# Teach For America: Wendy Kopp (2017)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2019-07-08
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-07-08-teach-for-america-wendy-kopp-2017

## Summary

Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach For America, explains how she launched the nonprofit from a Princeton senior thesis, securing seed funding from Princeton University and a critical $500,000 commitment from Ross Perot to leverage further donations. She details the operational challenges of the early years, including managing a 'mutiny' among staff over decision-making hierarchies and navigating the 'dark years' of financial instability where payroll was uncertain. The episode also covers the postscript story of Abby Kircher, who turned a personal peanut butter obsession into Abby's Better Nut Butter, scaling from a farmer's market stand to selling in nearly 1,000 stores. Kopp reflects on the systemic criticism TFA faced and argues that the program's true value lies in creating a leadership force for educational change beyond the classroom.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-07-08-teach-for-america-wendy-kopp-2017#t=0) Introduction: Wendy Kopp and the Origin of Teach For America
- [2:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-07-08-teach-for-america-wendy-kopp-2017#t=160) The Princeton Thesis and the Idea of a National Teaching Corps
- [8:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-07-08-teach-for-america-wendy-kopp-2017#t=512) Securing Seed Funding: Princeton, Business Roundtable, and Ross Perot
- [13:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-07-08-teach-for-america-wendy-kopp-2017#t=802) Recruitment Strategy: From 100 Colleges to 2,500 Applications
- [20:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-07-08-teach-for-america-wendy-kopp-2017#t=1235) The First Class: Training, Funding Crises, and the 'Dark Years'
- [30:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-07-08-teach-for-america-wendy-kopp-2017#t=1818) Staff Mutiny and Leadership Challenges in the Early Days
- [34:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-07-08-teach-for-america-wendy-kopp-2017#t=2087) Addressing Criticism and Measuring Systemic Impact
- [39:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-07-08-teach-for-america-wendy-kopp-2017#t=2397) Postscript: Abby Kircher and Abby's Better Nut Butter

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Teach For America (product)
- Princeton (company)
- Ross Perot (other)
- Business Roundtable (company)
- Abby's Better Nut Butter (product)
- Wegmans (company)
- Lowe's (company)

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- [Founder + Funder: Fundraising, Founder-Investor Fit, and Building the Next Big Breakfast Brand with Emily Groden of Evergreen and Brian Bernstein of Rich Products Ventures](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-06-20-founder-funder-fundraising-founder-investor-fit-and-building-the-next-big-breakf) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Dip Into Paradise with Founder Emily Edwards](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2021-03-01-dip-into-paradise-with-founder-emily-edwards) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#100 Toasting to 100 Episodes of The Startup CPG Podcast with Our Favorite Moments](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-07-25-100-toasting-to-100-episodes-of-the-startup-cpg-podcast-with-our-favorite-moment) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Dina DiCenso of RIND](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-06-06-founder-feature-dina-dicenso-of-rind) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

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