A foundation started by MoonPay co-founder Ivan Soto-Wright is funding programming to support student entrepreneurship in South Florida.
The Soto-Wright Foundation is partnering with the Junior Achievement of Greater Miami and Northeastern University to provide scholarships for students involved in Junior Achievement programs.
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"By investing in education and fostering entrepreneurship from a young age, we can create meaningful opportunities for students and drive positive change in our community," Soto-Wright said in a statement.
The non-profit Junior Achievement of Greater Miami aims to prepare young people to succeed in the business world, with programming focused on entrepreneurship, workforce readiness and financial literacy. Its signature JA Company Program helps high school students to launch and manage their own business ventures.
Now, students who successfully complete the JA Company Program, Junior Achievement High School Heroes or similar initiatives who are admitted to Northeastern University as full-time students are eligible to apply for a Soto-Wright Scholarship. The award will be matched by the university to total up to $80,000 over four academic years.
The scholarship is only open to first-year students at one of its undergraduate campuses. The Boston-based research university has a global system of 13 campuses, including a Miami location in Wynwood established in 2023.
The goal is to make higher education more affordable for people who want to become entrepreneurs.
"Through this partnership, we aim to inspire and empower the next generation of innovators, leaders, and change-makers," said Ebony Clinton, dean of undergraduate admissions at Northeastern.
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Headquartered in Miami, the Soto-Wright Foundation reports it aims to fuel economic mobility in South Florida by supporting entrepreneurs. Founder Soto Wright is the co-founder and CEO of MoonPay, a cryptocurrency payments infrastructure provider backed by millions in venture capital.
MoonPay creates products that let people buy and sell cryptocurrencies using credit cards, bank transfers and mobile wallets. Its software also gives businesses access to the infrastructure they need to buy and sell cryptocurrency while staying compliant with regulators, according to its website.
In 2022, the company appeared on CB Insights list of the world's most promising financial technology startups.
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