If you fund enterprises tackling poverty by building climate resilience or advancing women’s economic power, this year’s In-Residence cohort should be on your radar. These are not just ideas on paper; they’re enterprises with real customers, real traction, and real impact. And in just a few weeks, they’ll be traveling to the Bay Area for SOCAP25 to meet investors, partners, and peers.
For the past four months, these entrepreneurs have been working virtually with Miller Center mentors, refining their business models, sharpening execution plans, and deepening their impact strategies. When you look across the cohort, a story emerges about where the impact ecosystem is headed and how catalytic support pays off.
Early Bets That Compound
When we first met Mtindo Studio and Smart Havens Africa, they were pilots with promise. Anne Rweyora, Smart Haven’s founder, had a compelling vision but hadn’t yet gained traction. Fast forward to today: after persistence and mentorship, both enterprises are now investment-ready.
These journeys are a powerful reminder that spotting and supporting potential early on matters. The returns aren’t just financial. Early bets compound into social and environmental impact at scale.
Recent Graduates Scaling Faster
Some of this year’s standouts, like Loop, Kiri EV, and SmartFish, moved straight from our Accelerator into In-Residence. They embraced mentorship, showed up for every event, and applied what they learned. Their growth curves reflect a simple truth: when entrepreneurs lean into the process, growth accelerates.
This isn’t just a “program.” It’s a pathway. Structured support plus entrepreneur commitment creates the conditions for faster, smarter scaling.
Entrepreneurs Returning Bigger
Another theme we’re seeing is the “returning founder.” Development in Gardening (DIG), Pollinate Group, and Oorja Development Solutions — these names remind us that Miller Center is not a one-time experience but a lifelong network. Entrepreneurs come back to raise larger rounds, test bold pivots, and sometimes even merge, like Pollinate with Empower Generation.
This ongoing relationship gives entrepreneurs the confidence and connections to pursue the next big leap. It’s also why Miller Center entrepreneurs often become mentors and investors themselves, paying it forward to the next generation.
Agriculture as a Climate Frontier
From Safi Organics to Tierra de Monte, agricultural and food security solutions dominate this cohort. With climate shocks intensifying, investors are increasingly asking us to curate agriculture-focused communities. These enterprises show what proximate, scalable solutions to food security and climate adaptation look like.
It’s no coincidence. Agriculture is at the heart of climate resilience, and these entrepreneurs are proving that innovation and impact can thrive even in complex, rural markets.
Beyond Acceleration
This year’s cohort illustrates why Miller Center goes beyond acceleration. We don’t just prepare entrepreneurs for an investor pitch and send them on their way. We stay in a relationship with them for years, through mentorship, leadership support, and catalytic connections.
That’s how you end up with enterprises ready to grow, deliver measurable impact, and attract capital that moves the needle on climate and livelihoods.
Each enterprise in the 2025 In-Residence cohort is tackling systemic market gaps, demonstrating early proof of impact, and identifying where catalytic capital can accelerate their growth. For funders and partners focused on climate and livelihoods, this offers a front-row seat to the future.
Meet Them at SOCAP
If you’re attending SOCAP25, we’d love to introduce you to these entrepreneurs in person. Sign up for our newsletter or reach out to mc-network@scu.edu to learn more, schedule a meeting, or receive our curated profiles of each enterprise.
Together, we can accelerate the solutions the world needs most.
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Photo Credits:
1. Smart Havens Africa builds climate-smart homes to enable women to break systemic barriers, own homes, gain financial independence.
2. Oorja Development Solutions powers rural agriculture with clean, affordable solar solutions to address energy poverty.
3. 2024 In-Residence Cohort at SOCAP
