# Evolution of Entrepreneurship at NYU Stern Alumni December 8, 2021 ![Evolution of Entrepreneurship at NYU Stern](/sites/default/files/styles/246w/public/assets/images/Untitled-3.png?itok=-YUEDc_1) **Over the years, NYU Stern has continued to expand entrepreneurship programs, with big support from alumni donors.**- **1982:** Center for Entrepreneurial Studies founded at NYU Stern - **1996:** Center becomes the Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship (funded by William R. Berkley, BS ’66) - **1998:** First ever $50K NYU Stern Business Plan Competition (receives funding in 2000 from Ira Rennert, MBA ’56) - **2002:** A Social Track is added to the Business Plan Competition - **2008:** The Competition is renamed the Entrepreneurs’ Challenge, becoming an umbrella for two parallel competitions: New Venture and Social Competition. The prize doubles to $100K (funded by Ira Rennert, MBA ‘56) - **2010:** A Tech Venture Track competition is added in partnership with the NYU Innovation Venture Fund - **2016:** The Stern Venture Fellows program is established (funded by David Ko, BS ’93 and his wife Jennifer Ko) - **2018:** The Andre Koo Technology & Entrepreneurship MBA is launched (funded by Andre J.L. Koo, MBA ’94) - **2018:** The Fubon Center for Technology, Business & Innovation is launched (funded by Richard Ming-Hsing Tsai, MBA ’81) - **2019:** Endless Frontier Labs is launched under the leadership of Professor Deepak Hegde as a program for early stage science and technology based startups. (funded by Stewart Satter, MBA '82 and William R. Berkley, BS ’66) - **2020:** Endless Frontier Labs created a fund to support women-led startups (funded by Elizabeth Elting, MBA ’92) - **2021:** The Rennert Family established a permanent prize for three tracks in the Entrepreneurs Challenge (Tech; Healthcare and Biomedical; New Ventures) - **2021:** Stern welcomes the BS in Business, Technology and Entrepreneurship inaugural undergraduate class - **2021:** The Endless Frontier Labs launches a Digital Tech track after supporting 57 graduates of the program who have raised over half a billion in funding --- ## A Snapshot of Stern Entrepreneurs at Every Stage Recent years have seen a new burst of innovation from NYU Stern entrepreneurs. Here's a sampling of just a few of the companies with Stern origins and entrepreneurship programs at NYU. The following list is alphabetical and based on information available as of September 2021. ![Better logo](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/images/better-primary.png "Better logo") ## **Better** A digital-first homeownership company whose services include mortgage, real estate, title, and homeowners insurance, makes home ownership faster, easier and more accessible. **Founder and CEO:** Vishal Garg (BS ’98) — Better plans to go public this year with $500 million raised from SoftBank and a merger with Aurora Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company, whose Chairman is fellow alum and Stern Executive Board member Thor Björgólfsson (BS ’91), in a SPAC deal valuing Better at $7.7 billion. --- ![Dig Labs logo](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/images/DIG%20LABS%20-%20Coral%20White.jpg "Dig Labs logo") ## **DIG Labs** A pet tech company that provides pet parents with the technology to listen to and communicate with their pets launched in 2019. **Co-founders:** Tara Zedayko (MBA ’14) and Jessica Chu (MBA ’16) — DIG Labs was invited to NYU Future Labs Catalyst and so far has raised $1 million. --- ![Esusu](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/images/Esusu%20Logo.png "Esusu") ## **Esusu** A fintech platform that leverages data solutions like rent reporting and zero-interest housing stability loans to build credit, improve financial health, and dismantle barriers to housing for working families. **Co-founders:** Abbey Wemimo (Wagner ’15) and Samir Goel (BS ’16) — Esusu was named to the *Forbes* Fintech 50 list in 2021, and closed a $10 million Series A fundraising round in 2021 bringing the total raised to over $14 million. --- ![Keen Home](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/images/download_0.png "Keen Home") ## **Keen Home** Develops and sells smart products that regulate room temperature and air quality while maximizing energy efficiency. **Co-founders:** Nayeem Hussain (MBA ’14) and Ryan Fant (MBA ’14) — Keen Home raised more than $9 million, was acquired in 2019, and appeared on *Shark Tank* in 2015 and in 2016. --- ![Pepper logo](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/images/pepper-logo-rgb-black-1.png "Pepper logo") ## **Pepper** A boldly confident bra brand designed to celebrate the beauty of small-chested bodies. **Co-founder:** Lia Winograd (MBA ’19), former Stern Venture Fellow — Winograd was named to the *Forbes* Retail and Ecommerce 30 Under 30. --- ![Sprinklr logo](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/images/Sprinklr-Logo-PrimaryUse-Positive-RBG.jpg "Sprinklr logo") ## **Sprinklr** A leading enterprise software company that unifies all customer-facing functions—they call it Unified-CXM. **Founder:** Ragy Thomas (MBA ’03) — Sprinklr completed their IPO in June 2021 and trades on NYSE: CXM. Sprinklr is now valued at approximately $5 billion. --- ![Vengo logo](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/images/Vengo%20Logo.png "Vengo logo") ## **Vengo** A platform that combines interactive digital media with point-of-purchase, driving consumer engagement and product trial. **Co-founder:** Brian Shimmerlik (MBA ’13) — Vengo raised $7 million in new equity funding in 2019, roughly doubling the amount raised over the years; gained attention on *Shark Tank*. --- ## Stern Venture Fellows 2021 [Meet this year’s Stern Venture Fellows, a talented group of entrepreneurs.](https://www.sternventurefellows.com/2021-fellows)- **Derek Lee (BS ’16), co-founder, Boo**, an app for connecting with compatible and like-minded souls. - **Daniel Nelson (BA ’16), co-founder, Fulton**, a modern brand of arch support, offering the world's most comfortable, supportive, and sustainable shoe insoles. - **Charles Borland (MBA ’18), co-founder, Voltaku**, a radically new kind of transmedia company that's reimagining the entire filmmaking process in Hollywood. - **Jordan Karstadt (BS ’20)**, co-founder, StonkLeague, a platform for “finfluencers” to build their reputation and establish legitimacy through competitive daily fantasy crypto games. Won the Entrepreneurs Challenge New Ventures Competition. - **Kidae Hong (MBA ’21)**, co-founder & CEO, Circle, a web-based online networking platform designed for the MBA networking and recruiting experience. - **Peter Zhi (MBA ’22)**, Founder of Crypto startup, Stealth, a DeFi protocol that decentralizes fund management, providing high performance crypto funds to every investor.