Guest blog by Michelle Zhang
When I first came to Booth, social impact was a priority area to explore. I just didn’t know what form that would take. What I hoped for was the opportunity to turn this interest into something tangible and something that could make a difference.
Discovering Social Entrepreneurship…
My social entrepreneurship journey began with the Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation class with Professor Rob Gertner where I was exposed systematically to social entrepreneurship. I learned about theory of change, impact measurement, customer discovery, and how ventures can deliver mutually reinforcing financial and social returns.
During that course, I started to explore an idea I called Silver Internship, inspired in part by the movie The Intern, where an older adult finds purpose through work again. The concept was simple: help retirees rediscover their sense of value through meaningful engagement. That initial version of the idea became the foundation of what later evolved into ReLive.
From Inspiration to Action…
I set a goal to participate in the Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC) in my second year of MBA experience and spent time on customer discovery, problem validation, and team formation before SNVC came. I was lucky to find people around me who shared my passion and placed their trust in the vision.
As we built momentum, we received tremendous support from the Rustandy Center as part of the first Social Venture Studio cohort. It was through this process that Silver Internship matured into ReLive, a venture focused on redefining retirement not as an end, but as a new beginning.
ReLive helps retirees prepare for and embrace the next chapter of life with clarity and purpose. Through ReChart (a transition workshop), ReCareer (a fractional impact job matching service), and ReConnect (a peer network for curated social engagement), we support retirees in finding continued connection, growth, and impact.
Growing with Booth’s Support…
As the time approached for SNVC, we took part in the New Social Ventures course, which became an accelerator for us. It offered structure, accountability, and the kind of tough, honest feedback that helped us sharpen our strategy and messaging. Most importantly, it gave us access to coaches and mentors who genuinely cared about our success.
We launched our first pilot ReChart workshop in Singapore and received enthusiastic responses from retirees who found the workshop energizing and meaningful. At the same
time, we began engaging with government agencies, corporates, and nonprofit partners in Singapore and broader Southeast Asia region. Many expressed strong interest to support our pilot launch. These early signals validated our mission and gave us confidence to keep going.
The Social New Venture Challenge Experience…
By the time SNVC finals arrived, the prize itself had become secondary. What mattered more was the journey we’d taken – the growth of our team, the clarity of our mission, and the momentum behind our work. Still, pitching in front of the veteran judges who have been truly integrated social impact into their lives has been so meaningful and rewarding for us. We were incredibly honored to be awarded $30,000 in prize funding. It affirmed our belief that ReLive could make a real impact.
Looking Ahead…
Booth has been transformative in shaping how I think about social change. The community, the classes, and especially the SNVC experience helped turn an abstract idea into a concrete venture with real-world potential.
If you’re a Booth student curious about social entrepreneurship, or simply interested in learning more about ReLive, I’m more than happy to connect. This journey is just beginning, and we’re always excited to share it with more people who care about reimagining what retirement can look like.
