Has it been a year already? It doesn’t seem like long ago that we were announcing the 2018 winner to the Grasshopper Entrepreneur Scholarship, but another year has come and gone. Throughout 2019, we worked through a long list of highly qualified candidates to spot an entrepreneur of the future.
This year, we have partnered with Mission Possible, our corporate CSR program to run the scholarship. Together, we’re happy to announce that the winner of the 2019 Grasshopper Entrepreneur Scholarship is Michelle Egger!
Egger won as in large part thanks to her strong essay. In the essay, Egger highlighted the work she does at Resilient Foods—and what it means to her to be able to use her entrepreneurial skills in a way that benefits the people around her.
Resilient Foods is a self-described “buy one, give one” food company inspired by the natural resilience of the environment as it overcomes natural disasters like fires and landslides. With Resilient Foods, customers not only shop for food, but select a donation recipient as they shop. These recipients then shop at discounted prices.
The mission is to solve “food insecurity,” and Egger’s work as an entrepreneur helps highlight just how important having an entrepreneurial mission can be.
Below, you’ll find Michelle’s answers to some of our most pertinent questions:
Could you summarize your essay in two sentences?
“Social responsibility isn't just a line of corporate schmoozing; it is what we social entrepreneurs live and gamble on daily. I am reminded continuously by the work my team and I do on Resilient Foods that the collective we of our world owe it to each other to use our skills for good, and for me, that means no one worries where they will get their next meal; healthy and nutritious food is a human right.”
What classes are you most looking forward to taking this upcoming semester and why?
“Sustainable Business Strategy & Program For Entrepreneurs.”
Describe yourself in three words.
“Passionate, Driven, Curious.”
What is one hidden talent or skill you’re exceptionally good at?
“I have hyperosmia and therefore have about 3x the sense of smell than the average person. That means cookies smell amazing and locker rooms are a challenge.”
What is your top goal for 2020?
“To get my business officially selling product!”
Congratulations to Michelle Egger for winning the 2019 Grasshopper Entrepreneur Scholarship! We’d also like to use this opportunity to remind up and coming entrepreneurs to keep checking back on our scholarship page—currently closed for 2019—to see when applications open for the 2020 edition.
