“The Torrey Explorers’ Fund (TEF) is a venture capital fund for students of La Jolla Country Day School. Whether students seek to start a business, launch a social campaign, invent a technology or create an art installation, the TEF will offer mentorship by a team of local entrepreneurs and professionals, and/or funding to help bring our students’ ideas to fruition.”
Work on your idea
Sketch and prototype your idea, research options for completing the project, and make a plan for materials and timeframe.
pitch to the panel
Give a five-minute presentation and participate in a Q&A session with our panel of experts which includes businesspeople, investors, designers, artists, and executives.
Receive mentorship and/or funding
Depending on the feedback from the panel, you will be given a mentor to guide your project and the resources needed to pursue it.
Past Recipients
Sofia Besharati, Sydney Strawn & Leah Weiser - Collapsicatch
Ruslana Fogler - TorreySchedule
Divya Chunduru & Valentina Ricardo - 21st Shop
Sydney Strawn & Leah Weiser - Hush Earwear
Joe Ruan & Adam Zhang - Teledrone
Dan Schott & Rostam Reifschneider - Meraki Skate Company
Georgia Lewis - Message to Society Art Installation
Previous Panelists/Advisors
Matt Abbondanzio: Assistant Head of School for Design and Innovation
Anthony Potamianos: Venture capitalist and current LJCDS parent
Greg McKee: CEO of Connect and current LJCDS parent
Susan Tousi: Senior Vice President of Product Development at Illumina
Paul Roben: Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Technology Commercialization at UC San Diego
Bob Kain: : Chief Executive Officer of Luna DNA, Chairman and Partner of Mesa Rim Climbing and Fitness Center, former Chief Engineering Officer at Illumina, and current LJCDS parent
Don Norman: Director of The Design Lab at UCSD, former Vice President, Advanced Technology Group at Apple
Tina Klein: Founder of Launchpad at UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management
