The Garage is excited to announce the newest cohort of Little Joe Ventures Fellows! Now in its eighth year, the Little Joe Ventures (LJV) Fellowship is awarded to five Northwestern sophomores who have demonstrated immense entrepreneurial potential. Fellows receive unparalleled personal development opportunities, funding, networking, and once in a lifetime experiences throughout their time at Northwestern and beyond.
These five sophomores represent a diversity of backgrounds and schools across Northwestern. This elite group was chosen due to their demonstrated talent and promising entrepreneurial potential. Learn more about each of the students in the 2025 cohort below.
Driven to provide scalable solutions that promote holistic health, Ryan views entrepreneurship as the path to optimizing health and overall well-being. He is a second-year majoring in Economics, minoring in Music Technology, and preparing for a Master’s in Bioengineering. Inspired by his experiences at a longevity and wellness device startup, he is passionate about enhancing longevity, metabolism, and understanding the importance of biomarkers. Currently, Ryan is working in the nutrition and food industry, focusing on personalized nutrition and convenience in the prepared meal delivery sector through his company, Prevail Nutrition. He has previously founded a farmers’ market delivery service, a sports shoe e-commerce company, and a music education non-profit. Ryan’s love for creativity and health expands beyond entrepreneurship as he enjoys music performance and composure, trail running, and training Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Ashley is a sophomore in Medill studying journalism and business. Her interest in entrepreneurship is rooted in her passion for storytelling at the intersection between art, technology and design. In high school, she ran a secondhand clothing business online and conducted research into the global textile economy, leading the installation of a local gallery exhibit showcasing her findings. Previously, Ashley worked as a Consumer Insights Intern at La Mer, helping with E-Commerce, Go-to-Market and Product strategy in New York and recently participated in Northwestern’s Bay Area Immersion program centered on user experience design. On campus, she leads tours at the Block Museum of Art and does media research on climate at the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs. Growing up between the US and Asia, Ashley is a firm believer in the power of cross-cultural collaboration in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
Lance enjoys fusing storytelling with design to solve problems from a unique lens. After entering Northwestern in Medill to pursue his interest in journalism and communications, he transferred to McCormick as a Manufacturing and Design Engineer to embrace his passion for hardware development and product management. In high school, he founded CliniConnect, a MedTech solution for clinical trial inefficiency and inequity, and wrote a provisional patent for its proprietary software. Now, he’s building FeedLogic, optimizing CNC manufacturing through advanced data analysis. As a Suspension and Chassis Engineer on Northwestern’s Formula Racing Team, Lance designs and manufactures components for the electric race car and helps manage operations for the 60-person team with an $80,000 budget. Lance also leads the Arch Entrepreneurship Group, connecting students with startups, and serves as Entrepreneurship Editor for the Northwestern Business Review. Passionate about mentorship, he always relishes sharing the love of entrepreneurship with others.
James is a sophomore from Vietnam studying Computer Science and Entrepreneurship. As the first in his family to study abroad, he is determined to leverage technology and design to drive meaningful change across disciplines. His journey began in high school where he founded Greencycling, a network of digitised recycling bins aimed at streamlining his city’s informal waste collection. At Northwestern, James spearheaded the creation of the SodaSnap, a 3D-printable, one-handed can opener designed for individuals with hemiplegia and quadriplegia. Most recently, James co-created sync, a portable smart mirror that offers real-time guidance on product application and tailored routines to make men’s skincare more accessible. No matter the topic area, James will seek to push the boundaries of possibility and be the catalyst for change by turning passion into lasting impact.
Kris is a sophomore at Northwestern University majoring in Computer Science and Social Policy. She is interested in the intersection of cybersecurity and international policy and is passionate about expanding the accessibility to security for all users. At Northwestern, she is the founder of Locket Cybersecurity, a student-led start-up serving the Chicagoland community by providing pro-bono security audits. Additionally, she is involved in the computer science community by leading as the director of WildHacks and teaching as a data structures and algorithms peer mentor. Outside of Northwestern, she works as an analyst at Shostack + Associates and an instruction intern at Kode with Klossy. She is grateful to engage with the Little Joe Ventures fellowship and is excited for the future!
Lance shared that “Joining LJV means immersing myself in a community of driven, like-minded peers who are constantly pushing their own boundaries. I'm excited to learn from experienced mentors, connect with entrepreneurial leaders, and grow alongside a family of fellows who will challenge, inspire, and elevate me in my personal journey.”
When asked how the program will impact her work specifically, Kris told us that "The Little Joe Ventures fellowship is my opportunity to invest in my future as an entrepreneur and leader through mentorship, and I am so grateful and excited to learn from this community!"
The Little Joe Ventures Fellowship has been thoughtfully designed to offer undergraduate students from across various schools at Northwestern the opportunity to participate in programming, travel, and a $5,000 financial award to pursue an entrepreneurial project or unpaid professional opportunity. The annual fellowship begins each spring during the cohort’s sophomore year and continues beyond graduation.
“The Little Joe Ventures Fellowship has become one of the most coveted programs for students at The Garage due to the opportunities it provides and the community of Fellows who support each other. Congratulations to Ryan, Ashley, Lance, James, and Kris on joining the newest LJV cohort,” shared Mike Raab, Executive Director of The Garage.
The Little Joe Ventures Fellowship in Entrepreneurship is made possible by a generous gift from Tony Owen ’93, ’03 MBA, and his wife, Monique. To stay up to date on programs at The Garage, including the LJV Fellowship, sign up for our quarterly newsletter here.
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