The Fund Run

Family, friends, alumni and all other Drexel supporters have an exciting, brand new way to support programs and initiatives that help students and recent alumni incubating in the Baiada Institute. The Fund Run is a microdonation and engagement contest that allows alumni and friends of the Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship to support programs and initiatives that help student and alumni companies incubating in the Laurence A. Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship. This annual competition is powered by Alma Matters - a program that helps alumni connect with their alma maters. 

 

Student and alumni companies, referred to as “teams”, are competing with one another in a friendly contest starting February 1. These teams will reach out to their networks to gain “votes” for their startup. In order to cast a vote, you will need to make a monetary donation to the Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship which will be used to fund programs and initiatives to help student startups. Participating teams have eight weeks to promote their startup and gain different levels and quantities of votes. The winning teams will be announced at the end of March 2021.

The participating teams are not only going for most votes overall. Similar to Day of Giving, there are different challenges that award bonus prizes each team can go after based on the different amount and classification of votes. Teams have to obtain at least five recurring roundup donations and 20 level one-time donations to qualify for the top 3 bonus prizes. Unlike the funds raised from voting, these bonus prizes are directly awarded to teams.  

Each participating team can receive contest prizes in the following contest categories:

  • Most number of unique donors contributing at least $20.21
  • Most number of alumni donors
  • Most funds raised
  • Fastest to reach 25 unique donors contributing at least $20.21
Level 1 Vote
 Level 2 Vote

$20.21

One Time

$20.21

Recurring Roundup

Most # Unique Donors  Most # Alumni Donors Most Funds Raised Fastest to 25 Donors
1st Place $1,250 $1,000 $1,250 $1,000
2nd Place $1,000 $750 $1,000 $750
3rd Place $500 $500 $500 $500
4th Place $375 $375 $375 $375
5th Place $250 $250 $250 $250 

Winner take all - most round-up donations gets $2,500

Teams must go big or leave empty handed for this prize category. The startup that generates the most round-up recurring donations (minimum of $5.00) to the Close School during the remaining six weeks (Feb 18 - Mar 31) of the Fund Run will be awarded a bonus prize of $2,500 for their achievement.

Any roundup donations raised during this period will also count towards the other 4 prizes categories provided the criteria for those categories are also met.

How to cast your vote and support student entrepreneurs 

Voting during the Drexel Fund Run takes place within the Alma Matters platform. Visit the Close School’s page within the Alma Matters platform for a preview of all participating teams or go directly to your favorite team’s page using their individual profile links.

Once you arrive at a participating team’s profile on the Alma Matter’s platform, you will have the option to select the level of support (One Time donation for a level 1 vote or Round-Up donation for level 2) you want to donate to The Close School of Entrepreneurship. Once selected, you’ll cast your vote for your favorite startup by submitting your donation.

That’s it! You’ve just voted for your favorite participating startup while providing funds for other entrepreneurs at Drexel. 

As a small token of appreciation, individuals who make a recurring roundup donation of $20.21 or more will be eligible to receive a coupon for a free pair socks or two face masks from the Drexel collection of Timeless Tartans.

Companies

 

Lula, Inc.

College Bird.

Ikanos

VodHavok Studios LLC

Sasas Mix

AeroPest

Student Run Food Trucks

Banni