Hopper Tank

This year’s Patty Abramson Social Venture Lab proposed social ventures including an idea to provide hygiene products to homeless or impoverished women (Purple Pack) and another to create a mental health app for young people that helps connect those with similar experiences or health issues (Orbital App).

Along with three other ideas in the running, these GDS High School student-run entrepreneurial approaches to change were competing for approval from middle schoolers–and a $1,000 grant to pursue their idea.

The brainchild of Jenny Abramson, Founder and Managing Partner of Rethink Impact, and GDS alum, parent, and former Board Chair, the Social Venture Lab honors Jenny’s late mother, Patty, a venture capitalist who focused on investing in women (and also served on the GDS Board of Trustees). 

Patty’s legacy inspired the program that runs for 12 weeks with mentorship and planning and culminates in the “Hopper Tank” pitch competition in front of middle schoolers. 

In addition to Purple Pack and Orbital App, the three other proposals were Global Gateway (a hands-on language study program for immigrants), “Full Circle Sports (a business of selling off last year’s sports’ jerseys), and SustaInn (repackaging and selling unused and discarded hotel toiletry products). Congratulations to the winning freshmen Willa Wible, Alicia Kim, Arielle Stopak, and Rhea Ganta who designed the “Purple Pack.”

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