Launched in 2018 by Tony Owen ’97, ’03 MBA, and his wife, Monique, the Little Joe Ventures Fellowship in Entrepreneurship provides an unparalleled experience to students with a demonstrated interest in and commitment to building new ideas.
Each year, Northwestern faculty and staff committees nominate and select students who have shown exceptional promise as entrepreneurs. Five sophomores are chosen each winter quarter after a rigorous interview process. Each cohort is announced at the beginning of the spring quarter.
Fellows selected to participate in the highly competitive program receive financial support for entrepreneurial endeavors, coaching, and transformational experiences, including group travel. Additionally, the Fellows gain access to the donor’s and university’s extensive networks.
Over the two-year program, Fellows travel to Los Angeles to explore startups and meet inspiring alumni and innovative leaders. Fellows also receive 1-on-1 executive coaching. Each Fellow delivers a Senior Talk and workshop for the other Fellows on a topic that is personal and unique to their entrepreneurial journey. Topics have ranged from Designing Your Life to Building Community Cultures. During spring break of every other year, the Fellows travel on an emerging leaders’ expedition with alumni of the program. This experience is thoughtfully designed to make them more purpose-driven, self-aware leaders.
Fellows may receive support of up to $5,000 for an entrepreneurial project. Past fellows have used the funding to purchase inventory and supplies for their startup and to travel to conferences.
Fellows get 24/7 access to The Garage, a dedicated desk, and access to reservable meeting rooms.
Coaching focused on personal and professional growth.
All expenses paid trips - plus, an award of up to $5,000 for an entrepreneurial project.
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!
"Becoming an LJV Fellow has changed my path at Northwestern entirely. It has provided me with such an inspiring community within The Garage as well as incredible opportunities that I never would have had access to if it weren’t for the Owens’ generosity. Since being selected, I have been launched into the real world of entrepreneurship with full force, meeting some of the most influential people and gaining valuable learning experiences that have helped shape my future as a founder and beyond.”
Lilliana Robinson
McCormick '21
2311 Campus Drive Suite 2300
Evanston, IL 60208
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