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From Inspiration to Company

Kellogg concentration focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship

Kathryn Bernell
Kathryn Bernell

At some point, every entrepreneur will need the resources, mentorship, and skills to grow and scale her business. Understanding that there’s no better environment for incubating an idea than a business school, Kellogg launched the Kellogg Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative (KIEI) 

Whether the goal is launching a startup, joining a scaling venture, driving corporate innovation or reigniting growth within a company, Kellogg helps entrepreneurs like Kathryn Bernell (Kellogg ’18) launch and scale their businesses.

As a MMM student, Bernell was inspired to start a company to try to reduce the 40 percent of food produced in the country that goes to waste. Acting on that inspiration, she founded ReBlend (formerly ReBucha), a company that produces drinks using cosmetically imperfect produce, preventing it from being thrown out. It’s also set the goal of making these fresh, high-quality drinks available to low-income consumers.  

“By delivering exceptional products, we will educate our consumers that misshapen produce doesn’t have to be divorced from high quality” she said. 

Bernell was recently named a Youn Impact Scholar, along with four other Kellogg students who are passionate about creating positive change in the world. The program is endowed by Christopher and Courtney Combe and named after Andrew Youn, a 2006 Kellogg alum who founded the One Acre Fund, a nonprofit working to eradicate hunger and poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa.  

Last year, Bernell competed in the Kellogg Venture Challenge Shark Tank, a student pitch competition inspired by the ABC show “Shark Tank.” She won first place and $5,000.  The competition was started to provide a real-life pitching environment much like the one student entrepreneurs would go on to experience at competitions and when pitching to investors. She is also a member of the Zell Fellows Program, which supports Kellogg students looking to launch their startups or acquire existing ventures. 

Megan Kashner with students
Megan Kashner with students
“We value and support student entrepreneurs like Kathryn and provide them with the guidance and resources they need to succeed and grow their enterprises” says Megan Kashner, clinical assistant professor and director of Social Impact at Kelloggwhich leads impact programming at the school.  

In addition to perfecting their pitches, students can choose from 50 courses in entrepreneurship, innovation, and growth and scaling, which all evolve to accommodate the changing needs of students and the marketplace. Through strong links with VC investors, such as Pritzker Group Venture Capital, KIEI offers students a one-of-a-kind experience to partner with investment and operating professionals.   

Through the Pritzker Group Venture Fellows Program, students participate in a 12-week summer program at Chicago’s 1871 startup incubator where they are mentored by Pritzker Group Venture Capital professionals and receive an initial $20,000 investment in their business. 

KIEI was formed to bridge the resource gaps young entrepreneurs face throughout their startup journey, from idea to execution and beyond. By supporting students at every juncture throughout the way, it has supported hundreds of successful entrepreneurs, and counting.