Tulane Changemaker Institute
What?
The Changemaker Institute (CI) is a semester-long program that supports graduate students and exceptional undergraduate students in building a business with social or environmental impact. Over the Spring ’25 semester, CI Fellows meet weekly, in person, on Wednesdays from 1-3 PM. Our alums describe the program as a “laid back accelerator” and “a family to nurture your ideas.” At the close of the program, Fellows share their ventures and their learnings in a public community showcase and receive actionable resources and feedback.
Why?
Starting a business is hard and can be very isolating. Our program unites students across Tulane who are working on a social impact business idea and provides a curriculum, framework and community to nurture ideas and provide and receive feedback and support.
Who?
CI Fellows are either founders of their own social impact venture (such as a non-profit, program, student-run organization, or business) OR are innovators building new capacity within an existing organization.
Most CI Fellows are Graduate and Professional Students across Tulane. We occasionally accept exceptional undergraduate students who have a strong understanding of the social issue they are seeking to address.
We strongly encourage team ventures, but solo participants are accepted.
Where?
We meet weekly on Wednesdays from 1-3 PM in the Spring semester at Propeller (4035 Washington Avenue), a nonprofit organization in New Orleans that grows and supports entrepreneurs to tackle social and environmental disparities. We see CI as a “mini Propeller” and many CI alums have gone on to become Fellows at Propeller. CI Fellows are responsible for their own transportation and arrive via car, carpool, bike, public transportation, or a Tulane shuttle for transportation (it is about an eight minute drive from both Tulane’s uptown and downtown campuses). Lunch is provided each week.
How?
We lead CI Fellows through a process that supports them to develop, research, test, and refine their idea for a business or program with social or environmental impact. See draft schedule below.
During our weekly meetings, CI Fellows gain:
- A warm, supportive, inclusive and adaptive environment to nurture your idea
- Business development skills via design thinking and lean canvas methodology
- Mentorship from Tulane and New Orleans’ social entrepreneurial communities
- A framework and process to deepen their understanding of social issues skills
- Preparation for applying to funding opportunities at Tulane and beyond
- Introductions to guest experts, field mentors and access to a network of changemakers within and beyond New Orleans
- A community of “like-hearted” student changemakers striving to create positive change
Learn more: https://taylor.tulane.edu/changemaker-institute/
Related Resources
The Changemaker Institute (CI) supports budding social entrepreneurs who are interested in building a business or program with social or environmental impact.
The Changemaker Institute (CI) is a semester-long program that supports graduate students and exceptional undergraduate students in building a business with social or environmental impact. Over the Spring ’25 semester, CI Fellows meet weekly, in person, on Wednesdays from 1-3 PM. Our alums describe the program as a “laid back accelerator” and “a family to nurture your ideas.” At the close of the program, Fellows share their ventures and their learnings in a public community showcase and receive actionable resources and feedback.
Why?
Starting a business is hard and can be very isolating. Our program unites students across Tulane who are working on a social impact business idea and provides a curriculum, framework and community to nurture ideas and provide and receive feedback and support.
Who?
CI Fellows are either founders of their own social impact venture (such as a non-profit, program, student-run organization, or business) OR are innovators building new capacity within an existing organization.
Most CI Fellows are Graduate and Professional Students across Tulane. We occasionally accept exceptional undergraduate students who have a strong understanding of the social issue they are seeking to address.
We strongly encourage team ventures, but solo participants are accepted.
How?
We lead CI Fellows through a process that supports them to develop, research, test, and refine their idea for a business or program with social or environmental impact. See draft schedule below.
During our weekly meetings, CI Fellows gain:
- A warm, supportive, inclusive and adaptive environment to nurture your idea
- Business development skills via design thinking and lean canvas methodology
- Mentorship from Tulane and New Orleans’ social entrepreneurial communities
- A framework and process to deepen their understanding of social issues skills
- Preparation for applying to funding opportunities at Tulane and beyond
- Introductions to guest experts, field mentors and access to a network of changemakers within and beyond New Orleans
- A community of “like-hearted” student changemakers striving to create positive change
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