Hillel @ Stanford x ASES
Social Impact Entrepreneurship Competition
Empowering Students. Repairing the World.
About the Competition
The Social Impact Entrepreneurship Competition is rooted in the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam, meaning "repair the world." It brings together Stanford students committed to developing meaningful solutions to today’s most pressing challenges.
From nonprofits and social enterprises to tech solutions and creative impact models, the competition supports a wide range of ideas aimed at improving lives and strengthening communities.
Past projects have addressed issues such as food access, refugee support, mental health, environmental sustainability, and efforts to reduce hate and build bridges across communities.
While this year’s competition has concluded, we look forward to welcoming a new cohort of innovators in 2027. More information will be shared in the fall.
This year’s competition was featured in The J.
Read the article, “Stanford Students Pitch Startups with Social Impact in Hillel Contest for $30,000,” to learn more.
2026 Competition: Highlight Video
"This is an example of the best kind of work we get to do here at Hillel. When a highly motivated student approaches us with an incredible idea that is rooted in Jewish values and has broad appeal, it’s a testament to the work we put in every day toward our mission and vision, and how we hope to motivate and inspire students." — Branden Johnson, Associate Director of Hillel at Stanford
Prizes
Funding
The winning venture was awarded
$30,000
in prize funds for their business
Mentorship
The winning venture was awarded a 60-minute Zoom conversation with
Daniel Lubetzky (JD '93)
Founder of KIND Snacks and Builders
and Shark on ABC's Shark Tank
Mentorship
Participants in this year’s competition were matched with industry mentors offering valuable experience across a range of fields, including startup founders, business lawyers, real estate experts, nonprofit leaders, and more.
Mentorship was offered on a first-come, first-served basis to support students as they developed and refined their ideas.
Mentorship opportunities will return with the next competition cycle in 2027. More details will be shared in the fall.
Our Judges
Our judges represent a broad spectrum of expertise, including founding capital investment firms, overseeing the finances of multibillion-dollar startups, and creating social entrepreneurship labs.
Judges' Reflections:
"Judging the Social Impact Entrepreneurship Competition at Hillel was a reminder of just how special the Stanford community is. It was an honor to interact with the finalist student teams and get to award a winner. The students clearly had been working on their projects well before the competition and care deeply about the real-world impact of what they’re building. This event serves as a great example of the innovative, welcoming, and diverse role Hillel plays at Stanford." — Ben Werdegar ’20, Founder and Manager of Sparkwave Capital
"I was very impressed by the caliber of the presenting teams, especially given that this competition series is still new. What stood out to me was how well the teams balanced serious business ambition (and impressive traction) with a meaningful focus on social impact. I enjoyed having the chance to help give students a platform to build ideas that can create real value for the broader community outside of Stanford and look forward to attending Hillel’s future pitch competitions."
— Pierce Kelaita, Applied Research, liftlab, Stanford Law School
