Tamer Institute

Killer Snails, where Jessica Ochoa Hendrix '09 is CEO and founder, recently launched WaterWays, an innovative 3rd to 5th grade science curriculum supplement focused on water ecology and environmental health. Developed with the Wildlife Conservation Society, Hudson River Park, and Mount Sinai, WaterWays aims to cultivate a generation of informed, passionate students committed to preserving our planet's health.

Morgan Hewett, ’15CC, co-founder of Tamer Fund for Social Ventures portfolio member Options MD, saw an opportunity to use ad technology to address treatment-resistant depression. The telehealth platform uses algorithms to help people with treatment-resistant illnesses find a treatment that works.

“There are really good reasons for having carbon markets [...] The problem is that implementing them is extraordinarily difficult to do in a way that actually reduces emissions,” says Professor Bruce Usher, who is quoted in this detailed report on carbon credits, net zero, and tackling climate change.

Impact America Fund has raised $112 million for its third fund, bringing their total AUM to $177M. This fund will invest in 30 new companies from Seed through Series A stages. The Black women-owned venture capital investor "[works] to build massively profitable and purposeful companies that can uplift Black and Brown workers, families and small businesses," says Kesha Cash '10, founder and general partner.

In a recent study, researchers from Columbia Business School and Northwestern University found that betting money on weather increases concerns about the effects of climate change. Professor Sandra Matz, one of the authors, discusses lessons from the study and their idea for a scaled-up "climate prediction market."

EcoPlum, a sustainable promotional products company where Gia Machlin, '91BUS, '87SEAS, is president and CEO, recently received certifications as a women-owned business by both New York State and New York City. "We are thrilled to receive women-owned business certification from both New York State and New York City, highlighting our active participation within an amazing and powerful community of women entrepreneurs in New York who are making a difference and doing good with their successful businesses,” says Gia.

In response to tech companies laying off workers and rethinking new hires as AI rapidly develops, Professor Dan Wang comments that AI “will cause organizations to restructure,” but he doesn’t necessarily see machines replacing humans just yet.

Local Civics, a Tamer Fund for Social Ventures portfolio venture founded by Beverly Leon ’20, is one of seven New York City-based companies that will receive just over $1M in cash from two programs run by Google's parent company Alphabet. The programs support founders from underrepresented backgrounds. The $150K award will help the venture continue to streamline educational resources around citizenship, social impact, and visionary leadership for schools at every level.

Gernot Wagner, senior lecturer and climate economist, says extreme heat can trigger irrational behavior that can add up economically.

Gernot Wagner, senior lecturer and climate economist, writes about how the climate fight is really about the risks and endemic uncertainties. He says that managing the problem well requires that we cut off the tail end of the extreme-weather distribution.