Welcome DivInc Accelerator Cohort 6!

 
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DivInc, with JPMorgan Chase as the exclusive spring accelerator program sponsor, is proud to announce its accelerator cohort #6 with 11 promising companies led by underrepresented founders. 

DivInc's no equity, no fee, 12-week intensive program starts on March 30th and runs through June 18th.

Through a new accelerator program partnership with Capital Factory, DivInc continues to focus on removing barriers and providing entrepreneurs greater access to essential resources needed to build successful high growth businesses. DivInc will collaborate with Capital Factory to bridge diverse founders to more resources and opportunities such as the upcoming $100K Investment Challenge at the Black in Tech Summit 2020 on April 14th in Austin.

This accelerator program partnership is complementary to the DivInc and Notley Ventures strategic business partnership initiative established in 2019, which continues to be pivotal in DivInc's business growth and impact to make Austin a more authentically inclusive tech ecosystem.

“…DivInc is about broadening the startup ecosystem by making it more authentically diverse, equitable and inclusive of underrepresented entrepreneurs,” says Preston James, CEO at DivInc. “When we, together as a community, do this successfully, we optimize our opportunities for economic GDP growth, we can help reduce racial/ gender wealth divide, and drive greater innovation.”

The DivInc spring 2020 sohort, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, welcomes:

  • Sojournex - Connecting people in recovery from Substance Use Disorder to SLH (Sober Living Homes), peer support and jobs to increase the likelihood of recovery, founded by Natalie Burgos and Arlo Burgos
    Facebook

    Instagram

  • Logictry - Actionable, enterprise knowledge-base platform for sales and project management teams, founded by Monica Paredes and Chris Fronda
    Facebook
    Twitter

    Instagram

  • Preserved - Securely gather evidence of stalking, harassment, bullying, and more, and let victims safely share the content with officials and their lawyers, founded by Christine Townsend
    Facebook
    Twitter

  • My Kid Blooms - Online marketplace connecting parents & pediatric/OBGYN HCPs, founded by Dr. Allison Hall, PT, MPT, DPT
    Facebook

  • Staytune - Helping hotels build brand affinity & loyalty with conversational AI tour guides, founded by Lele Palomo

  • INALA - Working through fashion and tech to build an inclusive and innovative supply chain solution for communities that use artisan craft for income, founded by Meshia Rudd-Ridge, also founder of Cool & Collected Africa: Facebook Twitter Instagram

  • HappiFamli - Enterprise platform helping employers provide families with quality, affordable care for their kids, founded by Chad Bookidis, Rebecca Cole, and Frank Cleynen
    Facebook
    Twitter

    Instagram


DivInc is also excited to welcome Mark Phillip, founder & CEO of Are You Watching This?!, as our spring 2020 Entrepreneur-in-Residence! Mark has been a long-time mentor and supporter of DivInc, and we’re honored to have him take on this additional role. Thank you, Mark!


More about DivInc:

 
DivInc Co-founder & CEO Preston L. James II (3rd from left) together with DivInc alumni from four different cohorts at DivInc’s Champions of Change Awards 2020

DivInc Co-founder & CEO Preston L. James II (3rd from left) together with DivInc alumni from four different cohorts at DivInc’s Champions of Change Awards 2020

 

If doing the right thing and equity for all is not enough of a ‘why’ for DivInc to exist, consider the economic and social impact to our nation. With projections of the U.S. becoming a “minority majority” nation by 2045(1), and the clarity that we are becoming more diverse each year(2), we must come together to ensure our currently marginalized communities have the education, access, and capital needed to participate in a global economy. Otherwise, the U.S. is destined to repeat the mistakes of other struggling countries.

DivInc is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to bridge the gap between underrepresented founders and the resources they need to build high-growth, profitable companies and even the playing field in the tech startup ecosystem to bolster the future of the U.S. social and economic well-being.

 
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Sources

1. “The US will become ‘minority white’ in 2045, Census projects” by William H. Frey, Brookings Institution, March 2018, 

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2018/03/14/the-us-will-become-minority-white-in-2045-census-projects/


2. “Demographic Turning Points for the United States: Population Projections for 2020 to 2060” by Lauren Medina, U.S. Census Bureau, October 2019, https://www2.census.gov/news/press-kits/2019/so-demographers-assoc-meeting/presentations/demographic-turning-points-for-the-us-population-projections.pdf