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 three startups this fall. After 13 funding cycles, the growing portfolio is now composed of 48 ventures, which are either led by Columbia University students, alumni, faculty, or researchers, or are advised by Columbia University faculty or researchers.
The most recent funding cycle represents three Columbia University schools, adding to the portfolio whose founding teams represent over 10 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 awardees were selected after their participation in an application screening round, a due diligence process with student teams from the Columbia Business School course Investing in Social Ventures, and a final pitch to the fund’s investment board:
Fall 2021
- IRaise Boys & Girls International, founded by Shanequa Moore, ’10SW, is a nonprofit venture that provides opportunities for youth in New York City to develop the skills necessary to break through systems of poverty.
- New Neighbors Partnership, founded by Shoshana Akabas, ’19SOA, is a nonprofit venture that welcomes refugee families by matching them with local families who can provide emotional, informational, and concrete support as they resettle.
- Plantd, founded by Josh Dorfman; Ian Harsey; Nathan Silvernail; and Huade Tan, ’13SEAS, is a for-profit venture that captures and converts atmospheric CO2 into low-cost, premium building materials made from fast-growing biomass.