CASE i3 Fellow
Jake Readinger is an MBA candidate at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a CASE i3 Impact Investing Fellow. He is interested in how strategy, entrepreneurship, and mission-driven capital can help organizations build more resilient and equitable communities.
Before Fuqua, Jake worked in community engagement at KABOOM!, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending playspace inequity. In that role, he managed a portfolio of municipal playground projects, helped oversee more than $2.5 million in playground grants, and strengthened the organization’s approach to gathering and applying community feedback. His work also included supporting investments in inclusive, wheelchair-accessible play spaces—experiences that reinforced his interest in practical, community-centered solutions to complex challenges.
At Fuqua, Jake is exploring the intersection of impact investing, sustainable business, and early-stage venture growth. Most recently, he worked with the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), supporting high-potential early-stage companies on commercialization, pricing, operational strategy, and go-to-market planning.
Outside of work and academics, Jake enjoys board games, hikes and watching movies at any opportunity.