Category: LiveOak News

We are thrilled to announce the LiveOak Scholars Class of 2025! Now in its second year, the program continues to reflect our commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders in STEM and business.

The LiveOak Scholars program extends beyond financial support. It represents our all-in approach to building a strong community of future innovators. Scholars gain access to mentorship and career opportunities, along with LiveOak’s supportive network of resources, all designed to help them grow and thrive both in school and beyond.

This year, we once again partnered closely with our portfolio companies to identify talented students who graduated from Texas high schools and are now pursuing STEM or business degrees at Texas universities. From a highly competitive pool of 90 applicants, we selected seven outstanding scholars who embody academic excellence, leadership, and resilience.

Meet the Class of 2025

We are incredibly proud to welcome these bright minds into the LiveOak Scholars community. Our support for these students extends beyond the first year, with opportunities for reapplication to ensure continued financial and professional development throughout their educational journey.

Returning Scholars – Class of 2024

We are equally inspired by the continued journeys of our inaugural class of scholars, who are returning for another year of support and growth:

We also want to congratulate Kaelyn Ruiz, Pablo Lara, April Beaman, and Samuel Bautista, who have successfully completed our program and are thriving as they move into the next chapter of their journeys. Their achievements mean they no longer require scholarship assistance, and we are honored to have supported them along the way.

This program would not be possible without the generous donors of the LiveOak Gives program and the Austin Community Foundation, whose support remains instrumental in sustaining this initiative. We are also grateful to the many portfolio members who contributed their time and perspective to the selection process: Aaron Benz, Andy White, Brian Grow, Caroline Hall, Christina Wells, Dave Chun, Josh Mattox, Karen Herckis, Kristin Zmrhal, Matt Regan, Mike Discenza, Nicole Howard, Nicole Krouse, Parag Salgaonkar, Peter Richter, Ricky Reyna, and Sam Chalek.

We are thrilled to celebrate six years of community impact through the LiveOak Gives program. Since its inception, LiveOak Gives has donated over $1 million in grants to support local non-profits across Texas. This year, we are excited to announce three exceptional new awardees and a new class of LiveOak Scholars.

The LiveOak Gives program leverages the scale of the LiveOak network to support local non-profits that focus on vulnerable populations in three key categories: children, the elderly, and families affected by poverty. This approach reflects our commitment to fostering inclusive growth in the broader community, particularly for organizations that embody the Texas spirit and resilience and have the potential to scale their impact.

This year was especially significant as we introduced an application process for LiveOak Gives for the first time. We received an overwhelming response with 29 applications from incredible organizations dedicated to making a difference. After a thoughtful review, we selected the top three non-profits whose missions align with our values and demonstrate a strong potential to create a material difference in their communities.

• Austin Explore – empowers youth through a combination of mentorship, leadership development, and outdoor adventure. Their work helps foster resilience and self-confidence among young people, preparing them for future success.
• Saint Louise House – provides stable housing and comprehensive support to empower single mothers and their children to overcome homelessness. 
• Seedling Foundation – supports children impacted by parental incarceration through school-based mentoring programs that promote academic success and personal growth. 

Through these partnerships, the LiveOak Gives program seeks to amplify the voices and missions of these organizations, ensuring they have the resources and visibility needed to grow.

Last year, we were excited to introduce a program of our own after years of supporting local non-profits—the LiveOak Scholars program. This initiative reflects our commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders in STEM and business, and we feel inspired by the opportunity to support their journeys. 

The LiveOak Scholars program goes beyond financial support by connecting scholars with mentorship opportunities, internships, and a professional network within the LiveOak community. The goal is to cultivate local talent and provide them with the resources and guidance needed to thrive academically and professionally.

The class of 2024 was selected from a pool of over 180 applicants through a process that was both competitive and collaborative. We partnered closely with our portfolio companies to identify students who exemplify academic excellence, resilience, and leadership. Ultimately, the top seven students were awarded scholarships, reflecting our commitment to investing in local talent to drive long-term prosperity in Texas.

We look forward to announcing the LiveOak Scholars Class of 2025 in late spring as we continue to support the local talent in our community.

We are grateful to the Austin Community Foundation, and the generous donors of the LiveOak Gives program, whose support has been instrumental in launching and sustaining the LiveOak Scholars program.

A Heartfelt Thank You

None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of our friends in the technology ecosystem. We extend our deepest gratitude to Joe Aragona, Jim Breyer, Darin Hicks, Erin & John Thornton, Katie Fang, Ben Rubenstein, and anonymous donors, as well as the many current and former CEOs and founders within our network who have contributed to this program’s success.

As we reflect on the past six years, we are energized by the impact we have made and inspired by the possibilities ahead. Follow us on social media and visit our website to stay updated on the impact of LiveOak Gives and the LiveOak Scholars program.