabled-, minority-, and women-owned business goals on their construction projects.    For more information about the social ventures and their founders, click here. Find out about the Tamer Fund for Social Ventures and the online application here. Annual Application Deadlines: August 15 and March 1   ### About the Tamer Fund for Social Ventures Established in 2015, the Tamer Fund for Social Ventures provides seed grants of up to $25,000 to early-stage nonprofit, for-profit, and hybrid social and environmental ventures. In addition to funding, the ventures gain access to a wide variety of resources and connections available through the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise. The Tamer Fund for Social Ventures was made possible by a generous donation by Tony and Sandra Tamer.