Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

First Cohort of Silicon Valley Accelerator for Black Owned Businesses Announced

Sixteen Black entrepreneurs from diverse sectors win seats in 6-month program


News provided by

African Diaspora Network

Sep 01, 2021, 12:00 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX


SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Major Silicon Valley stakeholders, spearheaded by the African Diaspora Network (ADN), are launching the Accelerating Black Leadership and Entrepreneurship (ABLE) program to accelerate the development of Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned businesses in the U.S.

"Black startups receive only 1% of VC funding. What started out as an idea to change that math has come to life as we welcome 16 highly qualified participants from across the United States to our inaugural ABLE cohort," said Almaz Negash, Founder and Executive Director of ADN. "We are proud to bring together a diverse ecosystem of corporations, educational institutions, philanthropic organizations, and cross-sector collaborators as partners, funders, and mentors. Working with this diverse ecosystem, we bridge vision and action."

“Black startups receive only 1% of VC funding. What started out as an idea to change that math has come to life as we welcome 16 highly qualified participants from across the United States to our inaugural ABLE cohort,” said Almaz Negash, Founder and Executive Director of African Diaspora Network.

Post this

ABLE builds off the success of the African Diaspora Network's Builders of Africa's Future Program, and addresses systemic barriers faced by Black entrepreneurs, including the absence of ongoing technical and mentorship support and access to capital. ABLE aims to bridge these gaps by expanding economic pathways and advancing entrepreneurial efforts and innovations of Black entrepreneurs in the U.S.

ADN is the lead organization overseeing development and implementation of ABLE, in partnership with Silicon Valley Executive Center at the Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University as academic partner; Bill.com as lead funder; Silicon Valley Community Foundation as seed funder; and CA Black Freedom Fund and County of Santa Clara as funding partners.

"Congratulations to the entrepreneurs selected as winners for the inaugural Accelerating Black Leadership and Entrepreneurship program," said René Lacerte, Bill.com CEO and Founder. "Your innovation, dedication and passion reflect the heart of entrepreneurs everywhere, and is exactly why we at Bill.com are excited to support ADN in its mission to empower the African American business community."

"The Leavey School of Business and our Silicon Valley Executive Center are proud to partner with the African Diaspora Network," said Ed Grier, Dean of the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University. "We look forward to launching this innovative program focused on racial equity in American entrepreneurship."

The ABLE program will provide online and in-person training and mentorship to the inaugural cohort of 16 Black entrepreneurs representing diverse sectors including education, healthcare, finance, renewable energy, and connectivity, all of which address essential needs of the Black community while spurring sustainable growth.

The 16 entrepreneurs who make up the first ABLE cohort are: Michael Akindele, Founder of Surplus from Washington, D.C.; Melanie Akwule, Founder & CEO of MINWO from Woodbridge, VA; Quilen Blackwell, President of Southside Blooms from Chicago, IL; William Bill Coe, Director & CEO of Green Acres Urban Farm and Research Project from Kansas City, MO; Laura Crandon, Founder and President of Touch4Life, Inc. from Clarksville, MD; VanNessa Duckett, Founder of Polite Piggy's Day Camp, Inc. from Washington, D.C.; Kristal Hansley, CEO of WeSolar from Baltimore, MD; Tonya Hicks, Founder & President of Women Do Everything LLC from Atlanta, GA; Dr. Christophe E. Jackson, CEO of Gideon MedTech from Atlanta, GA, Birmingham, AL, and New Orleans, LA; NL. Shasha Jumbe, CEO & Co-Founder of Level 42 AI, Inc. from Mountain View, CA; Dr. Nehemiah Mabry, Founder and CEO of STEMedia from Raleigh, NC; Akissi Stokes, CEO & Co-Founder of WUNDERgrubs, LLC from Atlanta, GA; Mike Tadesse, Founder of HappyPlate from Washington, D.C.; Jay Veal, M. Ed., CEO of INC Education from Frisco, TX; Dana Weeks, Co-Founder & CEO of MedTrans Go from Atlanta, GA; and Jared Wilson, Chief Innovation Officer of ABCD & Company from Rockville, MD.

"African Diaspora Network's investment in leadership development and mentoring provides a much-needed pathway and pipeline to ensure that Black entrepreneurs will thrive in our new economic reality when we emerge from the pandemic. Seeding African Diaspora Network's Accelerating Black Leadership and Entrepreneurship program aligns with Silicon Valley Community Foundation's ongoing commitment to investing in efforts that strengthen communities of color and support the leaders within those communities," said Nicole Taylor, president and CEO, Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Learn more about the inaugural ABLE cohort here, read testimonials from ABLE partners here, and discover how the African Diaspora Network (ADN) works to support economic and social development for Africa and friends of Africa by visiting http://www.africandiasporanetwork.org

                                                                 ###
About African Diaspora Network

African Diaspora Network (ADN) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization. Our mission is to harness and engage the intellectual, financial, philanthropic and entrepreneurial capacity of Africans and friends of Africa in support of economic and social development across Africa. Since 2010, the African Diaspora Network has energized collaboration among Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, philanthropists and African Diasporans to uplift its local community towards the benefit of Africa. ADN is dedicated to providing virtual and physical forums to accelerate access to resources that foster partnership, knowledge sharing, and advance investment opportunities.

Media Contact

Debra Pacio, African Diaspora Network, +1 408 829 0526, [email protected]

Liz Grossman Kitoyi, Baobab Consulting, +1 215 801 0944, [email protected]

SOURCE African Diaspora Network

Related Links

http://www.africandiasporanetwork.org

Modal title

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.