See What's Happening @The Garage SF 📣
This monthly newsletter serves Northwestern alumni in the Bay and is meant to be interactive. Email (keyaira.lock@u.northwestern.edu) if you have any job openings, upcoming events, or gives/asks! 📣
👋🏽 Hey Hey TGSF Family,
Spring has sprung, and so have new opportunities at The Garage San Francisco (TGSF)! 🌱 We're igniting connections, fueling innovation, and lighting the path for our vibrant alumni community. Whether you're eager to network with fellow Wildcats, learn from industry trailblazers, or dive deeper into TGSF happenings, this month's lineup is designed to kindle your entrepreneurial spirit.
📅 Events
🏢 Co-Working Friday – May 9th, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM: Join us for a special Co-Working Friday, featuring a Personal Branding Masterclass during lunch (12–1 PM) focusing on How to Build a Personal Brand That Grows Your Business with Cathy Chen — social media expert and seasoned marketer. This interactive Lunch & Learn is perfect for startup founders and professionals ready to grow their influence, visibility, and impact through social media. Cathy will share actionable insights on how to show up authentically online and build a magnetic presence that supports business growth. Come for the learning, stay for the community. Catered Lunch is provided —RSVP HERE!
🔦 Alumni Spotlight
How Kellogg Helped Launch Stride Soles: For Greg Gerla, Kellogg provided both the mindset and the community to launch Stride Soles. Grounded in consumer-first thinking, he learned how to identify real pain points and move quickly from idea to execution. Courses like The Rookie GM gave him practical frameworks, but it was the collaborative energy of his classmates—early believers, connectors, and challengers—that truly accelerated his journey. “Stride Soles wouldn’t exist without that environment,” he shares.
Stride Soles: Bringing Clinical Foot Support to Your Doorstep: Stride Soles is reinventing how people access custom orthotics. Using smartphone scanning and 3D printing, the company delivers doctor-prescribed foot support—without the need for a podiatrist visit or outdated foam box kits. The inspiration came from Greg’s own frustrating experience navigating the traditional process, which left him waiting weeks (and $800 lighter) for orthotics that never arrived in time for a study abroad program. He first pitched the concept in a business plan class, eventually winning INSEAD’s top prize and meeting his future co-founder. Since then, the vision has grown from a pitch into a thriving business.
What’s Next for Stride Soles—and How You Can Support: Bootstrapped to $140K in revenue in just six months, 95% of which came through unpaid channels, Stride Soles is gaining momentum. Greg is now looking to expand the team, scale operations, and deepen customer traction. He welcomes connection with Northwestern alumni in the Bay Area—whether as mentors, angel investors, or just over coffee. You can reach him at greg@stridesoles.com. Interested in trying a pair? Use code WILDCATS for 20% off your order!
💡 Initiatives
🚨 IGNITE Applications Close May 9th — Don’t Miss Out: Bay Area alumni: If you’ve been considering applying to IGNITE, this is your moment. IGNITE is our new six-month, equity-free accelerator—built for alumni, by alumni—designed for early-stage founders ready to turn traction into scalable growth. Rooted in the “Who Not How” philosophy, IGNITE helps founders connect with the right “Whos”—investors, customers, hires, and advisors—to unlock the “Hows” of scaling a company. With access to 16,000+ Bay Area alumni, IGNITE is your gateway to a living growth engine that opens doors, sharpens ideas, expands markets, and unlocks capital. And beyond the introductions, we’ll help you turn connections into committed tribe members who invest in your vision and help bring your company to life.
At its core, IGNITE is where founders build tribes, not just businesses. Our community is more than a network—it’s a Bay Area alumni movement that shows up for its own.
Whether you're a founder ready to go all-in, or a proud alum eager to mentor and give back—the application window closes this Friday, May 9th. Apply now to be a Founder-in-Residence or Mentor-in-Residence.
🎤 Discover What Alumni Are Building at Northwestern Alumni Angel Pitch Event. Curious about the innovative ventures Northwestern alumni are launching? Join us virtually on Thursday, June 12, from 4:00–5:00 PM PT for the Northwestern Alumni Angel Pitch Event. Experience live pitches from five early-stage startups founded by Northwestern-affiliated entrepreneurs who are actively fundraising. This event offers a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and support fellow alumni in the startup ecosystem. Open to all Northwestern University alumni! RSVP Here!
💼 Empower Your Startup with Kellogg Talent Kellogg Internship Support Stipend. Looking to bring on a Kellogg intern this summer? The Kellogg Internship Support Stipend provides funding to help companies compensate students working on impactful projects. If your startup hasn't received funding from Northwestern or its affiliates during the 2023–2025 academic years, you're eligible to apply. Approved projects will be shared with Kellogg students via the job board and Resume Referral Program. Submit an intake form here —Submissions are encouraged before May 5.
We're thrilled to continue building and growing alongside you. If you have questions, ideas, or stories to share, don't hesitate to reach out. Let's keep the momentum going and the sparks flying!
Keyaira ✨