The Halperin Emerging Company Growth Fund provides capital for DePaul University to make equity investments in startups founded by DePaul students, alumni and select community entrepreneurs.
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying to the Halperin Emerging Company Fund, please complete the application linked below and your application will be reviewed. All potential investment deals are reviewed and approved by the Halperin Emerging Company Fund investment committee.
Meet our Investment Committee
The Halperin Emerging Company Fund Committee members meet with entrepreneur applicants to assess their venture’s potential and make recommendations for investments.
2024-2025 Halperin Fund Student Analysts
If you're interested in joining and learning more about the Private Equity Venture Capital student club at DePaul, please email DePaulEVC@gmail.com or visit our LinkedIn.
Private Equity & Venture Capital Club Faculty Advisor
Halperin Portfolio Companies
Founder: Yaxi Yang
Summary: Visual Feeder is a marketing company that transforms empty storefront windows into immersive, street-level digital ad experiences using projection technology. Their digital out-of-home (DOOH) solutions enable brands to create impactful advertising campaigns, and they provide real-time metrics to track engagement and ROI.
Founder: Robert Broome
Summary: Mooski is a snack company specializing in chilled oat bars made from a blend of Swiss-style overnight oats (muesli), creamy nut butter, and coated in dark chocolate. Unlike traditional dry granola bars, Mooski's bars are refrigerated to maintain freshness without preservatives, offering a healthier, fresher alternative
Founders: Mohan Naidu, Tushad Driver
Summary: Alphathena is a revolutionary next-generation platform for personalized investing. Today, we empower financial advisors, RIAs, wealth managers, fintechs, and TAMPs to seamlessly integrate direct indexing, tax-loss harvesting, and tax-efficient transitions directly into their existing workflows and custodians.
Founders: Janine Seale, Caobi Kastan
Summary: Out of Office (OOO) is a travel app that allows users to create wishlists, collaborate with friends, and book accommodations, all from one platform. The app focuses on personalized travel experiences by showcasing hidden gems and popular spots based on trusted recommendations.
Founder: Paul Giedraitis
Summary: Orgaimi is the world's most powerful client intelligence platform for law and accounting firms. Orgaimi uses sophisticated data science models, machine learning, and AI to analyze over a million current and historical client attributes, enhancing the work of your data scientists, engineers, and business analysts.
Founder: Caitlyn Truong
Summary: Zengines uses AI, machine learning models, and data science to make it easier and faster for companies to move their data to new software platforms. Their goal is a future where data conversions are frictionless and companies are free to adopt the latest and best technology for their business.
Founders: Kiley McKinnon, Ariana Ferwerda, and Karelle Golda
Summary: Olympian- founded and Colorado-based, Halfdays is a ski wear brand for the modern woman, they are on a mission to make the outdoors more approachable, inclusive, and fun. Constructed from recycled, technical materials and designed by the best, our product is made to last and crafted from the ground up for women’s bodies.
Founders: Suzanne Muchin, Rachel Bellow
Summary: Bonfire is a free online platform where anyone can design, sell, and buy custom products. They handle payment processing, order fulfillment, and customer service so you can focus on connecting with your community.
Founder: Jim Phillips
Summary: GrayMatter is redefining mental performance with natural, plant-based alternatives to over-prescribed pharmaceuticals and synthetic stimulants. Our flagship nootropic, Bright Mind, is designed for high performers—professionals, creators, and innovators—who need elite cognitive support to stay sharp, focused, and energized. By combining premium ingredients with a science-backed approach, we deliver mental nourishment that helps you think clearer, perform better, and build the future.
Donate to the Halperin Fund
Your contributions to the Halperin Emerging Company Fund help us empower DePaul and community entrepreneurs to succeed.
About Errol R. Halperin
The Halperin Emerging Company Fund was launched in 2023 with a generous gift from the late attorney and DePaul Double Demon, Errol R. Halperin (BUS ’64, JD ’67), and his wife, Libby Halperin. Errol R. Halperin was a founding partner of the Chicago-based law firm DLA and was instrumental in the expansion of the firm nationally and internationally. From DLA’s inception, Halperin was a member of the firm’s executive committee and global board, and he also served as a close advisor to the firm’s chairman.Contact Us
Emily Doyle
Director of Emerging Programs
Coleman Entrepreneurship Center
edoyle@depaul.edu
(312)362-6460