Seed-stage investment fund Slater Technology Fund and Brown University's Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship announced the recipients of the second-annual Brown Venture Founders award: Rishabh Singh, both a 2017 graduate of Brown and Gradly founder, and Kevin Eve, a 2018 Brown alumnus and co-founder of Uproot.
The award, created out of a partnership between Slater and the Nelson center (and Brown's strategic action plan to increase innovation), looks "to empower the most advanced entrepreneurial ventures by recent Brown graduates and young alumni entrepreneurs," a release on the winners states. It provides the chosen founders with a host of prizes, from mentorship and up to $50,000 in funding, to coworking space and other resources.
“Students in our universities will solve the great problems of our time — environmental, medical, societal,” said Slater Fund Managing Director Thorne Sparkman. “Through the Nelson Center, Brown University is at the forefront of preparing its students for these challenges with entrepreneurship courses, programs, and venture support resources. We are proud to work alongside the university to support its efforts, and to invest in the next generation of Rhode Island’s entrepreneurial leaders emerging from Brown."
Both winners expressed gratitude on the award.
“The significance of Brown and the Nelson Center in my journey cannot be overstated,” said Singh, whose program helps international students navigate preparing their lives at college in the U.S. “As I work to expand Gradly, I am excited to continue to be a part of the Rhode Island tech ecosystem which, in my experience, has time and again proven to be uniquely positioned to support early-stage companies and emerging founders like me.”
Eve, whose startup develops plant-based milks, echoed Singh's sentiments.
“The Brown Venture Founder Prize has given me the support and confidence to launch Uproot in Rhode Island,” said Eve. “The backing has been crucial as we scale production, build a team and seek investment. Launching an early-stage venture has been an incredibly challenging and exciting experience. I am grateful to have the support of Brown University and the Slater Technology Fund.”
Editor's Note: Gradly was named one of Rhode Island Inno's 2019 50 on Fire award winners, while Eve was named one of Rhode Island Inno's 25 Under 25.
