The Tamer Fund for Social Ventures, a Columbia Business School program that provides $25,000 grants to nonprofit, for-profit, and hybrid early-stage social and environmental ventures, has awarded funding to three new startups. After 20 funding cycles, almost 80 ventures led by Columbia University students, alumni, faculty or researchers, or are advised by Columbia University faculty or researchers, have received funding. Portfolio founding teams represent over 15 schools across the University.

All three ventures selected this funding cycle are Columbia Business School alumni, including two recent alumni. Upon selection, these entrepreneurs gain funding and access to a wide variety of connections and resources available through the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change 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 2025

  • Atram, founded by David del Ser, ’08BUS, is an AI-powered platform that helps vulnerable communities and financial service providers prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate disasters by combining hyperlocal alerts, personalized guidance, and access to climate-smart financial tools like emergency credit — delivered through familiar channels like WhatsApp, and activated in real time when disaster strikes.
  • Ladder Benefits, founded by Jack Saltzman, ’25BUS, helps the tens of millions of people who qualify for billions of dollars in government benefits claim them using AI-powered tools that allow people to apply anywhere, anytime, and in any language through an easy-to-use interface.
  • Sara Technology, co-founded by Jiaxin Zhang, ’25BUS, and Weiji Huang is an app that uses artificial intelligence to provide personalized speech practices for children with speech difficulties, helping them improve their speech so they can communicate clearly and confidently.

About the fund

Established in 2015, the Tamer Fund for Social Ventures provides seed grants of $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 Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change. The Tamer Fund for Social Ventures was made possible by a generous donation by Tony and Sandra Tamer.

Application Deadlines: August 15 and March 1

Learn more