2014

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Coach: Michael Adler

Website: theauerbachfirm.com
Social Media: Facebook
Press: Billy Penn

Venture Description

The Law Office of Steven Auerbach is a Philadelphia-based law firm that handles nearly all aspects of commercial, personal injury, and unemployment law. Steven Auerbach and his firm work tirelessly to ensure that you receive favorable results from your hearing. Auerbach’s newly-launched legal practice is tailored to meet the unique needs of litigants in the Philadelphia area, and has emerged as a recognized leader in commercial law and unemployment compensation litigation. Covered cases include: personal injury, commercial law, family law, on-the-job and traffic accidents, and unemployment compensation. Whether your case is settled out of court, in mediation, or in front of a judge appointed by law, Auerbach can help your case.

About the Founder

Steve is a Main Line attorney, father, and son. At 27, Steve has graduated from law school, opened his own commercial litigation practice, and has authored the World’s first English table of contents for the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law). Steve is best characterized by his strong sense of determinism and appreciation of nuance. He is excited by trend-setters, ground-breakers, and by those who maximize their potential.

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Website: iamproject.co
Social Media: Facebook
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Venture Description

The goal of The “I Am” Project is to foster stronger and more confident students by teaching them tools that access their strengths, talents, and abilities. Teaching them to create the realities they desire, heal wounds and past traumas, and become compassionate, productive, and self-reliant adults. “I Am” teaching takes every aspect of a student into consideration so that he or she may grow, move through any internal blocks or obstacles that may have manifested, and that may be confronted physically. Students learn valuable strategic thinking and the ability to trust in key natural instincts. Our creative and dynamic training increases balance, alignment, agility, flexibility, strength, power, breath consciousness and awareness to reveal your peak performance in all aspects of life. The goal is to create curriculums for elementary, middle, and high schools that encompass and incorporate these tools and put them to practice.

About the Founder

Yali is a writer, speaker, teacher, and consultant with a passion to uncover strength and healing within herself and others. Throughout her life, Yali battled with recurring instances of abuse that culminated in a shattering of her self-perception, thus sparking a vicious cycle of depression, eating disorders and self-harm. By getting to know her mind and her body through a mélange of physical, mindful, and therapeutic practices, she eventually came to know herself. She teaches these tools and fosters self-care in classrooms in the Philadelphia area. The “I Am” Project emerged from her work with survivors of violence and students dealing with mental illness and anxiety. The “My Voice Workshops” and “I Am Curriculum” which make up I Am – My Voice emerged from Yali’s journey in healing from illness and struggle along with the results she observed in working with her students and groups of survivors.

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Website: soomfoods.com
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest
Press: soomfoods.com/press

Venture Description

We founded Soom Foods with a vision that tahini would become a pantry staple in the American market because it is a delicious, nutritious, and versatile ingredient. And, this product’s story led us to discovering silan. When we started Soom Foods in 2013, we never could have anticipated that tahini, and now silan, could meet so many diverse needs and bring so much joy to our customers.

About the Founder

Amy is the youngest of the Soom Sisters. She graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication in 2011. Following graduation, Amy taught English in Israel and traveled extensively through 2012, until she committed full-time to Soom Foods. She has been talkin’ tahini since January 2013. Amy is married to Darren they have one son, Henry, and a dog, Taz. Amy is passionate about utilizing her interpersonal communication skills and working with all members of the Soom Crew to manage Soom’s short and long term company strategies. Amy has been named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2018 List for the Food and Drink category. Amy enjoys doing yoga, spending time outside with her family, and eating her meals at the bar when she travels solo.

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Coach: Ross Berkowitz

Website: adamspector.org
Social Media: Facebook

Venture Description

Funding research to develop new drug therapies and treatments for Hodgkin’s lymphoma and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families managing Hodgkin’s.

About the Founder

Andy grew up outside of Philadelphia. He graduated from Penn State and has been working in IT business consulting for the past six years. Andy is proud of his Jewish heritage.

 

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Website: challahforhunger.org
Social Media: Instagram, Facebook

Venture Description

Challah for Hunger (CfH) brings people together to bake and sell challah to raise funds and awareness for social justice causes. 2014 marks our 10th anniversary of creating transformational experiences for young Jews through social justice work and challah baking. To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we want to re-connect with our thousands of alumni by developing a Challah for Hunger Alumni Network. We want to create online and in person opportunities for CfH alumni to continue to engage with social justice work, Jewish community and philanthropy. For many participants, CfH is an entry point to Jewish social justice work, and we want to support the continuation of their journey.

About the Founder

Carly Zimmerman, CEO of Challah for Hunger, started her Jewish journey at the University of Pittsburgh, where she co-founded a Jewish a cappella group and the Pitt Challah for Hunger chapter. Passionate about student empowerment and social justice, Carly worked in the Hillel community and received her master’s degree from the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. Carly spends her free time exploring the Philadelphia’s parks and restaurants with her husband, Michael, and dog, Henry.

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Website: palawyersforyouth.org
Social Media:Twitter
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Venture Description

We aim to give voice to otherwise silenced experiences of youth by advocating for reforms that promote positive youth development, effective legal representation, and supportive relationships between the community and youth. We believe in the resiliency and potential of young people. In working towards a more just juvenile system, we aim to empower system-involved youth to identify their own goals, acknowledge their potential, and realize their dreams. We believe that working with individuals can inform a wider advocacy approach. We will assist reintegrating youth by providing advocates for youth before they are released from detention facilities; advocates will continue to work with youth post incarceration to navigate complicated educational and legal systems through consistent and informed mentorship and case management, intervention into the school-to-prison pipeline trajectory, and advocacy-driven, client-centered direct service.

About the Founder

Elana takes to heart the idea that with privilege comes responsibility. After majoring in African-American Studies at Wesleyan University, Elana adopted a set of radical politics including a desire to dismantle hierarchical structures that form the foundation of modern society. She focused on prison abolition work, and spent a year working at the New York Legal Assistance Group through AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps in New York City upon graduation. Shortly thereafter, Elana began law school at Georgetown, working on projects relating to solitary confinement of youth, prison expansion, and the school to prison pipeline, and interned at the Capitol Area Immigrant Rights (CAIR) Coalition, the Washington Lawyers Committee in the Prisoner’s Project, Human Rights Watch, and participated in the juvenile defense clinic at Georgetown. Now, as a lawyer, Elana is looking for ways to continue this work outside of her primary job.

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Venture Description

Studies show that exposure to American Sign Language before the development of spoken language helps to improve children’s visual and mental acuity. Heather Schmerman devised a fun and creative way for parents to do this! Sign of the Times is a unique, innovative business plan, which aims to educate Jewish parents on how to communicate with their children using storytelling in American Sign Language (ASL). Schmerman, a Deaf professional ASL teacher, designed a personalized course that will educate parents on ASL storytelling and conversation basics. By the end of the course, parents will be able to sign their own bedtime stories to their children. As a memento, parents will take home a digital video recording of themselves signing a story in ASL.

About the Founder

Heather is full of energy, ambitious, and willing to learn about anything with an open-mind and eyes when it comes to unexpected adventures! Heather is originally from Chicago, attended California State University, and studied for a year in Australia. Her passion for traveling, food, culture, acting and adventure has taken her to Southeast Asia, Turkey, Greece and Israel. Heather uses every day to meet new people and learn wherever she can. As a teacher, she is able to pass her knowledge of American Sign Language on to her students. Everyone she teaches wants to learn more, and Heather is always willing to share what she knows.

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Venture Description

Shine Dance Studio will provide a professional and exciting place for Jewish girls to discover their uniqueness through dance. The focus of the studio is on the importance of modesty and developing a healthy sense of self esteem and body image. Walk in, learn to dance, and let your true self shine. Shine will also be geared to the schedule of the observant community. The greater Jewish community will have a chance to send their girls to a class where they won’t have to miss any classes because of Shabbat or holidays and they will be able to participate in performances because they will take place in a modest environment that befits Jewish girls of all backgrounds.

About the Founder

Lauren Somers is passionate about improving the lives of others through dance. As a former dancer, she knows the value and impact that results from self expression. In addition, Lauren strives to impart Jewish values such as modesty and a healthy self esteem. Lauren is committed to helping others tap into their core values and strengths on the dance floor. She is a dedicated wife and loving mother of four children.

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Coach: Shaw Levin
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Website: mymilkcrate.com
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn
Press: Grid, Philly Inquirer, Generocity

Venture Description

A mission–driven tech company that empowers our clients to track and grow their impact. Whether you are a big corporation engaging employees in sustainability, or a nonprofit helping youth participate in cultural programming – our platform can be customized to engage individual behavior to reveal collective impact. Why? Because we believe the potential to create a better future is in all of us.

About the Founder

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Morgan is a multidisciplinary designer whose mission is to promote sustainable design and weave it into the fabric of daily life. She completed her Masters of Science in Sustainable Design at Philadelphia University, where she focused on interactive and industrial design within the broader context of sustainability. Prior to her work as a sustainability advocate and designer, she worked as a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania and as an educator/advocate in women’s health.

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Website: funerals360.com
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
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Venture Description

Funerals is a web-based company, “disruptive” technology, and online community that provides funeral planning and educational tools to consumers researching funeral establishments and related services and products. It is modeled after other well-known websites like WeddingWire, TripAdvisor, Yelp, and AngiesList where the basis of the website is a comprehensive database of entities that can be searched and sorted based on personal preferences and selection is often based on user reviews and ratings. As much as it is a business, it is also a consumer advocacy tool aimed at breaking down the knowledge barriers between the industry and consumers, empowering consumers to make decisions based on their own timeline and knowledge.

About the Founder

Rachel is passionate about life…and death. A longtime consumer advocate, she has dedicated her professional life to improving the business of death. Following the loss of a great uncle and personally experiencing the longwinded and confusing funeral planning process, she has become a champion for families in the same situation. Since 2012 she has been determined to provide funeral planning tools and resources via the Internet to help families find funeral service providers faster and make the funeral planning process simpler, clearer, and more autonomous for those in our community.

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Venture Description

Protein, carbohydrates, and Knishes, oh my!!…..There’s a classic saying that goes, “We are what we eat.” Well, what do the foods we eat, really do for our bodies? What does the digestive system look and feel like? The Gut Bus will be a traveling exhibition, exposing children of all ages to the opportunity as they explore their gut (or digestive system), through an interactive and educational labyrinth filled with engaging facts appealing to all the senses. From the chomping of your teeth to the flush of the toilet…participants will understand the importance of food choices and how it impacts our bodies!

About the Founder

Ever since Rachel can remember she has been a part of Jewish life, and more importantly the Jewish kitchen- which spawned her passion for food, leading her to become a Registered Dietitian. Rachel’s creativity is boundless insomuch that she sees opportunities as avenues to make her community stronger and more vibrant. Rachel thrives on smiles over dollars, and lives for “AHA!” moments! Rachel loves exploring the great outdoors whether hiking, biking or even kayaking; she is always up for seeing something new. Rachel is a New Jersey native, new to the Philadelphia area and eager to make a difference in the way the community looks at what they eat and why they eat it!

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Venture Description

FlyingSparks Productions aims to create high quality entertainment in keeping with Jewish values and highlighting stories featuring well-rounded, non-stereotypical Jewish characters, to show the beauty of our heritage in a non-preachy, accessible way. We will harness the incredible power of film and TV as a vehicle to inspire, educate, shatter stereotypes, and highlight Jewish history in a way that is both meaningful and highly entertaining. Films produced will be primarily based on fictional stories, as well as historical fiction, not documentaries. Through excellent casting, well crafted dialogue, and professional production values, these films will be completely mainstream yet will be dedicated to a positive portrayal of Jewish people and our heritage.

 

About the Founder

Ronit Polin is a trendsetting Jewish filmmaker. Drama has always been her passion, and she has been writing and directing successful plays for over ten years. Lately she decided to take her passion for the dramatic arts one step further and produce films, specifically aimed at a market that had been totally ignored- Orthodox Jewish women. Ronit wrote, directed, and produced two hugely popular films shown to audiences worldwide. Now she hopes to form a production company to enable her to bring more Jewish-oriented stories to life, for general audiences to enjoy.