Category: Entrepreneurship

Meet Loop: The Setup Network

Moriya Blumenfeld (MBA ’21) is reinventing the way the world finds love online. How many dating apps does it take to find a co-founder? For Moriya Blumenfeld (MBA ’21), the answer is two.  In retrospect, the way Blumenfeld met her co-founder Lian Zucker is rather ironic. “I matched with this guy on Bumble who was… Continue reading Meet Loop: The Setup Network

Students at Startup Bootcamp Are Just Getting Started

Two founders from last month’s Startup Bootcamp program share their ideas and what’s next on their entrepreneurship journey.Harbus Editorial Team Parent Hero Student founder: Nadim Muzayyin (MBA ‘24) What’s your idea and who are the consumers? Our initial idea was a smart crib that tracks baby data for parents. The initial hypothesis was that moms… Continue reading Students at Startup Bootcamp Are Just Getting Started

A Boston-based Startup Is Enhancing Consumer Finance Access

Ibe Imo writes about how this startup is driving inclusion for migrants from emerging markets Kingsley Ezeani and his co-founder Scott Morgan are building CashEx, a financial access and inclusion venture focused on simplifying international funds remittance and enhancing access to consumer financial services across United States migrant communities. Ezeani’s venture is currently focused on… Continue reading A Boston-based Startup Is Enhancing Consumer Finance Access

Startup Corner: Leadership Brainery

Harvard alumni Derrick Young and Jonathan Allen are advancing equitable achievement at the highest levels. Ibe Imo, Contributor Derrick Young Jr. and Jonathan L. Allen lead equitable access to advance education and leadership opportunities through Leadership Brainery, a Boston based non-profit venture which they co-founded after navigating postgraduate education as one of the few African… Continue reading Startup Corner: Leadership Brainery

Hbs Entrepreneur Building Tech-Led Solution for Soft Skills

Pallavi Chadha (MBA ’24) interviews Jashin Lin (MBA ’23) about her startup Growbie, which offers international students the ability to network and build leadership skills effectively. Pallavi Chadha, Community Editor Jashin Lin, Contributor  Tell us about your background and your company.I am the founder and CEO of Growbie, a personal development platform that democratizes career… Continue reading Hbs Entrepreneur Building Tech-Led Solution for Soft Skills

The Entrepreneur Bringing You a Different Kind of Buzz

Brynne Gosch is an MBA RC partner. She has a Master’s in Public Health from University of California – Los Angeles and most recently worked in infectious disease diagnostics. Mariah Wood, recent graduate and co-founder of Tilden Cocktails, wants you to find deeper, more magical social connection. It’s my first time meeting Mariah Wood (MBA… Continue reading The Entrepreneur Bringing You a Different Kind of Buzz

Larsen: Empowering Managers with Smart Insights to Develop and Improve Their Teams

Mike Kelly (MBA ’22) talks with Alex Benoit (MBA ’22) about Larsen, his startup, and how it is helping managers build better teams. Tell us more about your startup, Larsen. Larsen is a platform that empowers managers with the data and tailored actions to effectively develop and improve their team. The combination of employee surveys… Continue reading Larsen: Empowering Managers with Smart Insights to Develop and Improve Their Teams

Bridging Technology and Beauty with Hue

Mike Kelly (MBA ’22) talks with the Hue team about their personalized recommendation engine for beauty. Tell us more about your background and what inspired you all to become entrepreneurs.  Shah: When I was five years old, my dad quit his job and started his own company, a circuit board manufacturing business, which now has… Continue reading Bridging Technology and Beauty with Hue

Alumni Startup Corner: Investors’ Favorite HBS Companies

  HBS alumni venture capital investors share their favorite startups founded by fellow HBS graduates. Keith Bender (MBA ’20) reports.    HBS alumni startup founders have created $364B in market value since 2010. Accordingly, graduates in the venture capital industry closely follow the companies our fellow alumni are building. This month, I asked a panel… Continue reading Alumni Startup Corner: Investors’ Favorite HBS Companies

The Great Latin American Venture Opportunity

VC funding for LatAm startups grows 185% YoY with two months left in 2021. Tell us more about your background and what inspired you to be an entrepreneur.  My passion for entrepreneurship was born when I started investing in startups as an angel investor in March 2020. In addition to investing capital, I often joined… Continue reading The Great Latin American Venture Opportunity

Building a Clean Skincare Brand

Part of a series of articles on female founders, Ziana Kotadia (MBA ’22) asks Elizabeth Arenz (MBA ’22) about her skincare startup, Belle House. Elizabeth Arenz (HBS ’22) worked in Investment Banking and Private Equity before attending HBS. She is passionate about beauty, skincare and sustainability. Italy is her favourite country in the world.  Tell… Continue reading Building a Clean Skincare Brand

Physicians Off the Beaten Path

With their podcast, Alexey Youssef and Shad Faraz (MBAs ’22) bust the myth that physicians cannot venture outside the traditional career path.  In my first year of university, one of my professors hosted a special session on “how to talk like doctors.” I was studying biomedical engineering and was required to spend equal amounts of… Continue reading Physicians Off the Beaten Path

Helping Women in Mexico to Live Fulfilled and Healthy Lives

Co-Founders, Lorena Ostos & Giovanna Abramo

First in a series of articles on female founders, Ziana Kotadia (MBA ’22) asks Giovanna Abramo (MBA ’22) about her startup, Plenna, which focuses on female healthcare. Tell us more about your start-up, Plenna? Plena in Spanish is female for “fulfilled.” Our vision is for women to live healthy and fulfilled lives, and our goal… Continue reading Helping Women in Mexico to Live Fulfilled and Healthy Lives

HBS Alumni Startup Corner: Summer Funding Update

Alumni founders raised $3.3B in venture capital this summer; startups founded since 2010 topped $350B in market cap. Keith Bender (MBA ’20) reports.   Startups led by HBS alumni received more than $3.2B in venture capital funding from the beginning of June through press time for this issue (August 21, 2021). Here, I review the fifty… Continue reading HBS Alumni Startup Corner: Summer Funding Update

Too Good To Go

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Asha Tanwar (MBA ’21) shares the story of a Food Waste warrior Too Good To Go is a start-up fighting food waste by connecting customers looking to buy discounted food to restaurants and grocery stores discarding food. Businesses discarding excess food (usually in a “surprise” bag) provide up to 70% discount on the usual retail… Continue reading Too Good To Go

HBS LATAM Startup Triumphs in the Fundraising Arena

Andrés Ossa (MBA ’21)

Felipe Cerón (MBA ’22) interviews Andrés Ossa (MBA ’21) on his journey to raising $1.4M in order to revolutionize logistics Moving sucks. I would wager good money that most people hate it (if you do not agree please let me know because I have many fun jobs for you). It takes time, it is stressful,… Continue reading HBS LATAM Startup Triumphs in the Fundraising Arena

Measuring What Matters—ESG Transparency for Private Markets

Megan Murday (MBA ’21) shares how her startup, Metric, improves ESG measurement and management for private market investors Tell us more about your background and what inspired you to be an entrepreneur.  As my sectionmates have heard over and over again, I am from the Midwest and passionate about economic revitalization between the coasts. My… Continue reading Measuring What Matters—ESG Transparency for Private Markets

HBS Black New Venture Competition

Ansah Kobina wins HBS Competition

Ibe Imo shares the stories of Khalid David and Kobina Ansah at the HBS Black New Venture Competition For Khalid David, Venture Creation and Funding is Activism and Black Empowerment.  “At Harvard Business School’s Black New Venture Competition, I felt welcomed into a larger family of Black business leaders,” David said. NEW YORK CITY, N.Y.… Continue reading HBS Black New Venture Competition

HBS Pilots First Impact Investing Fund

Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash

A team of EC students and faculty are executing the first investment from a new fund focused on BIPOC-owned and led small businesses in Massachusetts This year, HBS piloted its first student-run Impact Investing Fund, focused on investing in BIPOC-led and owned small businesses in the Massachusetts area. Since launching, the fund has raised $200k,… Continue reading HBS Pilots First Impact Investing Fund

Start-up Corner: Helping Startup Founders Create Their Own Brand, No Designer Required

David Klein and Alex Ray (MBAs ’20) share how their startup, Parade, combines machine learning and design theory to help founders launch a professional brand online in minutes. What is the problem that you are trying to solve? Startups spend $3,000 to $20,000 to develop a brand identity. It is so important to have an… Continue reading Start-up Corner: Helping Startup Founders Create Their Own Brand, No Designer Required

Pear VC Launching Community for Alumni Startup Founders

Keith Bender (MBA ’20) and Raunak Kasera (MBA ’23) report on HBStartups, the community for early-stage startup founders among the ranks of HBS alumni which goes live this month. At Pear VC, we recognize that entrepreneurship is perhaps the most popular way that HBS graduates meet their alma mater’s calling to be “leaders who make… Continue reading Pear VC Launching Community for Alumni Startup Founders

HBS Black New Venture Competition

Ibe Imo shares the stories of Crystal Evuleocha and Pierre Laguerre at the HBS Black New Venture Competition.  Through the Black New Venture Competition, A Black Woman Founder Gained National Exposure LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA—Crystal Evuleocha is the CEO and co-founder of Kiira Health. Kiira Health is a virtual clinic connecting women to health experts. Candice… Continue reading HBS Black New Venture Competition

How to Fail Well and the Similarities Between Business and Dating (I/II)

Photo by Michael Dziedzic on Unsplash

Felipe Cerón (MBA ’22) interviews HBS professors about their failures and what they learned from them. How do we fail well? How do we learn from it? How do we get comfortable and move on fast? Should we share our failures? If you are anything like me (and I would place a bet most HBS… Continue reading How to Fail Well and the Similarities Between Business and Dating (I/II)

Start-up Corner: Building Schools for 264 Million Children

Marcel Ohngemach (MBA ’22) shares how 264.education provides access to education in developing countries and how the HBS community can contribute. Tell us more about your background and what inspired you to be an entrepreneur.  I grew up in Southern Germany close to Stuttgart, the Motor City, which is home to Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Out… Continue reading Start-up Corner: Building Schools for 264 Million Children

Halo: AngelList for the HBS Community

Mike Kelly (MBA ’22) talks with Jamal Cherry (MBA ’21) and Mikal Lewis (MBA ’20), co-founders of Halo, about democratizing investing and entrepreneurship. Learn more about Halo at investwithhalo.com. Jamal Cherry and Mikal Lewis had never met before arriving at HBS, but they had followed a strikingly similar path. Both grew up in the South, both… Continue reading Halo: AngelList for the HBS Community