About
Articles by Renata
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Resolutions are out, Word of The Year is in!
Resolutions are out, Word of The Year is in!
By Renata Merino
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Leave It On The Lake: Learning to Redirect Your Anger
Leave It On The Lake: Learning to Redirect Your Anger
By Renata Merino
Activity
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Team USA is making a 💦 SPLASH💦 in the pool, now we need your help giving kids the chance to make a splash of their own! Just $20 can give a child…
Team USA is making a 💦 SPLASH💦 in the pool, now we need your help giving kids the chance to make a splash of their own! Just $20 can give a child…
Liked by Renata Merino
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Though real estate, the world’s largest asset class, accounts for 40% of global emissions, there’s been historically little private market…
Though real estate, the world’s largest asset class, accounts for 40% of global emissions, there’s been historically little private market…
Liked by Renata Merino
Experience & Education
Licenses & Certifications
Volunteer Experience
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Investor, Mentor, Judge - Edward Kaplan New Venture Challenge & Global New Venture Challenge
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
- Present 3 years 5 months
Launched in 1996, the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC) is recognized as one of the top-ranked startup accelerator programs in the nation. Through the NVC, the Polsky Center has graduated more than 330 startup companies and created thousands of jobs for the economy. NVC startups have raised more than $1 billion in funding and achieved more than $7.5 billion in mergers and exits. Companies that have been successfully launched through the NVC include household names such as…
Launched in 1996, the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC) is recognized as one of the top-ranked startup accelerator programs in the nation. Through the NVC, the Polsky Center has graduated more than 330 startup companies and created thousands of jobs for the economy. NVC startups have raised more than $1 billion in funding and achieved more than $7.5 billion in mergers and exits. Companies that have been successfully launched through the NVC include household names such as Grubhub, Braintree/Venmo, and Simple Mills. The Rattan L. Khosa First-Place Prize, in addition to other specialized prizes and awards, are announced at the Polsky Innovation Showcase immediately following the finals.
As a former student, a former NVC participant and now an investor, mentor and judge, I advise top startups from both the New Venture Challenge and Global New Venture Challenge programs on their business model, financial model, marketing strategy, branding, presentation and team development. I am also part of the panel of judges who evaluate which teams advance to the finals and receive funding from the program.
All startups are required to submit a business plan, financial model, pitch deck and are guided and taught by professors of entrepreneurship at Chicago Booth as well as mentors within the venture community. Startups must have at least one current Chicago Booth student as part of their team and must apply to the program and pass rigorous screening in order to participate.
Judges are also given the opportunity to invest as angel investors or as a venture capital investor. -
Advisor, Judge
Stadia Ventures
- Present 4 years 1 month
Stadia Ventures is the global Sports Innovation Hub for early-stage investment in sports and esports. The three pillars of the ecosystem include a broad, independent growth fund, a deeply connected global network of sports and esports executives, and a world-class business development accelerator which combine to create deal flow, new technology discovery and investment opportunities. Since late 2015, Stadia Ventures has invested in almost 50 portfolio companies and experienced 5 exits. The…
Stadia Ventures is the global Sports Innovation Hub for early-stage investment in sports and esports. The three pillars of the ecosystem include a broad, independent growth fund, a deeply connected global network of sports and esports executives, and a world-class business development accelerator which combine to create deal flow, new technology discovery and investment opportunities. Since late 2015, Stadia Ventures has invested in almost 50 portfolio companies and experienced 5 exits. The success of the Stadia portfolio companies has led to Stadia Ventures being one of the longest-running and global players in the sports and esports technology space.
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Startup Mentor
Pear VC
- 4 months
Pear is an early-stage venture fund based out of Palo Alto founded by Mar Hershenson and Pejman Nozad. PearVC has had 9 exits and invests in seed and early stage startups. A few of their investments include Dropbox, Lending Club, Zoosk, Addepar, Path and many others.
PearVC leads a 3 month accelerator program with mentorship and office space and culminates with a final demo day, presenting to hundreds of top investors…Pear is an early-stage venture fund based out of Palo Alto founded by Mar Hershenson and Pejman Nozad. PearVC has had 9 exits and invests in seed and early stage startups. A few of their investments include Dropbox, Lending Club, Zoosk, Addepar, Path and many others.
PearVC leads a 3 month accelerator program with mentorship and office space and culminates with a final demo day, presenting to hundreds of top investors.
https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/case-studies/pear-vc -
Board Member
The Podium Project
- Present 4 years 2 months
The Podium Project is a collaborative community network initiative designed to elevate and celebrate female founders specifically within the sport tech startup entrepreneurship ecosystem, with a three-year goal to increase the support and inclusion of female founders and leadership in sport tech companies.
It is activated through a series of pitch and professional events tied to significant global sport business and innovation forums, anchored by a committed online community of leading…The Podium Project is a collaborative community network initiative designed to elevate and celebrate female founders specifically within the sport tech startup entrepreneurship ecosystem, with a three-year goal to increase the support and inclusion of female founders and leadership in sport tech companies.
It is activated through a series of pitch and professional events tied to significant global sport business and innovation forums, anchored by a committed online community of leading sport tech champions and advisors, and supported by key corporate and professional partners. -
Mentor
Polsky Center at the University of Chicago
- Present 4 years 8 months
Education
Provide mentorship and guidance to founders in both scaling their business in addition to raising capital from outside investors. From marketing to sales to strategic operations, advising founders on the nuances of building a business from scratch with minimal capital investment is my forte.
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Alumni Interviewer
Bowdoin College
- Present 14 years 11 months
Education
Interview prospective Bowdoin College candidates from various high schools located in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Il and provide acceptance, rejection or wait list recommendation to the Admission Committee of Bowdoin College.
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Board Member
Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods
- 4 years 10 months
Environment
Located among pristine woodlands in the Ryerson historic home in Riverwoods, Il., Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods promotes the importance of nature for nurturing personal and community wellbeing, cultivating creativity, and inspiring learning. In doing so, the Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods honors the legacy of those who came before us on this land and champions a region where people will care about and for nature.
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Board Member
Good Sports, Inc.
- Present 2 years 7 months
Children
I am a board member for Good Sports, a nonprofit launched in 2004 that drives equitable access in youth sports and physical activity, by supporting children in high-need communities to achieve their greatest potential, on the field and in life.
Publications
Projects
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1871 IHCC Latino Incubator Program
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Summer 2017 Cohort; Selected out of 80 applicants for a 13-member cohort; 3-month mentoring program culminating in a business pitch to 300+ Venture Capitalists/Angel Investors.
Honors & Awards
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1871 Chicago & Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Latino Incubator Program
1871 Chicago * Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Selected out of 80 applicants for a 13-member cohort; 3-month mentoring program culminating in a business pitch to 300+ Venture Capitalists/Angel Investors.
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The University of Chicago Booth School of Business Merit Based Scholarship Award 2002-2003
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Girl Scouts of America Gold Award
Girl Scouts of America
Highest Leadership Award within the National Organization
Languages
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Spanish
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Organizations
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Blazin' Babes
Founder, CEO
- PresentBlazin' Babes is a women's professional networking organization based out of Glencoe, IL and serving the Chicagoland region. It is an organization where professional women come together in a social setting to network with one another to elicit business connections, opportunities for professional development or to encourage and help one another realize their career goals and aspirations. Blazin' Babes was founded in 2013 and currently has 60 members.
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Chicago Innovation - Women's Co-Op
Member
-Selected to be part of a 6 month mentor/mentee program where successful Chicago innovators are connected with women who have a demonstrated interest in innovation, and want to grow their businesses and careers in the Chicago region through the support of a mentor
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