Forbes recently announced the Fall 2021 cohort of entrepreneurs making the Next 1000 list, and four of these innovators are Washington University Alumni, including Andrew Glantz, Elizabeth Glasbrenner, Megan Berry, and Ophelia Chen.

Forbes describes the Next 1000 List as: “…a year-round initiative that showcases the ambitious sole proprietors, self-funded shops and pre-revenue startups in every region of the country—all with under $10 million in revenue or funding and infinite drive and hustle.”

Starting off the list is Andrew Glantz (BU’17), Founder, GiftAMeal. Andrew graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Leadership and Strategic Management and Minor in Political Science in 2017. As a 2020 Skandalaris Global Impact Award winner, a $20,000 award was presented to GiftAMeal to support their mobile app, which gives a socially conscious incentive to support partner restaurants. Through the app, GiftAMeal provides a meal to someone in need, each time a user takes a photo at a partner restaurant. GiftAMeal was founded by WashU alumni Andrew Glantz (BU’17) and Jacob Mohrmann (BU, LA’16). According to Forbes, “In 2015, Andrew Glantz decided to apply the “buy one, give one” model of TOMS and Warby Parker to restaurants by creating a marketing program called GiftAMeal. When users snap a picture of their food orders on the GiftAMeal mobile app, more than 250 partner restaurants donate meals to local food pantries. So far, that adds up to more than 40,000 users and 700,000 donated meals. GiftAMeal has received $870,000 in funding to date.”

Elizabeth Glasbrenner (BU’95), Cofounder, Smiley Technologies, was also featured on the Forbes Next 1000, She graduated from Washington University in 1995 with a BSBA: Business Administration and Management. “Glasbrenner founded Smiley Technologies, a core systems provider for community banks, in 2015. The Arkansas-based company works with financial institutions across the United States–a number of which are geared toward supporting economically disadvantaged communities–on how to better provide innovative technology to reach their collective 330,000 customers” according to Forbes.

Next, Megan Berry (MArch, MBA ’15), Founder, by REVEAL, graduated from Washington University with a Master of Architecture and Master of Business Administration in 2015 and went on to attend Harvard later that year. Forbes says, “Developed in 2015 as a part of CEO and founder Megan Berry’s thesis at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, by REVEAL is a retail service platform that offers turnkey service in launching pop-up stores and in-person experiences in New York City. The company helps entrepreneurs with destination selection, design, staffing, and real-time performance data. The firm has $100,000 in funding and boasts clients like Accenture, Rachel Zoe and Bose.”

Ophelia Chen (BU’17), Founder, Bobblehaus, also made the Forbes Next 1000 List. She graduated from Olin Business School in 2017 with a degree in Marketing, Economics & Strategy. “For streetwear brand Bobblehaus, green is the new black. Ophelia Chen and Abi Lierheimer launched the unisex fashion brand in 2020 to make hip clothes made from leftover fabrics and recycled cotton. Its direct-to-consumer site sells $45 graphic tees and $145 sustainable sweatpants. In addition to its earth-friendly threads, Bobblehaus says it plants ten trees for every item bought” says Forbes.

The Skandalaris Center congratulates each of these entrepreneurs for their dedication to finding unique solutions to today’s challenges.

See the complete Forbes 1000 at https://www.forbes.com/next1000/