To execute our mission successfully, we stay laser focused on building the programs and infrastructure that remove systemic barriers barring underrepresented founders from building investable tech startups.
“We’ve done some incredible work in our first 5 years. There is so much more work to be done. Just think what kind of impact we can make if we go from 100 founders completing our accelerator program every five years to 100 founders per year completing the program. We have a path to help us get there. ”
Our mentors and subject matter experts are the key to our accelerators and play an integral part in our events and educational programming. We are so thankful to have such amazing leaders in our ranks.
Through our 12-week accelerator, we help underrepresented founders accomplish in 3 months what would usually take 2 years to achieve on their own. By removing systemic barriers, they gain access to community, capital, and core entrepreneurship competencies/best practices that help them build high-growth companies.
Our work goes beyond just launching companies. When you think DivInc, think "family.” With 100 incredible founders now having completed the DivInc accelerator, we must continue to support their growth and ensure they thrive as executive leaders. Our alumni become some of our most valuable mentors and DivInc supporters, too! They're innovators who we want all our following cohorts to learn from.
“The quality and interaction of the alumni community...continuing to provide opportunities to be involved, to have access to capital, to mentors, to programming, to customer introductions is really incredible...and important so that you’re not just fizzling out after completing an accelerator.”
Even with the world at a standstill due to the global pandemic, we continued to support our community. With COVID-19 shutdowns in place, we hosted 25 virtual events and community partnerships.
Through in-person and virtual Startup Sistahs programs, public workshops, panel discussions, and partner events, we served our founders and reached our audience across the country.
2021 Honorees
“Houston is sprinting to boost the city’s tech and innovation ecosystem, and DivInc is an organization that will help us take another significant step toward building a global hub for excellence in innovation. Their expansion into Houston and specifically into The Ion aligns with my focus on opportunity, diversity, and inclusivity to move Houston forward.”
The Ion, home of DivInc Houston
"As part of our larger Citizen Verizon responsible business plan, we're proud to partner with DivInc and other organizations that connect diverse technology entrepreneurs with crucial resources to develop innovative solutions and advance their businesses,"
- Carrie Hughes, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Verizon
Our Newest
Family Members
LAMIK Beauty launched on ULTA.com
Kim Roxie, CEO, LAMIK Beauty
Vegan makeup line made with natural and organic ingredients for multicultural women, LAMIK Beauty, launched their slate of products on Ulta.com in August.
Anthony Gantt Austin FC Dream Pitch winner and received $100k
Anthony Gantt, Founder, At Ease Rentals
At Ease Rentals was winner of the Austin FC and Q2 Stadium 1st Dream Starter Competition.
Euphoria.LGBT partners with Cedar Sanai Health Tech Accelerator
Cris Rodgers, COO, Euphoria.LGBT
Euphoria.LGBT was invited to be a part of The Cedars-Sinai Accelerator’s seventh accelerator class of health-tech companies.
Gardenio accepted into Techstars Sustainability Accelerator
Roman Gonzalez, Founder, Gardenio
Gardenio was accepted to the 2021 Techstars Sustainability Accelerator in Boulder, CO, one of the top three startup accelerators in the country.
Milkify finalist 2021 Mass Challenge Competition Finalists
Berkley Luck & Pedro Silva, Co-Founders, Milkify
Milkify was selected as one of the 45 MassChallenge competition finalists. They now advance to the final round for $1M in prizes.
Fit2Flaunt Accepted into 100 Incubator supported by Target
Shelley Murdock, Founder, Fit 2 Flaunt
Through Shelley’s partnership with 100 Incubators, she experienced their first 180K month as an entrepreneur.
The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted minority-owned businesses and exacerbated disparities.
Some 40% of Black-owned companies closed in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak versus 20% of all active U.S. businesses, according to research by Robert Fairlie, an economics professor at University of California, Santa Cruz.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that small business ownership in the U.S. dropped 22% between February 2020 and April 2020, but Black ownership dropped 41% — the greatest decline among all racial groups during the depths of the pandemic.
These minority-owned businesses have also been essential lifelines for many communities: According to a recent McKinsey poll of more than 1,000 small businesses nationwide, more than 40 percent of minority-owned small businesses have added new services to support their communities and employees, compared with 27 percent of all respondents.
Click below to read about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted our founders and how they leaned on Divinc to overcome challenges.
“The focus on whole founder wellness that Divinc takes is something that will ensure that founders like us don’t burn out. That’s something that is near and dear to wellmarkt’s mission as a company and it’s something that’s a really strong part of who and what Divinc is.””
“There’s no place for you to hide or avoid the things that you’re afraid of or not good at. You simply have to engage - but they’ll support you in doing that. Other accelerators are not willing to be emotionally vulnerable with you. They’re not willing to sit in the mud with you to figure out how to get it all off.””
““We were at just a very frustrated, very angry, very emotional time. Rather than just stay that way, what can we do to really affect that change? The concept of the Social Justice Innovation program came out of those emotions, out of those needs. We will use our expertise to help entrepreneurs and activists all over the country apply their skills to create systems-level change. By marrying innovation and activism, we can and will create a lasting impact.””
The summer of 2020 will be remembered as a racial reckoning. The murder of George Floyd ignited a worldwide response demanding the end of performative allyship and a push for real justice. Data from Civis Analytics suggests that between 15 to 26 million people in the United States participated in the 2020 protests making it the largest movement in our country’s history.
As a response to this emotionally charged moment, DivInc launched its first ever Social Justice Innovation Accelerator. As shared with the Austin American-Statesman in a June article, the program supports startup companies addressing racial inequities in healthcare, education, housing, mobility, criminal justice, or voting. This issue-specific program is 100% focused on finding and equipping the most innovative startup companies that are addressing inequities and disparities caused by institutionalized bias and racism with the resources they need to succeed.
The first Social Justice Innovation cohort was hosted in Austin during Fall 2020 thanks to sponsors AppSumo, Kendra Scott, adMixt and Wild Basin Investments, with Capital Factory and Notley Ventures continuing their commitment as partners with DivInc. In a unique opportunity brought about by the pandemic, the Fall 2020 accelerator was also DivInc’ first all-virtual program. Companies from 10 U.S. cities participated in the program widening DivInc’s reach and impact.
Austin, TX | Houston, TX | Dallas, TX | Atlanta, GA | Dearborn, MI | Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA | Oklahoma City, OK | Washington D.C. | West Palm Beach, FL
“We are so excited that DivInc allowed Mercury to partner with them, not the other way around. ”
Thanks to a $250,000 donation to our accelerator program, Bank of American and DivInc will provide $20,000 grants to five select DivInc portfolio companies in Fall 2021. Additionally, each of the 10 companies participating in DivInc's Spring 2022 accelerator program will receive $10,000 with their participation.
With the expansion from its first location in Austin, supported by JPMorgan Chase & Co., The Ion and Verizon, DivInc will double its programming and services to help hundreds more startup founders who are people of color grow their own companies - creating jobs and greatly expanding economic mobility.
“This partnership will help DivInc empower and educate underrepresented entrepreneurs by lending Mercury's expertise through mentoring, guidance, and workshops to entrepreneurs that participate in DivInc's accelerator program.”
$250,000+
JPMorgan Chase
Bank of America
The Ion
$100,000+
Verizon
$25,000+
Wild Basin
Texas Capital Bank
RetailMeNot
Bumble
Dell Technologies
$10,000+
Kendra Scott
Regions Bank
AppSumo
MSTC
Baker Botts
Atlassian
Rothschild Foundation
$5,000+
Vela Wood
Indeed
BBVA
Cirrus Logic
Wilson Sonsini
Ujeni Foundation
Marin Software
Downtown Austin Alliance
adMixt
GLG
$2.5K+
Articulate Persuasion
Next Coast Ventures
Moonshots Capital
Ecliptic Capital
Wild Basin
Vela Wood
Retail Me Not
Indeed
Cirrus Logic
Dell Technologies
Baker Botts
Downtown Austin Alliance
Metro
Capital Factory
GLG
Articulate Persuasion
Wilson Sonsini
Capital City Innovation
Bumble
DivInc’s Founders Circle is a network of passionate individuals committed to enhancing our innovation ecosystem by removing barriers to essential resources and opportunities for people of color and women entrepreneurs looking to build high growth startup companies. DivInc’s Founders Circle Members help ensure sustainability for DivInc’s programming and innovation through special initiatives.
David Altounian
Robert Alvarez
Rajiv Bala
Michael Barnes
Michael Boyle
Kiwi Camara
Dennis Cavner
Craig Cummings
Ashwani Dhar
Hugh Forrest
Blake Garrett
Steve Goldsmith
Dan & Lisa Graham
Craig Harris
Wendy Howell
Jacqueline Hughes
William “Whurley” Hurley
Chris Hyams
Preston & Kim James
Josh & Liz Jones-Dilworth
Jonathan Kaplan
Blanca Lesmes
Monique Maley
Mark McClain
Rosa McCormick
Ezinne Oji Udezue
Julie Oliver
Lynda Rife
David Rubin
Dan Ryan
Jay B Sauceda
Steven Smith
Albert Swantner
Liz Taishoff Sweigart
John Thornborrow
Be a part of the DivInc giving community. Your donation will support our mission to generate social and economic equity through entrepreneurship by providing people of color and women with access to education, mentorship and vital networks. Give today.
We’re empowering the next generation of startup founders. Are you looking to build a thriving company? Do you know an amazing founder we should meet? View our current programs in Austin and Houston, and reach out to us.
Startup founders can benefit from your support. We need experts in business development, legal, fundraising, government and corporate relations, PR and branding, sales, technology, and more. Use your skills for good. Sign up to be a mentor.
