10-week startup accelerator program, with year long ongoing support, for high-growth, high-impact tech startups culminates in a pitch meeting for $10K in seed funding
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- 2Gether-International (2GI), the leading startup accelerator in the nation run by and for entrepreneurs with disabilities, today announced the class of participants for the 2GI BIPOC Tech Cohort Accelerator powered by Comcast NBCUniversal. The 11 participants, all Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) individuals with disabilities and founders of early-stage, high-growth, tech startups, will be immersed in 2GI's 10-week accelerator program designed to develop their businesses further.
The Cohort will provide guidance and resources to the selected founders, including workshops discussing topics such as product-market fit, business model designs, management, sales, marketing, financial projections, and negotiations. Throughout the program, founders will engage with world-class speakers and be supported by accredited leadership coaches and mentors. The accelerator program culminates in a pitch competition on December 13, 2022, providing the entrepreneurs with an opportunity to be awarded $10K in seed funding for their business.
"Creating and launching a successful startup is no small feat. Coupled with the lack of opportunity and resources available for entrepreneurs with disabilities – especially founders within the BIPOC community – we saw a critical opportunity to provide business guidance to ensure a pathway for long-term growth and success," said Diego Mariscal, Founder, CEO & Chief Disabled Officer of 2GI. "We are excited to launch this program, and extend our congratulations to the newest members of the BIPOC Cohort Accelerator for being selected amongst a wide and diverse pool of talented and dedicated entrepreneurs."
The 2GI BIPOC Cohort Accelerator participants include:
- Aixa Eigazwe, TrustFundRegistry, Platform for family and friends to gift equity investments to children
- Artin Perse, Levl, Remote therapeutic monitoring platform
- Eyra Abraham, Lisnen Inc., Assistive Tech for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Lachi M, Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities (RAMPD)
- Mariah Barber, Invisible Strengths, Connecting job seekers with disabilities to supportive work environments, and a diverse pipeline of candidates for employers
- Mohammed Faisal, Fingem.io, Learning platform focusing on financial literacy for teens
- Odie Martez Gray, Diversity Cyber Council, Non-profit serving under-represented demographics in tech
- Ravindra Singh, myUDAAN, Mobility startup for individuals with limited mobility
- Tonie Yarbrough, Nurcreations, Multicultural beauty care company
- Ronald Kasule, The Diversity Ability Support Network System (Dasuns)
- Victor Ocando, Adapt the Game, Startup focusing on improving game day experience for fans with disabilities
The Cohort aims to address the employment and entrepreneurship gap for both disability and BIPOC individuals, and help set the stage for visionary founders from these communities to access investment capital. According to recent data, only 19% of people with disabilities were in the workforce, compared to 66% of people without a disability, and it is estimated that the global GDP loses approximately $1.9 trillion annually due to exclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace. In addition, recent studies have also found that BIPOC communities receive less business funding, less often, and at higher rates. According to the Federal Reserve, 80% of white business owners receive at least a percentage of the funding they request from a bank, compared to 66% of BIPOC business owners.
Since its launch in 2020, graduates of other 2GI Accelerators have collectively raised over $41 million dollars in funding from investment, revenues and acquisitions. For more information on 2Gether-International and its Accelerator Cohort programs, visit https://2gether-international.org/.
About 2Gether-International (2GI) 2GI provides resources, training, and opportunities tailored to help disabled founders create innovative and thriving businesses. Learn more about 2GI and their accelerators here: https://2gether-international.org/
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SOURCE 2Gether-International
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