University of Kansas alumna Michelle Tran Maryns has won a $100,000 grant from the Bush Foundation.
A University of Kansas alumna has won a large grant to help expand her business, which seeks to provide AI-powered technology to entrepreneurs who are women of color.
Michelle Tran Maryns is one of 24 recipients of the 2021 Bush Fellowship. The Bush Fellowship is granted by the Bush Foundation, which was started by Archibald and Edyth Bush in 1953. Each of the recipients will receive a $100,000 grant to “build their capacity to make change happen,” according to the Bush Foundation’s website.
Maryns is the CEO of We Sparkle, a company that provides entrepreneurs with the AI tools they need to succeed, she said in an interview with the Journal-World. We Sparkle equips entrepreneurs with a digital assistant that helps business owners save time by doing administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments and answering frequently asked questions. The tool can be displayed on a business’ Facebook page or website. Customers can also text a business’ Sparkle number for help.