Techstars Foundation welcomes Geekz Ventures, a fresh accelerator, to its network.
Atlanta-based entrepreneur Kunbi Tinuoye's initiative, Geekz Ventures, has been accepted into the highly competitive Techstars Foundation: Accelerate Equity cohort. This 10-week virtual program, officially launched this year, targets Black and Latinx founders launching their first tech-oriented startup. Although industry-agnostic, it primarily focuses on media, connectivity, entertainment, and mobile technology.
Geekz Ventures aims to offer access to community, curriculum, training, resources, and coaching to help founders refine their ideas, secure their first paying customers, and better understand the investment landscape. The pre-accelerator program is non-profit and does not take any equity from founders participating in it; instead, it provides equity-free microgrants to support their work.
Tinuoye, also the CEO of award-winning digital news platform UrbanGeekz, shared her excitement about the opportunity, stating, "I am passionate about putting money into the hands of minority founders because mentorship simply isn't enough."
Angela Madura, director of the Techstars Foundation, confirmed the selection, highlighting Geekz Ventures as a highly qualified organization. The Techstars Foundation supports underestimated entrepreneurs through programs, grantmaking, and meaningful access to the Techstars network. The organization is currently one of four participants in the Accelerate Equity cohort.
The inaugural cohort will begin in Q1, 2023, following a successful round of fundraising. The Techstars Foundation will match 20% of all donations to Geekz Ventures. Industry experts such as Mandela Schumacher-Hodge Dixon, Terry (Kojo) Oppong, Jon Gosier, Kathryn O'Day, and Gary Stewart are among the mentors and coaches collaborating with the cohort founders to help them develop their ideas, scale their businesses, and navigate the startup ecosystem.
Nominated for the program by Finance Savvy CEO Marguerite Pressley Davis, she expressed her excitement in supporting Tinuoye's initiative and acknowledging her commitment to making a measurable impact in the community. The program's objective is for participants to secure early-stage funding, get accepted into an accelerator program, or achieve sustainable and scalable business growth by the cohort's end.
An earlier iteration of Geekz Ventures was selected to participate in Resource, a Village Capital and Black Innovation Alliance program that supports ecosystem leaders who aid minority entrepreneurs. Tinuoye expressed gratitude for the support provided by these organizations, stating that it was the impetus needed to launch the initiative.
Interested founders can apply before the December 30, 2022, deadline, while those looking to support can donate. The Techstars Foundation will match donations by 20%. To get in touch, one can contact Geekz Ventures directly.
Geekz Ventures' pre-accelerator program provides valuable resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help Black and Latinx founders grow their tech-enabled startups, navigate the startup ecosystem, and secure funding. By offering equity-free microgrants and expert guidance, the program seeks to support underrepresented founders and promote diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.
- Geekz Ventures, a program focused on media, connectivity, entertainment, and mobile technology, has been accepted into the Techstars Foundation: Accelerate Equity cohort, offering access to resources, coaching, and equity-free microgrants to help Black and Latinx founders launch their tech startups.
- The Techstars Foundation will match 20% of all donations made to Geekz Ventures, with the goal of supporting underrepresented founders and promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.
- Tinuoye, the CEO of UrbanGeekz, emphasized the importance of providing money to minority founders, stating, "Mentorship simply isn't enough."
- Participants in the Accelerate Equity cohort aim to secure early-stage funding, get accepted into an accelerator program, or achieve sustainable and scalable growth by the cohort's end.
- Industry experts, including Mandela Schumacher-Hodge Dixon, Terry (Kojo) Oppong, Jon Gosier, Kathryn O'Day, and Gary Stewart, are among the mentors and coaches collaborating with the cohort founders to help them develop their ideas, scale their businesses, and navigate the startup ecosystem.
