by Katie Calabro | Sep 30, 2022
Beam Impact helps connect consumers with social impact causes by turning purchases into nonprofit donations. Beam partners with brands committed to giving back and nonprofits committed to making a difference. Customers can shop from partner brands through the app, and donate a portion of their purchase to nonprofits at no cost. In 2021, donations made through Beam’s app funded over 7 million meals for food insecure communities, 250 hours of free therapy for Black and LGBTQ+ communities, and more.
Viveka Hulyalkar ‘15 and Alex Sadhu founded Beam Impact in 2017. Read their profile in Forbes here. Beam Impact was named on the 2021 Forbes 30 under 30 list, and raised over $13 million in funding in 2022.
Photo Credit: Beam Impact
by Jonas Clark | Sep 29, 2022
Bloom is an app that teaches teens how to invest via educational modules, empowering the next generation of Americans to build wealth. Features include parental safeguards and bank-grade encryption. Additionally, Bloom works with nonprofits and student-led organizations to spread financial literacy and support the social-good finance leaders of tomorrow. It offers UTMA/UGMA custodial brokerage accounts that helps teenagers invest in a safe and educational way. Bloom was a part of 2021’s Y Combinator, and recently raised $4.3 million from investors, including from a 2020 US Presidential Candidate. As of April 2022, the app’s waitlist has over 35,000 teenagers, with 200,000+ current users.
Bloom is founded by Sonny Mo, ’21 (right) (2019 Brown Venture Prize Finalist), Allan Maman (left), and Sam Yang (middle). Bloom was recently featured in Fast Company and Forbes.
Photo Credit: Bloom
by Jonas Clark | Sep 21, 2022
Formally, originally a hackathon project, is legal collaboration company seeking to simplify legal processes and increase access to justice. Rather than deal with convoluted paperwork trails and complications, Formally allows users to easily hire and work with attorneys. Utilizing AI, Formally has served thousands of asylum seekers. In addition, they aid international founders in applying for visas to begin building their companies in the US. Formally’s innovative software has been celebrated for its accessibility, security, and thoughtful data privacy practices. The platform was founded by Amélie-Sophie Vavrovsky, ’18, who was inspired by her own immigration struggles. Formally took first place at Brown Venture Prize in 2019.
The platform announced in 2022 that it had raised a $2.3 million pre-seed round of funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners with participation from BBG Ventures, Unshackled Ventures, Ulu Ventures, Graph Ventures, Dorm Room Fund, and prominent angels including Kiwi Camara, CEO at legal tech giant DISCO. Read their Business Insider Profile here.
Photo Credit:Amélie-Sophie Vavrovsky
by Jonas Clark | Sep 15, 2022
includesign aims to empower disabled individuals in the product design process. Their leading product is the LapSnap, a versatile, adaptive basket for wheelchair users. Features include a collapsible frame, adjustable strap, convenient pockets, and a comfortable padded base.
Founder Diana Perkins Kamada, ‘20 was a 2020 B-Lab alum and won the grand prize at the Future of Grocery Retail Pitch Competition hosted by Ahold Delhaize USA Companies and Venture Café. Diana also recently joined the board of RAMP, a RI nonprofit dedicated to disability advocacy and education and served as a panelist on the National Disability Institute’s Webinar “Entrepreneurs with Disabilities: An Emerging Force.”
Photo Credit: Diana Perkins Kamada
by Jonas Clark | Sep 13, 2022
Liberare (formerly Intimately) creates functional & fashionable intimates that are easy to get on for all women, including disabled women. Using new fastening technology, Liberare allows for everyone to get dressed more easily, especially people with limited hand dexterity, wheelchair users, or live with other chronic conditions. Liberare was founded by Emma Butler ’20, a 2018 B-Lab alumnus and the 2020 BVP Second Place winner. Butler was inspired by her own mother’s chronic pain.
Recently, Liberare received $1 million in funding led by the British Fashion Council (BFC) and the UK-based venture capital firm Venrex. Liberare was also profiled by Vogue and Business Insider.
Photo Credit: Liberare
