The Rustandy Center’s capstone social entrepreneurship resource, the fellowship supports entrepreneurs as they raise philanthropic or venture capital for their enterprises.
In 2017, Ron Tarrson, ’72 (XP-31), managing partner and director of Santa Fe, New Mexico–based Santa Fe Aero Services, provided the funding to create the Tarrson Social Venture Fellowship.
Part of the Rustandy Center’s Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program, the fellowship receives matching funds from John Edwardson, ’72.
The fellowship includes both a funding package and sustained coaching from the Rustandy Center:
The fellowship accepts applications from Booth MBA students and non-Booth UChicago students who plan to work on their social or environmental startups as their main professional activity after graduation. Teams accepted into the Polsky Accelerator are eligible to apply. Applicants should have:
Applications for the 2025 Tarrson Social Venture Fellowship are now open. The deadline to submit the application is Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CST.
“We created the Tarrson Fellowship to provide financial and other supports to students who are committed to working on their startups full time after graduation. I’m proud to support the work of these talented, committed social entrepreneurs.”
— Ron Tarrson, 鈥�72 (XP-31)
Tarrson Fellows have gone on to achieve impact in every area of the social sector, from expediting the pre-trial preparation experience to supporting emerging social entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Arch Pet Food
Arch Pet Food endeavors to break the pet industry's reliance on traditional livestock by offering wellness-focused alternative protein treats and food that are sustainable, nutritionally balanced, and species appropriate. Crickets, a natural, protein-rich super food that requires less water and land than beef, chicken, or soy, are the key ingredients in a range of products.
KindEd
KindEd aims to provide schools and educators with a social media education curriculum for youth, KindEd's goal is to equip and empower the younger generation with the knowledge and critical thinking skills to safely navigate the digital world.
Covery Health
Covery Health's mission is to provide equitable access to evidence-based treatments for opioid use disorder. It aims to bridge gaps in care for socioeconomically disadvantaged patients in rural areas by building a centralized group of addiction medicine specialists that pair hybrid onsite telehealth workflows with software technology.
Sirkularis
Sirkularis combines efficient waste management solutions tailored for middle-to-low income communities in Indonesia with cutting-edge SaaS tools. It empowers households and local businesses to responsibly manage waste while aiding businesses in optimizing resource usage, fostering a greener and more sustainable future.
Social entrepreneurs focus on composting solutions, last-mile shipping models, e-learning video games, and more.
Rustandy Center Announces Six 2023 Tarrson Fellows
Social entrepreneurs focus on blood shortages, battery life, and access to mortgages.
Meet the Rustandy Center's Newest Tarrson Fellows
The fellowship provides funding and mentoring to graduating university students and recent alumni who are committed to growing a startup that helps solve a social or environmental problem.
Rustandy Center Awards Tarrson Fellowships to Rising Social Entrepreneurs
