On April 27th, a panel of experts from Comcast NBCUniversal and VFA came together to judge the Social Impact Awards, a competition that grants funding and mentorship to aspiring VFA Fellows whose companies aim to alleviate social issues through technology and new media initiatives.
We’re so grateful to Comcast NBCUniversal for the funding and expertise that made this award possible, and we couldn’t be happier to announce the winners: Bridge the Media and Recline!
Bridge the Media, Founded by Pamela Taylor ’16
Bridge the Media is a Chrome extension that hopes to expose online news readers to different viewpoints. When a Bridge the Media user reads a news article online, the plugin will display an article on a similar topic from a different angle. With the hover of a mouse, this nonpartisan plugin will help expose readers to a wider variety of viewpoints than they might otherwise encounter.
Pamela earned her initial round of funding through the VFA Innovation Fund, our annual crowdfunding competition. With funding from the Social Impact Awards, Pamela plans to expand current functionality and develop a mobile version of the plugin, as well as run a marketing campaign.
Recline, Co-founded by Asher Lipsitz ’16 and Magdalene McArthur ’16
Recline aims to make mental health care more accessible and affordable. Through Recline, users can talk with a vetted active listener for 30-minute sessions intended to improve emotional well-being.
With this new round of funding, Asher and Magdalene plan to hire a software developer, run a marketing campaign, and offer free trials for new users.
Other finalists included Pollo con Leche, a video production company founded by Austin Blouin ’14 and Jon Galpern ’14; Potluck, a video chat platform that helps users forge new connections, co-founded by Dillon Meyers ’14; and GiveBackHack, a launchpad for social innovation co-founded by Louisa Lee ’13. All will receive ongoing advisement from Comcast NBCU.
Entrepreneurship can seem like a lonely endeavor. At VFA, we know that behind every successful startup is a community of advisors, funders, and supporters helping to make the business possible. We’re grateful to Comcast NBCUniversal for their support of our Fellows’ work, and we can’t wait to see what Recline and Bridge the Media build in the years to come!