Philly Gets Back in the Black Pitch Contest is a collaborative initiative between Mom Your Business, First Founders Inc. and TEACHERS &, that aims to empower underrepresented startup founders in the Philadelphia region.

Building On Success

In September 2022, Mom Your Business, First Founders Inc., and TEACHERS & joined forces as member organizations of the Black Innovation Alliance. As part of this alliance, Google partnered with us to embark on a nationwide tour of emerging innovation hubs, including Philadelphia, PA, to engage with Black communities embracing technology to scale their businesses and foster economic development. Additionally, the flagship program of Mom Your Business, the Founders to Funders Cultivating Female Startups Business Accelerator, has already helped founders raise over $250,000 in non-diluted capital.

Save the Date

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2023 | 4:00 PM

Quorum 3675 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

About The Program

In partnership with Mom Your Business, First Founders Inc., and TEACHERS &, the Philly Gets Back in the Black Tech Pitch Contest will identify and select Black-owned businesses to participate in a transformative contest. These businesses will have the opportunity to demonstrate their innovative use of technology, with a focus on tech-enablement and innovation that enhances productivity and drives revenue growth.

Contest Prizes

Philly Gets Back in the Black Tech Pitch Contest will award a grand prize of $50,000 to the most promising Black-owned tech startup. Additionally, smaller awards totaling $20,000 will be dispersed to recognize other outstanding participants.

Back in the Black Bootcamp

To further support the growth of Black-owned tech businesses, Mom Your Business and its partners will target twenty-five new and aspiring tech entrepreneurs for the Back in the Black Bootcamp. This intensive four-week program will provide focused training and mentorship in key business development areas, including branding, marketing, and operations.

4-Week Bootcamp and Pitch Day

Join us for an immersive and empowering 4-week bootcamp designed to accelerate the growth of your tech startup. The bootcamp will be held every Wednesday from August 16th, with sessions running from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Throughout the bootcamp, we will focus on four essential areas: branding, operations, marketing, and pitch preparation.

Bootcamp Curriculum:

Branding: Learn strategies to effectively position your brand in the market and create a strong brand identity that resonates with your target audience.

Operations: Gain insights into optimizing your business operations, streamlining processes, and enhancing overall efficiency.

Marketing: Explore innovative marketing techniques and digital strategies to promote your tech startup and attract customers.

Pitch Preparation: Receive expert guidance on crafting a compelling and concise 8-minute pitch that showcases the unique value proposition of your business.

Selection Process and Criteria: Bootcamp participants will be selected through an application form. To be eligible, your tech startup should have annual revenues that do not exceed $250,000. Finalists for the pitch contest will be determined based on bootcamp attendance, active participation, and a lightning pitch session where participants have 90 seconds to pitch their business concept.

Pitch Day

On October 4th, the culmination of the Philly Gets Back in the Black Tech Pitch Contest will take place with our highly anticipated Pitch Day. Five finalists will have the opportunity to present their startups to a panel of three esteemed judges. Each finalist will have 8 minutes to deliver their pitch, followed by a 5-minute Q&A session with the judges.

This is your chance to showcase your innovative tech solution, impress the judges with your entrepreneurial prowess, and vie for the chance to secure investment and valuable resources to propel your startup forward.

Join us for the 4-week bootcamp, sharpen your pitching skills, and be part of the exciting Pitch Day where dreams become reality!

Eligibility Requirements for Applicants

To participate in the Philly Gets Back in the Black Tech Pitch Contest, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Attendance on Oct. 4th: It is mandatory for applicants to be available and present on October 4th for the pitch competition.

Business Location: Your business should be located within Philadelphia, PA.

Black Ownership: The business must be 51% or more Black-owned.

Tech Business Focus: Your business should operate as a "Tech-enabled” business, incorporating science or technology into your product or service. This includes areas such as Food Tech, Health Tech, IT, IT Services, and more. A tech-enabled business is a company that uses technology to improve its operations or deliver its products or services. This could involve using software, hardware, or online platforms to automate tasks, streamline processes, or reach a wider audience. If you are unsure, please feel free to apply.

Company Registration: The business must be headquartered in the United States.

Unique Product/Service: Your business should offer a unique product or service that solves a problem.

Exclusions: The following industries are not eligible for participation: Alcohol, Tobacco, Gambling, and Pornography.

Website & Email: Your business should have its own website and email.

Originality and Compliance: Plagiarism, copied intellectual property (IP), and offshore entities/resources are not permitted.

For-Profit: The business should operate as a for-profit entity.

Travel Requirement: Applicants must be able to travel to Philadelphia, PA on October 4th, 2023, for the pitch competition.

Workshop Attendance: Applicants must attend all virtual workshops, actively participate in financial statement development, and pitch deck development.

Use of Funds: The funds received through the contest should be utilized for business development purposes and not for private or personal use. Winners agree to share the use of funds and their journey for twelve months following the contest to demonstrate impact.

Apply Now

Last chance to apply!

Black Innovation Alliance & First Founders Inc. have officially kicked off phase one of Back in the Black – a program that will elevate the conversation around how Black businesses are using technology to thrive, grow and stay “In the Black.”

We’ve partnered with Google and other Innovator Support Organizations for a Roadshow that will spotlight some of the most dedicated and deserving entrepreneurs in four cities: 

• Philadelphia, PA (Including South Jersey & Delaware!)

• Macon, GA

• Minneapolis, MN

• San Diego, CA

One business owner in each city will receive a $10,000 grant – and there’s even a national award for an entrepreneur that’s based outside of those regions. 

All applications must be submitted by Monday, September 5th. 

Hit this link for the full details on how to enter, what the criteria are, and the schedule of events in your area. 

Q: What is the contest, and how do I enter? 

A: The town halls will provide local entrepreneurs with tactical tips and strategies so that you can activate key platforms, products, and online tools to take your business to the next level, build generational wealth, and spur economic development in your city. 

As part of the tour, we are searching for entrepreneurs who have experienced growth aided by technology over the last three years.

Q: What can I win?

A: Each of the four winners from our tour stops will receive $10,000 and get invited to share their story at the local town halls. The national winner will also win $10,000 and be featured in all four cities. 

Q: When do I need to submit my story?

A: The deadline to submit entries is Monday, September 5th, 2022. 

Q: How do I submit to win the 10k?

A: If your business is in Philadelphia, Macon, Twin Cities, or San Diego, fill out the interactive application where you'll be asked questions about you, your business, and how you used technology to empower it.

Q: What if I am not in one of the four town hall cities?

A: If your business is not in one of our town hall cities, fill out the interactive application where you’ll be asked questions about you, your business, and how you used tech to empower it. You could still win $10,000 for your business and the opportunity to be featured in BIA’s Back in the Black recap and press activation.

Go get it!
Garry Johnson III
Founder & Executive Director
First Founders Inc.

It’s official!

Black Innovation Alliance & First Founders Inc. have officially kicked off phase one of Back in the Black – a program that will elevate the conversation around how Black businesses are using technology to thrive, grow and stay “In the Black.”

We’ve partnered with Google and other Innovator Support Organizations for a Roadshow that will spotlight some of the most dedicated and deserving entrepreneurs in four cities: 

• Macon, GA

• Minneapolis, MN

• San Diego, CA

• Philadelphia, PA (Our Hometown!)

One business owner in each city will receive a $10,000 grant – and there’s even a national award for an entrepreneur that’s based outside of those regions. 

The search starts today – and all applications must be in by Wednesday, August 24th. 

Hit this link for the full details on how to enter, what the criteria are, and the schedule of events in your area. 

Go get it!
Garry Johnson III
Founder & Executive Director
First Founders Inc.

Local Founders Raising Now!

HX Innovations, founded by Nicole & Von Homer, is a biotech company that supports foot and ankle health and stability for athletes. Their patent-pending technology reports foot and ankle stability, muscle power, and speed. What’s most impressive is that the team has completed successful pilot studies with teams such as Miami Heat; with 6+ teams or leagues ready to purchase their technology. View Campaign

TheraV, founded by Amira Idris, is on a mission to transform & innovate post-amputation therapy and rehabilitation. Tapping into a $13B amputation pain market in the USA, the company has raised over $450K to date and gained over 100 paid beta users. View Campaign

These are two startups led by phenomenal founders, and we want to continue to help them succeed. Be sure to check out their campaigns and reach out to them if you’d like to ask questions or support in ways other than a financial commitment. As we continue to support our global community of founders, we’ll be highlighting more campaigns in the weeks ahead.

Note: If you’re interested in raising a community round for your own business, sign up on our partnership page and feel free to reach out to garry@firstfounders.org so we can amplify your campaign in upcoming demo days.

*Contents of this email should not be considered an endorsement of any company, and it should not be considered investment advice. At the time of this communication, HX Innovations & TheraV are “Testing The Waters” to gauge investor interest. Be sure to do your own research & analyze all risks involved when investing.

Hey there!

I’m excited to share that First Founders Inc. has received a grant from the National League of Cities (NLC) City Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) program, which helps cities empower entrepreneurs of color and invest in underrepresented communities. With the support of the City of Wilmington & Wefunder, we’re using this funding to help local businesses raise investment capital from a community of investors while helping to foster economic growth.

What is Wefunder, exactly? It’s like Kickstarter, but for investing. The company has become the industry leader in raising Community Rounds and empowers everyday people to become angel investors in businesses they care about. The platform has helped fund $450 million+ into over 2,000 tech startups and small businesses, including flying cars, coffee shops, future software giants, breweries, Hollywood studios, and potential Ebola cures.

Local Founders Raising Now!

HX Innovations, founded by Nicole & Von Homer, is a biotech company that supports foot and ankle health and stability for athletes. Their patent-pending technology reports foot and ankle stability, muscle power, and speed. What’s most impressive is that the team has completed successful pilot studies with teams such as Miami Heat; with 6+ teams or leagues ready to purchase their technology. View Campaign

TheraV, founded by Amira Idris, is on a mission to transform & innovate post-amputation therapy and rehabilitation. Tapping into a $13B amputation pain market in the USA, the company has raised over $450K to date and gained over 100 paid beta users. View Campaign

These are two startups led by phenomenal founders, and we want to continue to help them succeed. Be sure to check out their campaigns and reach out to them if you’d like to ask questions or support in ways other than a financial commitment. As we continue to support our global community of founders, we’ll be highlighting more campaigns in the weeks ahead.

Ready to Raise Your Own Community Round?

If you’re a startup founder or small business owner interested in raising on Wefunder, feel free to use our partnership page which will provide you with perks including a discount on platform fees. Wefunder is free to use, and you will only be charged a percentage of your total funds raised at the conclusion of your campaign. Through our partnership, fees have been reduced from 7.5% to 5%. The minimum you can raise is $50k, and the max is $5M within a year. Founders set their own investment terms and can raise using debt instruments, equity, or a combination of both. This can also be done in tandem while fundraising from financial institutions, accredited angel investors, and venture capitalists.

Fun fact: You can also "Test the Waters," meaning you can launch a campaign (in as little as 15 minutes) and gauge initial interest from the community without having to commit to accepting their money, or having them officially transfer funds from their bank account. Their are no fees involved with "Testing the Waters," however, there are legal disclosures you must provide with each of your communications to potential investors. If you do "Test the Waters," but eventually decide not to go through with launching an official campaign, there is no cost to you or your interested investors.

More About the CIE Program

Made possible in partnership with and support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the CIE program helps cities adopt policies, programs and practices to give underrepresented entrepreneurs more opportunities for economic advancement. Participants select an area of focus for their programs to support economic growth in their communities, including working with startups, creating microlending platforms, and helping small businesses raise capital through equity crowdfunding. Now in its third year, this network has grown to include more than 175 cities, 200 local partners, and $100 million in committed resources.

Final Note: If you’re interested in raising a community round for your own business, sign up on our partnership page and feel free to reach out to garry@firstfounders.org so we can amplify your campaign in upcoming demo days.

*Contents of this email should not be considered an endorsement of any company, and it should not be considered investment advice. At the time of this communication, HX Innovations & TheraV are “Testing The Waters” to gauge investor interest. Be sure to do your own research & analyze all risks involved when investing.

Check out this opportunity from the team at Mercury, and be sure to get those applications in by July 1st:

“Mercury Raise First Check is an interactive, community-led program designed to help early-stage startups get exposure, support, and a shot at a $15K investment from Mercury on an uncapped MFN SAFE. 

Here's how it works: 

• Apply here by July 1, 2022

• Our evaluation committee will select ~20 finalists

• The public will have the chance to vote on their favorite finalists from July 11-15

• The three companies with the highest number of votes will each be offered a $15K investment from Mercury on an uncapped MFN SAFE and a featured profile on our blog

If you know any early-stage founders that are ready to pursue their idea full-time, please direct them here. And be sure to join us for the community vote July 11-15.”

First Founders Inc. & Black Innovation Alliance are excited to partner with Village Capital and IBM to identify BIPOC-led startups leveraging highly sensitive data to improve the quality of, and access to digital, financial and healthcare services.

Through the IBM Hyper Protect Accelerator, startups will learn how to scale their businesses, connect with mentors and advisors, and gain exposure to investors, while receiving access to up to $120K in IBM cloud credits. Applicants will also be considered for a lighter-touch accelerator, “Friends of Hyperprotect” and a global Datatech for Good Coalition that is open to all applicants and will serve as a community for like minded entrepreneurs, mentors and investors.

The program is seeking startups from North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa, MENA and SEA that: 

• Are legally incorporated as a for-profit entity

• Use personally identifiable information to increase access to digital, financial, or healthcare services

• Are under $1 million in yearly revenue

• Are less than 5 years old

• Have some traction (this is not limited to revenue, but can include successful pilot studies, number of users, and/or strategic partnerships)

• Have positive social impact

Questions? Reach out to Ahmed Fadl at ahmed.fadl@vilcap.com, or APPLY DIRECTLY https://bit.ly/HPA-BIA

Applications close on June 15, 2022. 

P&G Ventures Innovation Challenge is seeking inventors, entrepreneurs, and fast-moving consumer goods startups in categories including balanced protection from harmful bacteria, enhanced sleep, non-toxic insect solutions, women's wellness, personal performance, active aging, and other consumables that improve people's lives and aren't in one of P&G's current categories. If that’s you, apply to pitch at the upcoming P&G Ventures Innovation Challenge.

The winner will receive a $10K Prize and the opportunity to partner with P&G Ventures to scale your enterprise!

Click Here to Apply!

*Applications close on June 30th, 2022

Startup302 is Delaware's premier funding competition for technology-enabled startups led by underrepresented founders. 

Entrepreneurs from across the U.S. will compete for non-dilutive funding, access to mentors, and valuable connections.

All technology-enabled startups, with at least one founding team member from an underrepresented group are welcomed to apply for consideration. Considering the profile of Delaware’s ecosystem, those working in bioscience, chemistry, advanced materials, agriculture, and financial & business services, and esports are especially encouraged to participate.

Ready to Pitch Your Startup? Apply by TONIGHT, February 27th at 11:59pm ET.

Opportunity #1

Pitch your startup to a Shark!! Brex has teamed up with StartEngine to host a pitch competition featuring renowned investor, Kevin O’Leary (aka Mr. Wonderful). 

5 companies will be selected to pitch Mr. Wonderful LIVE for a chance to win $25k. You’ll also have the chance to get your company in front of StartEngine’s 600K+ community of founders, investors, and fans.
There are plenty of other prizes from Brex, Indiegogo, and Plug and Play, and of course the audience will select their favorite pitch to win $5K. This is a great opportunity for your startup to pitch!

Q1 Shark Pitch Event ➔ Apply Here

Application Deadline: Jan 14th

Opportunity #2

The PitchBLCK competition is in partnership with Logitech. Pitch for 6 minutes. Win $30k. Ignite your crowdfunding campaign. PitchBLCK is hosted on Clubhouse by Revitalize Venture Studio to help close the racial funding gap that black founders face.

Key Dates:
Jan 12 - Submission Deadline
Jan 15 - Finalists Selected
Jan 19 - Competition Date

Prize:
Winners will receive a $30k investment towards a $300k + Crowdfunding campaign hosted by Republic.

Criteria:
All applicants should have a black founder or co-founder and be early/mid-stage software or software-enabled consumer product startup.

Apply Here

Hey there!

We started First Founders Inc to lower barriers to entry and increase the likelihood of success in the innovation ecosystem. Until recently, that meant focusing on supporting early-stage entrepreneurs from underrepresented & overlooked backgrounds. To date, we've grown or community to 200+ founders around the world and helped them raise $300k+ in non-dilutive funding (through pitch competitions, grants, etc.).

Along our journey, we've realized there's another crucial piece missing, and that's the empowerment of a community of investors interested in supporting the founders they love. That being said, we're now scaling up our impact to bridge the gap between early-stage founders and everyday people (that's you!) who'd like to invest in their success.

First Founders Inc. & I are officially City Partners with Wefunder, and you can read more about the official launch here. Founders can also sign up here to start raising with us!

As we ramp up, we'll be educating the community on equity crowdfunding, which allows anyone to invest in privately held startups & small businesses they care about. This is a gamechanger for anyone interested in making a collective impact for generations to come. **It's important to note that we will never present you with investment advice, but we will provide opportunities to learn the ins & outs of investing/fundraising, while providing access to a community of knowledgeable experts.

All that said, I'd like to formally invite you to our brand new Community Pitch sessions to dive in and see what startups and investment opportunities are out there. We anticipate having at least one session each week, totally free and open to the public. See below to check out what we’ve got in store this week!

Thursday Aug 26th (12pm-1pm ET) <<- Register Here

MotivateU: an Enterprise SaaS corporation that uses artificial intelligence and patent-pending technology to provide mobile synchronization software & data-driven dashboards. Our solution targets the fitness market and fills the gap between the human-driven traditional gyms and data-driven AI fitness, allowing gym owners, fitness instructors, and members to enjoy the benefits of both worlds. We use AI to benefit fitness instructors, not to replace them, because we believe it's time to put community back into community-based fitness. MotivateU's diverse management team has over 120 years of combined industry and technology experience, including 7 patents, and 3 successful exits. MotivateU was accepted to the Troutman Pepper SEED Program and our NSF SBIR Grant Pitch Proposal was accepted. MotivateU is currently in the running for Pepperdine's 2021 Most Fundable Companies competition and has thus far made it to the semi-finals. [To date, the company has raised $43,400 of a $250,000 goal.]

Hive & Hamlet: Utilizing blockchain technology, smart contracts and Non-fungible tokens (NFTs), Hive & Hamlet creates a level playing field for brands of all sizes and ages to establish verifiable trust on an immutable, transparent, secure and decentralized network. We use blockchain to secure objective trust based on consensus and verification instead of the subjective trust purchased by marketing dollar spend. Asher Jay (Founder), has worked extensively with mass media campaigning, visual design, corporate social responsibility and impact enabling communications. She has honed her domain expertise in disruptive and innovative public outreach, qualitative and quantitative metrics, brand positioning and differentiation and crowdsourced content marketing. Asher’s unique interdisciplinary expertise encourages the lateral scope and holistic soul of the platform. The company is raising a $1M pre-seed round, with $250k committed. *[This company is not currently raising via an equity crowdfunding campaign, therefore any interested investor must be accredited.]

Friday, Aug. 27th (10am-11am ET) <<- Register Here

Curastory: Curastory allows creators to easily make, edit, monetize and share their videos to all of their video channels — just with one click. It’s one of the only all-in-one platforms for creating, monetizing and managing quality video content without compromise, and it’s 100% free for creators. Through native, creator-recorded ads as our first monetization model for our users, creators are raking in $5,000 per video on average and brands are seeing a 2-3x in return on spend all because audiences are 61% more likely to listen to native ads from the creator they tuned in to watch. Curastory has made $85K in gross revenue over 3 months with a $1.02M run rate. In addition to our financial traction, we’ve successfully engaged multiple professional league association partnerships with the NBA, and student athletes with the NCAA solidifying access to more than 150,000 video creators. We are backed by Techstars, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and The W Fund, to name a few of our strategic investors that believe in the future of video through Curastory. [This company is raising up to $379.44k, with $252,306 already committed by 446 investors. [Full disclosure, I've personally invested in this company.]

Luma Bottle is a reusable water bottle that uses UV-C light to kill 99.999% of bacteria in your water and bottle. Their advisors include Travis Roshbach, founder of Hydro Flask, and they've previously raised $100,043 from 1,190 backers on Indiegogo & 1,075 backers pledged $87,198 on Kickstarter. *[This company is not currently raising via an equity crowdfunding campaign, therefore any interested investor must be accredited. They're specifically raising $500k via SAFEs from angel investors.]

See you this week?

Thanks for reading,
Garry Johnson III
Founder & Executive Director

Hey there! Our team is working hard to make sure founders have access to high quality programming and resources necessary to thrive, so we’re working with a few great organizations to help source a diverse pool of applicants. First up, we’ve got two exciting opportunities with applications due this week (May 13th & May 15th). Keep reading to learn more about each program, and be sure to get those applications in!

Also, be sure to join us tonight (May 12th) for our weekly Community Session from 7pm-9pm ET. Feel free to stop by and ask any questions you have about the programs mentioned below, or anything else our community can help with. We hope to see you there!

Thank you!
Garry Johnson III
Founder & Executive Director

P&G Ventures Innovation Challenge is seeking inventors, entrepreneurs, and fast-moving consumer goods startups in categories including balanced protection from harmful bacteria, enhanced sleep, non-toxic insect solutions, women's wellness, personal performance, active aging, and other consumables that improve people's lives and aren't in one of P&G's current categories. If that’s you, apply to pitch at the upcoming P&G Ventures Innovation Challenge. The winner will receive a $10K Prize and the opportunity to partner with P&G Ventures to scale your enterprise. 

Applications close on May 13, 2021. Apply Here!

First Founders and Black Innovation Alliance are also excited to partner with Village Capital and IBM to identify BIPOC-led startups leveraging highly sensitive data to improve the quality of, and access to digital, financial and healthcare services. Through the IBM Hyper Protect Accelerator, startups will learn how to scale their businesses, connect with mentors and advisors, and gain exposure to investors, while receiving access to up to $120K in IBM cloud credits. Applicants will also be considered for a lighter-touch accelerator, “Friends of Hyperprotect” and a global Datatech for Good Coalition that is open to all applicants and will serve as a community for like minded entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors. Apply Here!

The program is seeking startups from North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa, MENA and SEA that: 

• Are legally incorporated as a for-profit entity

• Use personally identifiable information to increase access to digital, financial, or healthcare services

• Are under $1 million in yearly revenue

• Are less than 5 years old

• Have some traction (this is not limited to revenue, but can include successful pilot studies, number of users, and/or strategic partnerships)

• Have positive social impact

Questions? Reach out to Kavon Badie at kavon.badie@vilcap.com or APPLY DIRECTLY  HERE by May 15th, 2021.

Lastly, be sure to join us tonight (5/12) for our weekly Community Session from 7pm-9pm ET. Feel free to stop by and ask any questions you have about these programs, or anything else. We hope to see you there!

Exciting news for our Community!

For startups looking to streamline their business finances, we’ve got you covered with our latest partnership with Brex! In the weeks ahead, we’ll host educational sessions with the Brex team to help founders get all of their questions answered.

About Brex

The corporate credit card to help you scale faster.

Get a card that can keep up. Sign up in minutes for a business credit card with higher limits and no personal guarantee. From controls for employee purchases to vendor payments to accounting, Brex saves you time and reduces wasted spend.

The best replacement for the business bank account.

Sign up online in 10 minutes. From there, it's free to send ACH & wire transfers—even internationally. To spend funds, Cash comes with a credit card that's paid daily and earns you cash back each time you pay.

Brex handles your company’s deposits, payments, credit cards, reporting, and accounting in one place. Brex makes it easy to see how your money’s being used and control how it’s spent.

Apply here!

Founders can also attend this upcoming webinar with Larissa Maranhao (Employee #1 @ Brex & Harvard-Grad) and Mayra Ceja as they discuss why Brex went remote-first, what remote work looks like post-pandemic, and how companies can optimize for the distributed workforce of tomorrow.

In this chat, we’ll discuss topics like:

• Trends in remote-first startups

• Why did Brex decide to go remote-first?

• How does this decision affect culture and collaboration?

• Startup Founder Q&A

Register Here!

During the Fall of last year, I was stuck. I graduated in May and had been looking for employment while working on my startup simultaneously. Mentally, this was not easy. After receiving tons of responses from employers stating that I was “overqualified for this position” or that they “are not able to offer a position at this time”, I lost hope in trying to provide myself with financial security. I found that I had to learn to leverage my connections. Special thanks to Hope Vega, Susan Green, Salome Thomas-El, Denita Henderson, John Himics, and of course Garry Johnson, for assisting me in my search.

In December, Garry sent me an offer letter for a position as Entrepreneur In Residence for 3 months. I had never said yes to anything so quickly.

But these last few months were not only about helping Garry and getting paid to do that. In being present at the planning table, posting on social media, and reaching out to people, I learned more than I ever have in such a short period of time. I developed my own startup’s mission statement and understood the value of having that statement serve as a guide. I found out how I can run my startup in a more organized fashion. I was able to dig deep, flex my creative muscle, uncover my undiscovered interests, and finally answer a tough question: Where do I see myself in five, ten years?

From a bird’s eye view, I went into the EIR position looking to fulfill tasks part time, so I can work on my startup and survive financially. Out came a Venture For America fellow, a finalist of two pitch competitions (one of which rewarded my startup with $1,000), a founder that made an essential pivot, a multi-faceted creative now with a colorful portfolio, a media and podcast producer, and ultimately an individual that has a little more direction in what he wants to do with his life. 

I call this the First Founders effect. Thank you Garry, Kemba, and all of the First Founders community!

Abu Kamara,
Entrepreneur In Residence
(Winter ‘21)

Community News

• Join First Founders for our weekly Community Sessions each Wednesday from 7pm-9pm ET. This is a casual time to get your startup questions answered, practice your pitch, and connect with the entire community. Each session is free & open to all who want to join in. Register Here!

• Congratulations to Autumn of Proxie Detroit for celebrating their 1-year anniversary! “It’s crazy to think I started this community with no money and no roadmap. My business had just shut down due to the pandemic and it was clear that we weren’t going to be able to come back for a long time. I started Proxie just with my laptop on an old TV tray in my childhood bedroom with a goal to support Black women entrepreneurs across the country. Today, Proxie is a 1600+ community of Black Women across the country with national partnerships and well-renowned resources and services. It’s crazy to think such a small idea has impacted so many business owners for the better.” Follow Proxie on Instagram!

• Meet André, a trained attorney and legal analyst with experience working in venture capital. Andre has interests in startup law, enjoys the business/transactional side of things, and is passionate about helping underrepresented individuals. Whether you're a founder or not, he's here to answer your questions, so.... ask him anything!

Free Resources & Upcoming Opportunities

• Black Girl Ventures is on a mission to provide Black/Brown woman-identifying founders with access to community, capital, and capacity building in order to meet business milestones that lead to economic advancement through entrepreneurship.

• Wefunder takes the pain out of raising money. Raise $50K to $5M from superfans & angel investors who believe in you.

• The Lightspeed Founder Success Team has designed operating programs and resources to empower founders to build strong foundations to last through all phases of company growth. The resources provided here are designed to support our CEOs navigating challenges, building teams, and searching for needle-moving connections.

1. Subscribe to our Podcast, and consider becoming a subscribing supporter.

2. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram.

3. Share this Newsletter with others.

4. Donate to First Founders Inc.

Subscribe now

Meet André,

A trained attorney and legal analyst with experience working in venture capital. Andre has interests in startup law, enjoys the business/transactional side of things, and is passionate about helping underrepresented individuals.

Whether you're a founder or not, he's here to answer your questions, so.... ask him anything (in the comments)!

Hey there!

Just 2 weeks ago, we hosted the finale of our very first pitch competition, and I have to say that our community never fails to amaze me! The energy and preparation that each startup put into crafting their pitches and responding to Q&A was truly remarkable to watch. Three teams came out with cash prizes, but our entire community won the night.

Our grand prize of $7,000 was awarded to Evan Leaphart of Kiddie Kredit. Next, our $2,000 prize was awarded to Tenlie Mourning of Dendwell. Finally, our $1,000 prize was awarded to Abu Kamara & Hope Vega of GetPotluck. Congratulations to each of you!

If you missed the live event, you can check out the recording here or listen on our podcast.

In reality, when it comes to building a more equitable future, and investing more into underrepresented founders, pitch competitions aren’t enough. So we’re full speed ahead in our mission to contribute to a startup ecosystem where everyone has the resources necessary to thrive.

In doing so, we’ve got a bunch of great things to share in upcoming communications, but we’ll start with this one: First Founders is now part of the Segment Startup Program! This means that for startups in our community with up to $5M in total funding that are less than 2 years old:

• Segment is now free: $50,000 in Segment credits for one year + an additional year of credits if they still qualify, then 50% off any business tier plan for a year, followed by a 25% discount for a year.

• Over $1M in software discounts: Segment's founders have negotiated exclusive deals so that founders never pay full price again.

• Segment helps startups get analytics right: Access to office hours, priority support, courses, and more.

So, if you’d like to take advantage of these new perks, just fill out this form and tell them First Founders sent you. ;)

More exciting updates to share in the weeks ahead, so stay tuned! As always, feel free to drop a line to let us know if you’re in search of support or collaboration.

Thanks for reading!
Garry Johnson III
Founder & Executive Director

Free Resources & Upcoming Opportunities

• Black, Latinx, and Indigenous businesses have long struggled against an economy designed to deny them access. In response, a new enterprise and crowdfunding platform - REUNION - was launched where supporters can help close the early-stage capital gap for the next generation of diverse founders

  This spring, REUNION and a team of national and local partners are spotlighting Black, Latinx, and Indigenous entrepreneurs. We're excited to invite local businesses to participate in this campaign and secure professional advising, story boosting, and financial support. 

  To learn more about REUNION visit: http://www.joinreunion.com/ and here to apply: https://tinyurl.com/joinreunion.

• Join our First Founders Community Sessions happening weekly on Wednesdays from 7pm-9pm ET. This is simply a time to get your startup questions answered, practice your pitch, and connect with the entire community. Each session is free & open to all who want to join in. Register Here!

• Have a question about First Founders or entrepreneurship in general? Don’t be afraid, ask us!

Ask Us Anything!

1. Subscribe to our Podcast, and consider becoming a monthly supporter.

2. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram.

3. Share this Newsletter with others.

4. Donate to First Founders Inc.

Subscribe now

THE RESULTS ARE IN! 27 startups gained a combined total of 21,521 listens during our Podcast Pitch Competition! It’s hard for me to put into words how proud I am of our entire community for coming together and amplifying the stories of founders who are truly building a better future for all. Here's the Top 5 Leaderboard (Rank Ordered by Total Listens):

1) Backyard Gig (6,002 listens)
2) GetPotluck (2,934 listens)
3) The Cubby (2,900 listens)
4) Goalden Hour (2,415 listens)
5) Wilminvest (2,252 listens)

Additionally, 5 more startups selected by our preliminary round judges to also advance to the finals include: Kiddie Kredit, Wavlength, femPAQ Inc., Cafecito, and Dendwell.

We hope you’ll join us next Wednesday as we hear these 10 startups pitch and compete for $10k in prizes! Our judges include Liz Brown of Fawns Leap, Ariel Gruswitz of Delaware Prosperity Partnership, and Saba Karim of Techstars. We'll also be sharing some news that will certainly benefit the entire community. Here's the link to register!

Lastly, we've got another funding opportunity with applications closing very soon. Startup 302 is a funding competition with $260k in awards for technology-enabled startups led by underrepresented founders. Winners will receive prize money, access to mentors, and valuable connections in the startup ecosystem. Be sure to apply by Feb. 22nd!

Thanks for reading,
Garry Johnson III
Founder & Executive Director

• Do you prefer the term “Entrepreneur” or “Founder”?

  Join The Conversation!

Free Resources & Upcoming Opportunities

• Have a question about First Founders or entrepreneurship in general? Don’t be afraid, ask us!

Ask Us Anything!

• The Black Ambition Prize provides a platform for eligible entrepreneurs to access growth capital, pitch feedback, and mentorship. Eligible applicants consist of Black and Latinx founders building across these distinct categories: Consumer Products and Services, Design, Healthcare, and Tech.

  Black Ambition’s goal is to fund bold ideas, and to help reduce barriers to capital. Black and Latinx entrepreneurs will be eligible to receive mentorship and win up to $1,000,000 in funding. Applications Due 02.18. [Shared by Earl]

1. Subscribe to our Podcast, and consider becoming a monthly supporter.

2. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram.

3. Share this Newsletter with others.

4. Donate to First Founders Inc.

Subscribe now

From the First Founders Wednesday Community Discussion:

Some prefer the title “Entrepreneur”, others prefer “Founder”. What would you rather be called and why?

Just last week, we tried something a little different. We launched our Podcast Pitch Competition as an experiment to see if community members would rally behind our community of founders and help to share their stories. Well, I’m please to share that it’s working! Our dynamic group of 27 startups from across the U.S. have garnered more than 8,000 listens on their episodes, and there’s still more time to go! As a reminder, each team is competing for $10,000 in cash prizes (Sponsored by Delaware Prosperity Partnership), and they need your help to win. Think we’ll hit 10,000 listens before the deadline?

Each participating startup has been challenged with answering a series of questions in their own episode on our Innovation Included Podcast. Questions included:
Who are you and why do you do what you do?
What’s your 3-minute startup pitch?
What does Inclusive Innovation mean to you?
How can our community support you?

Each startup has until February 5th at 11:59pm ET to get as many listens on their podcast episode as they can. The top 5 startups with the most listens and top 5 selected by a panel of judges will advance to pitch live at the Finals on February 24th at 7pm ET (Save the Date)!

So, if you’re serious about supporting underrepresented founders and building a more inclusive ecosystem, we need your help! Please listen to each episode, share their stories, and help them win! See below for links to each startup’s episode.

Thank you!
Garry Johnson III
Founder & Executive Director

Shannon Leon
VPack for Women is a subscription-box service that’s transforming the personal stigma and shame often associated with urinary and vaginal health.

Suryanuj Gupta & Shahroze Ali
Backyard Gig is a two-sided marketplace that allows local households and small businesses the ability to outsource their everyday tasks to skilled and local college students in their area.

Danielle Allen
Si · La · Bul: TikTok built for language learning.

Amika Adams I
Latrenae' Collection: Online store eco-friendly handbag for heels that is stylish and can be used as a purse. You will be able the choose the strap you like as in handle, chain, or shoulder strap.

Irma Mesa
Cafecito: A platform where we curate 1:1 coffee breaks for solo at home workers and team members to match, meet, and share knowledge.

Justine Parker
JusRédor Collection (Pronounce: *Jus-Re-Dor*) is an athleisure clothing brand that is structured around our sustainable bamboo fibers and love; providing you with clothing that is better for our skin and better for the environment.

Oluwasanmi Ariyo
Wavlength is a fully-integrated platform that leverages the social equity of designers (UI/UX + Graphic) on social media to generate new leads and convert additional clients.

Ashley Joyner
Cinched Collections is an e-commerce apparel line that is specifically curated and designed with curvy black and brown women in mind, including sizes S-5X!

Jasmine C. Green
MARZ Enterprise is a modeling agency that re-imagines beauty by opening conversations with businesses on tokenism, ageism, sizeism, and systemic racism in advertising and marketing.

Jessica Longo
Novello Restoration is a digital concierge that simplifies wardrobe repair for young professionals.

Evan Leaphart
Kiddie Kredit is the first step in a financially free future, creating a responsible path to an individual's first credit card.

Luis Oquendo
Brothers of Color: A biweekly Mindset, Growth, and Brotherhood Podcast!

Karthy Chandra
Goalden Hour is an all-in-one life management tool that helps people make more time for their goals & good habits.

Jewell Singletary
Gratitude Griot LLC is a well-being based business providing mindfulness services that focus on alleviating chronic stress and pain using yoga meditation and therapeutic arts.

Tenlie Mourning
Dendwell: Hypebeast for vintage furniture and home décor.

Moises Velazquez
Better Puzzles LLC: Most puzzles you see are old and boring. We want to change that. Our team partners with professional artists to create fun puzzles that you actually want to build.

Melanie Akwule
MINWO Inc. uses smart matching technology to connect VC Firms and Incubators to the communities of Black Founders we know exist, helping them move from one-time diversity outreach efforts to sustainable long term engagements.

Abu Kamara & Hope Vega
GetPotluck is an ethnic grocery delivery startup that partners with local ethnic grocers to deliver culture through food.

April Roy
femPAQ Inc.: We take the oops out of unexpected periods.

Joel Amin
Wilminvest: Social impact real estate investment firm.

Taiye O. & Lola O.
The T.L. Hospitality Group: A Community for the Cultural Connoisseur.

Deirdre Horan
Dri is a line of durable, fashionable, and environmentally sustainable umbrellas made from up-cycled ocean bound plastic.

Joshua Kim
The Cubby: The online marketplace for student creators.

Alikiah Barclay
ReRent: Monetizing underutilized housing.

Pamela Garza
Bbeauty: Social media marketplace app for the beauty community that empowers micro creators & small brands.

Christian Essimbe & Erica Lockett
One Way Tour Life is a Luxury Travel Company that provides luxury travel services such as planning and concierge.

Kenneth Burnett
LitterHero allows conscientious citizens to report trash, litter, needles, potholes and graffities in a matter of seconds though our app by simply taking and tagging a picture.

• Join our Community Sessions happening weekly on Wednesdays from 7pm-9pm ET. This is simply a time to get your startup questions answered, practice your pitch, and connect with the entire community. Each session is free & open to all who want to join in. Register Here!

• Congratulations to Tanya Morris, Founder of Mom Your Business, for launching applications to Founders to Funders Cultivating Female Startups Accelerator!

• Applications for the Black Futures Pitch Competition are due Friday, February 5th. This is a competition to support the future of Black entrepreneurship with non-dilutive funding & in-kind resources. Eligible U.S.-based tech and/or tech-enabled startups must have at least one Black-identifying cofounder who will pitch in front of a live audience. Finalists will be selected and notified by February 15th. Save the date for the Finals on February 25th, 5pm-7pm ET.

• The finals of our Podcast Pitch Competition will be held on February 24th from 7pm-9pm ET. Three teams will win $10,000 in prizes. Be sure to support the participating startups and vote on who makes it to the final round!

Free Resources & Upcoming Opportunities

• Have a question about First Founders or entrepreneurship in general? Don’t be afraid, ask us!

  Ask Us Anything!

• Google will be accepting applications for its second cohort of the Founders Academy. They are in search of promising Black, Latinx and veteran founders across the United States to join this equity-free, six-month immersive program. Interested startups can apply online through February 9th. 

• The Tulane Business Model Competition is open to startup teams that include at least one degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student from any college or university. The Tulane Business Model Competition seeks early-stage ventures that can demonstrate how they are adapting to their customers’ needs. Deadline extended to February 10th. [Shared by Abu]

• NFLPA Pitch Day gives women- and minority-led early-stage companies a chance to present their products and business plans in front of an elite group of judges, athletes and potential investors. Our goal is to empower women- and minority-led businesses by providing a platform to pitch their innovative products and services. Participating startups are competing for access to funding, mentorship and the NFLPA’s unique assets which may include group licensing rights. Register for the February 3rd event here. [Shared by Jannice]

• Startup 302 is a Delaware-based funding competition for technology-enabled startups led by underrepresented founders. Winners will receive prize money, access to mentors, and valuable connections. Innovation thrives when diverse perspectives are fostered and included.

  Prize awards include a mix of grant-based, investment and in-kind prizes with a current total value of more than $150K (and counting). Startups will also benefit from engagement with investors, industry and key influencers. Application deadline is FEBRUARY 12, 2021. [Shared by Noah]

Listen to Innovation Included!

• The Black Ambition Prize provides a platform for eligible entrepreneurs to access growth capital, pitch feedback, and mentorship. Eligible applicants consist of Black and Latinx founders building across these distinct categories: Consumer Products and Services, Design, Healthcare, and Tech.

  Black Ambition’s goal is to fund bold ideas, and to help reduce barriers to capital. Black and Latinx entrepreneurs will be eligible to receive mentorship and win up to $1,000,000 in funding. Applications Due 02.18. [Shared by Earl]

1. Subscribe to our Podcast, and consider becoming a monthly supporter.

2. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram.

3. Share this Newsletter with others.

4. Donate to First Founders Inc.

Subscribe now

Here at First Founders Inc., we’re serious about amplifying the voices of diverse founders while working hard to get them access to the resources necessary to succeed. We’re also driven by creativity and constant experimentation, so we’re especially excited to officially kick off our new Podcast Pitch Competition! We’ve got a dynamic group of 27 startup founders from across the U.S. competing for $10,000 in cash prizes (Sponsored by Delaware Prosperity Partnership), and they need your help to win...

Each participating startup has been challenged with answering a series of questions in their own episode on our Innovation Included Podcast. Questions included: Who are you and why do you do what you do? What’s your 3-minute startup pitch? What does Inclusive Innovation mean to you? How can our community support you?

Each startup has from now until February 5th at 11:59pm ET to get as many listens on their podcast episode as they can. The top 5 startups with the most listens and top 5 selected by a panel of judges will advance to pitch live at the Finals on February 24th at 7pm ET (Save the Date)!

So, if you’re serious about supporting underrepresented founders and building a more inclusive ecosystem, we need your help! Please listen to each episode, share their stories, and help them win! See below for links to each startup’s episode.

Thank you!
Garry Johnson III
Founder & Executive Director

Shannon Leon
VPack for Women is a subscription-box service that’s transforming the personal stigma and shame often associated with urinary and vaginal health.

Suryanuj Gupta & Shahroze Ali
Backyard Gig is a two-sided marketplace that allows local households and small businesses the ability to outsource their everyday tasks to skilled and local college students in their area.

Danielle Allen
Si · La · Bul: TikTok built for language learning.

Amika Adams I
Latrenae' Collection: Online store eco-friendly handbag for heels that is stylish and can be used as a purse. You will be able the choose the strap you like as in handle, chain, or shoulder strap.

Irma Mesa
Cafecito: A platform where we curate 1:1 coffee breaks for solo at home workers and team members to match, meet, and share knowledge.

Justine Parker
JusRédor Collection (Pronounce: *Jus-Re-Dor*) is an athleisure clothing brand that is structured around our sustainable bamboo fibers and love; providing you with clothing that is better for our skin and better for the environment.

Oluwasanmi Ariyo
Wavlength is a fully-integrated platform that leverages the social equity of designers (UI/UX + Graphic) on social media to generate new leads and convert additional clients.

Ashley Joyner
Cinched Collections is an e-commerce apparel line that is specifically curated and designed with curvy black and brown women in mind, including sizes S-5X!

Jasmine C. Green
MARZ Enterprise is a modeling agency that re-imagines beauty by opening conversations with businesses on tokenism, ageism, sizeism, and systemic racism in advertising and marketing.

Jessica Longo
Novello Restoration is a digital concierge that simplifies wardrobe repair for young professionals.

Evan Leaphart
Kiddie Kredit is the first step in a financially free future, creating a responsible path to an individual's first credit card.

Luis Oquendo
Brothers of Color: A biweekly Mindset, Growth, and Brotherhood Podcast!

Karthy Chandra
Goalden Hour is an all-in-one life management tool that helps people make more time for their goals & good habits.

Jewell Singletary
Gratitude Griot LLC is a well-being based business providing mindfulness services that focus on alleviating chronic stress and pain using yoga meditation and therapeutic arts.

Tenlie Mourning
Dendwell: Hypebeast for vintage furniture and home décor.

Moises Velazquez
Better Puzzles LLC: Most puzzles you see are old and boring. We want to change that. Our team partners with professional artists to create fun puzzles that you actually want to build.

Melanie Akwule
MINWO Inc. uses smart matching technology to connect VC Firms and Incubators to the communities of Black Founders we know exist, helping them move from one-time diversity outreach efforts to sustainable long term engagements.

Abu Kamara & Hope Vega
GetPotluck is an ethnic grocery delivery startup that partners with local ethnic grocers to deliver culture through food.

April Roy
femPAQ Inc.: We take the oops out of unexpected periods.

Joel Amin
Wilminvest: Social impact real estate investment firm.

Taiye O. & Lola O.
The T.L. Hospitality Group: A Community for the Cultural Connoisseur.

Deirdre Horan
Dri is a line of durable, fashionable, and environmentally sustainable umbrellas made from up-cycled ocean bound plastic.

Joshua Kim
The Cubby: The online marketplace for student creators.

Alikiah Barclay
ReRent: Monetizing underutilized housing.

Pamela Garza
Bbeauty: Social media marketplace app for the beauty community that empowers micro creators & small brands.

Christian Essimbe & Erica Lockett
One Way Tour Life is a Luxury Travel Company that provides luxury travel services such as planning and concierge.

Kenneth Burnett
LitterHero allows conscientious citizens to report trash, litter, needles, potholes and graffities in a matter of seconds though our app by simply taking and tagging a picture.

• Join our Community Sessions happening weekly on Wednesdays from 7pm-9pm ET. This is simply a time to get your startup questions answered, practice your pitch, and connect with the entire community. Each session is free & open to all who want to join in. Register Here!

• Congratulations to L’Vonne McMillan, Founder & CEO of Advocate for Me, LLC for winning second place in Drexel University’s B. Smart Program, as well as a grant from Citizens Bank!

• The finals of our Podcast Pitch Competition will be held on February 24th from 7pm-9pm ET. Three teams will win $10,000 in prizes. Be sure to support the participating startups and vote on who makes it to the final round!

Free Resources & Upcoming Opportunities

• AppGyver says that they are “the world's first professional no-code platform, enabling you to build apps for all form factors, including mobile, desktop, browser, TV and others.” For those that don’t know how to develop an app, this is an incredibly versatile and super-valuable resource. For organizations with less than $10 million in revenue, this app-builder is FREE. [Shared by Abu]

• The Tulane Business Model Competition is open to startup teams that include at least one degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student from any college or university. The Tulane Business Model Competition seeks early-stage ventures that can demonstrate how they are adapting to their customers’ needs. More info can be found here. [Shared by Abu]

• NFLPA Pitch Day gives women- and minority-led early-stage companies a chance to present their products and business plans in front of an elite group of judges, athletes and potential investors. Our goal is to empower women- and minority-led businesses by providing a platform to pitch their innovative products and services. Participating startups are competing for access to funding, mentorship and the NFLPA’s unique assets which may include group licensing rights. Register for the February 3rd event here. [Shared by Jannice]

• Startup 302 is a Delaware-based funding competition for technology-enabled startups led by underrepresented founders. Winners will receive prize money, access to mentors, and valuable connections. Innovation thrives when diverse perspectives are fostered and included.

  Prize awards include a mix of grant-based, investment and in-kind prizes with a current total value of more than $150K (and counting). Startups will also benefit from engagement with investors, industry and key influencers. Application deadline is FEBRUARY 12, 2021. [Shared by Noah]

Listen to Innovation Included!

• The Black Ambition Prize provides a platform for eligible entrepreneurs to access growth capital, pitch feedback, and mentorship. Eligible applicants consist of Black and Latinx founders building across these distinct categories: Consumer Products and Services, Design, Healthcare, and Tech.

  Black Ambition’s goal is to fund bold ideas, and to help reduce barriers to capital. Black and Latinx entrepreneurs will be eligible to receive mentorship and win up to $1,000,000 in funding. Applications Due 02.18. [Shared by Earl]

1. Subscribe to our Podcast, and consider becoming a monthly supporter.

2. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram.

3. Share this Newsletter with others.

4. Donate to First Founders Inc.

Subscribe now