By Zoe Schantz
The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is delighted to announce Rainy Jain (’24, College of Social Science) as the recipient of the 2024-25 Adam M. Enfroy Scholarship for Digital Entrepreneurship. Jain is the founder of Passionett, a collaborative EdTech platform that connects students with startups, NGOs, and organizations for real-world, project-based learning.
Adam M. Enfroy, a 2012 Media and Information graduate, established this annual scholarship to support talented and motivated students entering the digital entrepreneurship space. The Burgess Institute selects recipients who demonstrate significant progress in their entrepreneurial endeavors and active participation in the Institute’s Discovery and Launch programs.
From Bhopal to Michigan State University
Jain is a first-generation college student who grew up in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, a tier two city in India. "Coming from a middle-class family in a tier-two city, I’ve always been driven by the inequalities I saw around me… Seeing the struggles of poverty and social inequality—these fueled my passion to make a difference," she shared.
Growing up with no brothers, Jain’s parents constantly received comments from others about the fact they didn’t have a son. “That stuck with me, driving me to prove that girls aren’t behind. Watching my mom struggle without financial independence also pushed me to want more for her and myself,” Jain said.
A Self-Made Entrepreneur
Jain’s entrepreneurial journey was built on her own willpower and belief that she has the power to make a change in the world. “No one in my family influenced me in this. I’ve always been the one who wanted to do something different, something out of the box. Entrepreneurship became my path because I saw it as the best way to solve the problems I care about. It’s my passion, not anyone else’s influence,” said Jain.
Jain inhabits the true spirit of what it means to be an entrepreneur with her determined, driven, and passionate mindset. “Being an entrepreneur to me means being the change that can’t wait. It’s about finding a problem and doing everything you can to solve it.”
Growing with the Burgess Institute
Joining the Burgess Institute has transformed Jain’s entrepreneurial journey. She shared that the “Burgess Institute made what once felt like a dream possible. From interns to funding, without the Burgess Institute, I couldn’t have started my venture this early. MSU, for me, was meant to bring me to the Burgess Institute and start this journey.”
A standout resource for Jain has been funding. “As a student entrepreneur, I had the passion and vision but not the resources to make it happen. The funding, along with the constant guidance from advisors like Paul Jaques, has been a game changer.”
The Meaning of the Adam M. Enfroy Scholarship
Being named the 2024-25 Adam M. Enfroy Scholar is a significant milestone for Jain. "As a tech entrepreneur, building a product is tough, especially when you’re learning everything as you go. This award felt like my efforts were finally being recognized. My product is ready, but this motivated me to keep pushing forward, knowing that I’m seen,” she said.
Beyond MSU
Jain plans to graduate early and focus entirely on Passionett. “For now, all I see in the next few years is making my company big and impactful. Whether I stay in the USA or move back to India depends on what’s best for Passionett, but either way, I’m fully committed to my venture and ready to take it wherever it needs to go,” Jain stated.
Beyond her current venture, Jain is passionate about the EdTech industry. She hopes to address disparities in education between countries like India and the USA, striving to make education more equitable. “I want to bridge that gap. I see myself working in education, making the world more equitable for everyone,” she explained.
More information about Rainy and Passionett is available at https://www.linkedin.com/company/passionett/.