Yaxi Yang’s (second from left) company, Visual Feeder, received the first investment from DePaul’s new Halperin Emerging Company Fund. Yang stands in front of one of Visual Feeder’s displays at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum with DePaul Coleman Center Executive Director Bruce Leech (far left), Emily Doyle, director of emerging company programs at Coleman, and John Crosson, who chairs the investment committee of the Halperin Fund. (Ioana Juravlea/DePaul University)CHICAGO –– DePaul University made its first investment of $100,000 from the
new Halperin Emerging Company Fund in
Visual Feeder
, an experiential media company. Founded by Yaxi Yang, a graduate of the
Driehaus College of Business, and her brother Eddie Yang, Visual Feeder
produces immersive activations and transforms vacant storefront windows
into dynamic displays to create vibrant and engaging streetscapes,
providing businesses with a new platform to engage audiences.
“I’m thrilled DePaul is investing in an innovative entrepreneur and
alumna,” said DePaul President Robert L. Manuel. “This fund shows our deep
commitment to Chicago and ability to drive economic growth in the city.
This and future investments are an opportunity to support our student and
alumni entrepreneurs and the city of Chicago, while simultaneously
diversifying our university’s revenue streams.”
DePaul initiated the
Halperin Emerging Company Fund
to provide the capital to make equity investments in startups founded by
students and alumni, as well as community members. A generous gift from the
late Errol R. Halperin (BUS ’64, JD ’67) and his wife, Libby Halperin,
created the initiative.
Visual Feeder, co-founded by DePaul alumna Yaxi Yang, received the first investment from DePaul’s new Halperin Emerging Company Fund. Yang stands in front of one of Visual Feeder’s displays at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. (Ioana Juravlea/DePaul University)Yaxi Yang says the seed money is a full-circle moment for her. “It
highlights the power of the DePaul community and their commitment to
empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs and changemakers,” Yaxi
said. “This investment marks a valuable addition to our latest seed round,
enabling us to pursue ambitious growth and expansion plans. With these new
funds, we'll be investing in growing our team, focusing on specific areas
of our business that will generate the highest returns and building a
stronger foundation to achieve our 2023 goals.”
Founded in 2020, Visual Feeder’s mission is to create visual experiences
through immersive activations. The company works with a diverse range of
clients, including consumer brands, non-profit organizations, private
institutions, and museums. The street-level window activations have gained
significant traction through partnerships with leading real estate
companies such as JLL, CBRE, and Cushman & Wakefield to transform
underutilized spaces into dynamic displays.
“We are proud to see our work helping to revitalize underutilized spaces in
communities and providing a new platform for brand campaigns and artwork to
be displayed,” Yaxi Yang said. Visual Feeder’s displays are active on
Chicago’s iconic Magnificent Mile, including the Hancock Building, and in
Lincoln Park at 2380 N. Lincoln Ave, among many others. The company also
collaborated with Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum on an immersive photography
exhibit of the Chicago region’s natural wonders.
Overseen by DePaul’s
Coleman Entrepreneurship Center
, the Halperin Fund focuses on investing in ventures that show potential
for growth and job creation. “The fund gives DePaul the opportunity to
invest in incredible new ventures that will help businesses thrive and
further connect us to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Chicago,” says Emily
Doyle, director of emerging company programs at the Coleman Center. “These
investments will have a huge impact on our community and the potential
returns will support the growth of future entrepreneurs for years to come.
We are thrilled to invest in Visual Feeder as they continue to create
beautiful and immersive digital experiences for brands and consumers.”
All potential investment deals are reviewed and approved by the Halperin
Emerging Company Fund investment committee, chaired by John Crosson, an
angel investor and Driehaus College of Business alumnus. “Visual Feeder
checked all the boxes, from a stellar startup team to building a creative
solution to company traction,” he said. “The committee is proud to support
Visual Feeder on its mission to create interactive experiences for the
future of brand marketing.”
DePaul community members interested in applying to the Halperin Emerging
Company Fund can complete an
application online
.
Photos and video available upon request.
Yaxi Yang will speak at the Jarvis Innovation Center (1 E. Jackson Blvd., Concourse Level) next Tuesday, May 16, 3 - 4:30 p.m. At the event sponsored by the Jarvis Center and Push Studio, Yaxi will share her passion for merging technology and art. For more information and to reserve a spot, visit the Eventbrite page.
About DePaul University
DePaul University provides exceptional academics and real-world experiences
to prepare students for a changing world. With nearly 21,000 students
across more than 300 academic programs, DePaul has two campus locations in
Chicago. Students richly benefit from the city’s many opportunities. In
turn, DePaul is one of the forces that shapes Chicago’s future. The
university was founded in 1898 by the Congregation of the Mission
(Vincentians), a Roman Catholic religious community dedicated to following
the ideals of St. Vincent de Paul. DePaul is among the nation’s top
universities for diversity because of its long tradition of providing a
high-quality education to students from a broad range of backgrounds.
DePaul is one of the largest private, nonprofit universities in the Midwest
and one of the largest Catholic universities in the nation. Visit
https://www.depaul.edu/
to learn more.
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DePaul Media Relations:
Mary Hansen
mhanse26@depaul.edu
312-362-8592