Niharika Hanglem

I bring over 15 years of experience in innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact, closely aligning with RLD Foundation’s mission to empower underrepresented communities and drive equitable economic growth. At the Kaplan Institute, I led initiatives like the Genisys venture immersion program, which provided underrepresented entrepreneurs with mentorship, funding, and technical support to build and scale sustainable businesses.

At GET Cities, I advanced equity and inclusion by creating programs that increased representation of women in tech and established partnerships with corporate and community stakeholders to address systemic barriers. Additionally, during my time at the World Bank, I focused on empowering small and medium-sized enterprises in emerging markets through capacity building and cross-sector collaborations.

Across these roles, I’ve been committed to designing and implementing programs that address systemic challenges, foster innovation, and create lasting impact—values that deeply resonate with the RLD Foundation’s mission.

I was drawn to the RLD Foundation’s mission of fostering equity and driving systemic change through innovative philanthropy. This aligns deeply with my career-long focus on supporting underrepresented communities and building inclusive ecosystems. Through my work at the Kaplan Institute, GET Cities, and the World Bank, I’ve witnessed how access to resources, mentorship, and strategic support can transform the trajectories of entrepreneurs and their communities.

As Program Director of Entrepreneurship, my role focuses on designing and implementing programs that empower Chicago-based entrepreneurs by providing access to critical funding, technical support, and mentorship opportunities. I aim to cultivate a collaborative and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem in Chicago by building partnerships with accelerators, nonprofits, and corporate stakeholders. Additionally, I will develop data-driven frameworks to measure program outcomes and ensure that the RLD Foundation’s efforts create sustainable economic and social impact.

I believe entrepreneurship is a powerful catalyst for economic empowerment and social mobility. Throughout my career, I’ve been dedicated to creating opportunities for historically underrepresented communities by addressing systemic barriers that limit access to resources, networks, and capital.

Designing and leading initiatives that empower entrepreneurs, foster innovation, and build ecosystems that drive sustainable growth has been incredibly rewarding. I’m excited to continue driving meaningful impact by supporting entrepreneurs and promoting economic development in the Chicago region and beyond.

At RLD Foundation, entrepreneurship is viewed as a powerful engine for economic empowerment and innovation, particularly within underrepresented communities. Our approach centers on providing entrepreneurs with access to financial capital, technical assistance, and relational networks while fostering an equitable and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Community engagement is central to this effort. By collaborating with the communities we aim to serve, we ensure our strategies are both responsive and impactful. Working hand-in-hand with local stakeholders allows us to design programs and opportunities that address systemic barriers and empower entrepreneurs to create thriving businesses that drive individual and community success.

Our main goals include increasing access to essential resources for Chicagoland’s founders, driving equitable economic growth, and building sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems that deliver long-term benefits to both entrepreneurs and the communities they serve.

We employ a data-driven strategy to ensure our programs are impactful and adaptive. By leveraging both qualitative and quantitative data, we identify gaps in access to financial capital, technical support, and networks, enabling us to target resources where they are most needed.

Our initiatives prioritize sustainability and inclusivity, focusing on long-term growth and resilience for businesses led by historically underrepresented founders. By aligning our efforts with measurable outcomes—such as job creation, enhanced community economic health, and stronger entrepreneurial networks—we aim to create pathways for economic mobility and broader community impact.

Key challenges include limited access to capital, constrained networks, and a lack of tailored support. Systemic barriers often prevent underrepresented founders from securing the funding or mentorship needed to scale their businesses.

At RLD Foundation, our mission is to break down these barriers by creating equitable opportunities for entrepreneurs in Chicago. We are committed to providing targeted resources, fostering inclusive networks, and delivering tailored support to ensure underrepresented founders have the tools and connections necessary to succeed and drive economic growth in their communities.

We address these challenges through targeted grantmaking, partnerships with accelerators, tailored technical assistance, and mentorship programs, ensuring underrepresented entrepreneurs can overcome systemic barriers and thrive.

The RLD Foundation aims to empower entrepreneurs to achieve long-term success, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth in under-resourced communities throughout Chicago. Success will be measured by key metrics such as business growth, job creation, and the resilience and sustainability of the entrepreneurial ecosystem we’re building.

By fostering a diverse, inclusive, and well-supported network of entrepreneurs, we aim to drive meaningful, community-centered impact and long-term economic transformation.

Data is central to our strategy and decision-making processes. By leveraging both quantitative and qualitative data, we can identify gaps in resources, measure program outcomes, and refine our approach to address the evolving needs of entrepreneurs.

Tracking key metrics—such as business growth, job creation, and network expansion—ensures accountability and allows us to adapt our strategies to maximize impact. This data-driven approach supports our goal of driving equitable economic growth in under-resourced communities

My aspiration is to establish the RLD Foundation as a leading force in fostering inclusive entrepreneurship. I envision creating programs that break down systemic barriers, scale impactful initiatives, and build a resilient, diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem in Chicago and beyond.

I enjoy conversations, concerts, cooking, and quality time with my friends and family. I also love hiking, exploring new foods, reading nonfiction, poetry, and traveling.