Wealth Beacon Group Foundation Honored at Startup Yale's 2025 New Haven Civic Innovation Prize for Transformative Housing Model

Winners of the Startup Yale's New Haven Civic Innovation Prize

Wealth Beacon Group Foundation Rises at Startup Yale 2025, Earning 3rd Place in a Field of Trailblazers

New Haven, CT – April 4, 2025

In an electrifying week of innovation, impact, and community-rooted vision, Wealth Beacon Group Foundation took home 3rd Place at the Startup Yale 2025 New Haven

Sign at the "Startup Yale" event highlighting roles such as staff, finalists, judges, mentors, speakers, and VIPs, with a special focus on the 10th anniversary celebration.

Civic Innovation Prize, standing tall among some of the most dynamic social ventures in the region.

The event, now celebrating its 10th anniversary, brought together Yale’s entrepreneurial ecosystem with Greater New Haven’s change makers to highlight ventures tackling some of society’s deepest challenges. From housing to health, sustainability to healing—Startup Yale 2025 proved once again that bold ideas can lead to real change.

At the heart of it all, Amir and Yvette Glenn, co-founders of Wealth Beacon Group Foundation (WBG), presented their powerful and deeply personal pitch: “Housing with a Purpose.” This initiative provides more than shelter—it offers a ladder. A pathway. A plan. By combining transitional housing with financial education, mental health support, and workforce development, WBG is turning short-term stability into long-term independence for families across Greater New Haven.

Amir proudly holds a $3,000 check from Yale's Startup 2025 initiative, awarded to the Wealth Beacon Group for the New Haven Civic Innovation Prize, in front of the iconic Hotel Marcel.

“Being recognized among such inspiring ventures validates everything we’ve been working toward,” said Amir Glenn. “We’re not just putting families in homes—we’re helping them create generational stability and independence.”

A Competition Fueled by Purpose

The Civic Innovation Prize field was rich with brilliance, heart, and world-changing ideas:

• 🥇 1st Place: Enrich Health

  Enrich Health is building holistic maternity health and wellness centers across the country with a mission to eliminate disparities in perinatal care. Their group visit model centers education, empowerment, and community support—ensuring every mother receives equitable, compassionate, and high-quality care.

• 🥈 2nd Place: ShellVive

  ShellVive’s innovation? Repurposing discarded oyster shells into high-performance, eco-friendly water filtration media. Their solution cuts costs by 50–75%, outperforms traditional filtration materials, and diverts waste from landfills—fueling a truly circular economy.

• 🏆 Audience Choice Prize: Black Obsidian Healing (BOH)

  BOH focuses on group-based healing for Black men, using traditional and innovative practices to address the mental health and isolation that worsened during the pandemic. Their work builds more confident, connected community members—one healing session at a time.

Display showcasing the Wealth Beacon Group Foundation, highlighting their mission to empower families with financial education and transition from homelessness to homeownership. Featured items include brochures, contact information, and "Startup Yale" branding materials.

Judged by Leaders Who Care

This year’s judges brought a mix of real-world experience in business, education, community service, and public leadership:

• Arthur W. Thomas III – A real estate investor and community developer who also leads a nonprofit helping youth with education, mental health, and life skills. Arthur recently earned his master’s from Yale Divinity School and now helps others build programs that create long-term change.

• Genevive Goubourn-Walker – A longtime educator and nonprofit leader who now works to connect people with job opportunities across Connecticut. She’s known for helping organizations grow and better serve their communities.

• Luis Chavez-Brumel – A proud New Haven native and Deputy Director of the New Haven Free Public Library. Luis supports local civic and cultural programs and believes in building stronger communities through access, equity, and innovation.

• Emily Zhang – A Yale senior studying ethics, politics, and economics. She’s been a student leader and brings a thoughtful and community-first perspective to everything she touches.

These judges weren’t just looking for great ideas—they were looking for ventures rooted in values, impact, and real-life experience.

Celebrating 10 Years of Startup Yale

Startup Yale has been inspiring bold ideas and launching change for a decade. This 10th anniversary was more than a milestone—it was a movement. With mentorship, funding, and community support at its core, the event highlighted the power of innovation rooted in service and justice.

Amir and Yvette Glenn extended their gratitude to the Startup Yale team.

Amir and Yvette Getting Ready to Pitch Wealth Beacon Group Foundation

“We especially want to thank Johnny Scafidi for his support, guidance, and commitment to helping us sharpen our message and maximize our impact,” said Amir. “And to everyone at Startup Yale who helped make this experience unforgettable—thank you. This is what community looks like.”

What’s Next for Wealth Beacon Group Foundation

With Startup Yale behind them, WBG is already back to work—scaling up housing, expanding SHINE Academy, and forming new partnerships across Connecticut.

Fueled by the momentum and support from this win, they plan to reinvest their prize into expanding their mission and preparing for the next big pitch opportunity. Whether it’s a room full of funders or families in need, they’re ready to keep sharing the story of Wealth Beacon Group Foundation—loud, proud, and with purpose.

Yvette and Amir holding the Winning Check.