The Garage x Kellogg

The Garage is a community and physical space for every Northwestern student interested in entrepreneurship to learn, iterate, and grow. We offer students resources, programming, and mentorship designed to help build the skills and entrepreneurial mindset they need to succeed in any industry.

Students from across the University bring a wide range of diverse academic and personal experiences that enrich the entrepreneurial environment at The Garage through exposure to new ideas, ways of thinking and skill sets. Kellogg students learn alongside and from the undergraduate community at The Garage, while also enjoying sharing professional knowledge with students. Many Kellogg candidates who incubate their projects at The Garage go on to become Zell Fellows, a point of pride for The Garage.

In winter 2022, there are over 60 Kellogg students participating in programs at The Garage. Below are a few student stories.

Sarah Pinner, Kellogg ’22

Sarah has participated in multiple programs at The Garage as she builds her startup, beni. She participated in Jumpstart, The Garage’s pre-accelerator program, and won second place + $3,000 at the end-of-program Demo Day. Sarah and her team are currently Residents of The Garage, and have raised $1M in capital!

Project / Company: Beni is a browser extension that matches an online shopper’s desired clothing purchase with secondhand alternatives.

  • “The Jumpstart program gave me the structure, resources, and financial support needed over the summer to really accelerate our progress on Beni, progress which in turn greatly helped us when raising our pre-seed this fall. Through Jumpstart we’ve met many of our biggest cheerleaders, advisors, and investors.”

Shanna Traphoner-Liu, Kellogg ’22

Shanna, a Zell fellow, has enthusiastically participated in multiple programs at The Garage including Residency, Propel, The Garage’s program for female student entrepreneurs, and Jumpstart, The Garage’s summer pre-accelerator program.

Project / Company: bekome is a web platform helping Gen-Z, millennials, and people of color find their right therapist based on personality, lifestyle and cultural fit.

  • “I can certainly point to The Garage as the launchpad for my start as an entrepreneur and the beginnings of my company, bekome. The support, mentorship, and network – whether through Propel, Jumpstart, or Residency – have all been crucial toward our ability to launch our MVP, test product-market-fit, and be set up for success on our path forward toward growth.”

Lacey Johnson, JD/MBA ’23

Lacey is a participant in The Garage’s Activate program – developed to create an inclusive community and resources for Black Northwestern student founders.

Project / Company: Legal tech software that guides individuals through the probate process after losing a loved one intestate.

  • “The Garage has made entrepreneurship accessible for students from all walks of life. Through the Activate program, I have been able to build a diverse and supportive network of peers and mentors in the entrepreneurship community who push me to transform the companies I’ve dreamed up into reality.”

Shivi Maheshwari, Kellogg ’22

Shivi is a participant in The Garage’s Tinker program – a program developed for student entrepreneurs to explore The Garage’s resources and their idea at their own pace. Shivi’s startup recently participated in The Garage’s popular quarterly event, Startup Matchmaking.

Project / Company: Datum is an all-in-one digital service platform that help everyday consumers control, manage, and monetize their personal data assets.

  • “As part of the Tinker program, my team and I able to be part of Startup Matchmaking where we met so many passionate, skillful and interested students wanting to work with us on our idea! Also, Tinker weekly newsletters are very helpful in terms of resources and education.”

The Garage x Kellogg News

Rachel Xanttopoulos, Weinberg ’11 + Kellogg ’17 featured on How I Got Here Podcast

Student Spotlight: Alexandre Wedmore, Kellogg ’20

Student Spotlight: Sinthuja Nagalingam, Kellogg ’20

Student Spotlight: Marcus Schneider, Kellogg ’20

Ben Preston, Kellogg ’20 wins grand prize at VentureCat 2020

Tom Verghese KSM ’04 sponsors new X-Factor Program at The Garage

Students visit Kellogg alum, Don Meier ’19, in Austin

Questions?

Email us at thegarage@northwestern.edu