The journey to creating the start-up that is now called ReusaBowl started with a Zoom session in Summer 2020. Virginia and Teagen met because they both answered a call to action: “Do you want to be a part of Net Impact leadership?” The pandemic had forced the organization’s previous leadership to cancel their events. Now that those student leaders were graduating, they didn’t want the organization to end along with their academic journeys.
They each individually met with the previous leaders, Martin Holzman and Ryan Martin, to discuss the opportunity. After Virginia and Teagen met, they knew right away that they would work well together. From there, they formed the new DePaul Net Impact leadership team, which included two excellent undergrad students – Lillie Murphy and Genia Ermasova. Virginia took the mantle of president, with Teagen acting as vice president.
It was through these roles that they began to see they had similar goals, methodologies, and the same vision for a more sustainable future. Once they heard about the Campus 1871 competition, the business ideas were flowing: Teagen had an idea that she’d gotten from a master’s class at DePaul for a reusable food takeout container system that eased the burden on restaurants to purchase and waste food containers. Virginia, meanwhile, was dedicated to finding a way to make products from recycled materials, to create a market for recyclables, and solve the plastic waste problem that has plagued Chicago for a very long time. It was through this combination of ideas, plus the hard work of our 1871 team members, that secured them a win in the Campus 1871 pitch competition.
From the momentum of this win, they decided to make ReusaBowl real and see if they could develop a viable way to increase recycling in Chicago, decrease waste and help restaurants with their takeout and delivery orders.
Once they realized they wanted to take the next steps to make their business idea a reality, they sought out more opportunities and connections. They quickly turned around and joined the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center’s Purpose Pitch Competition, which spotlights purpose-driven business ideas that focus on doing good rather than the bottom line at DePaul University. They went up against innovations related to social justice & rights awareness, equity in education, and food scarcity awareness.
Taking the lessons they learned from Campus 1871, they refined their business
model and further developed the positive environmental and social impacts ReusaBowl can have for Chicago communities. Proudly, ReusaBowl took third place, but this was only the start. The resources they were able to create with the guidance of these two events allowed them to confidently set meetings with individuals from their combined networks. The connections they had already established through DePaul Net Impact became some of their most utilized resources for connections to key Chicago leaders in environmental impact positions.
As a student-led organization, they dictated the structure and purpose of the chapter. DePaul Net Impact is a platform for students to engage with and become part of a network of leaders who believe in the power of individuals to create positive economic, environmental, and social change in their community. As such, they networked with a variety of community leaders, primarily in the private sector, to take part in member events centered around creating connections for students.
The networking Virginia and Teagen did through DePaul Net Impact kept them informed on key individuals, businesses, environmental groups, initiatives, and programs that could support their business or provide insight on their business model. They were able to conduct small-scale research on the viability of their business model while starting to gauge consumer desire for a program of this nature.
DePaul Net Impact was the catalyst for ReusaBowl and brought two passionate leaders looking to create a new business together that works to eliminate disposable plastic waste for good.
Connect with Virginia & Teagen on LinkedIn!
Find out more about DePaul Net Impact here!
Contributor Bio
Virginia Head and Teagen Andrews are currently pursuing a DePaul Master’s degree in Sustainable Management. Aside from bringing ReusaBowl to life, and running DePaul Net Impact as President and Vice President, Ginny especially loves to knit baby blankets for when a friend or family member is growing their family, and Teagen likes to spend her free time relaxing and reading books!