For the third year, The Google For Entrepreneurs Exchange program for Black Founders has selected a class of 10 businesses for it’s one-week training program focused on addressing funding gaps for black startups. The program, in association with American Underground, will help black businesses get ready for seed rounds of funding by showing them what investors are interested in.
The companies who were chosen focus on a wide range of topics — including consumer products, education, healthcare, media, renewable energy and software. The companies include:
- MedHaul, Memphis, TN
- Earnster, Los Angeles, CA
- Resilient Wellness, Oakland, CA
- Watch the Yard, L.A./ATL,
- Sightworthy, New York,NY
- Optimal Solar, Durham,NC
- Spa Utopia, Durham,NC
- Possip, Nashville.TN
- Coworks, Raleigh,NC
- Panoptic Project Solutions, LLC, Mobile, AL
Since launching in 2016, the program has had 12 participating companies collectively raise $5.5M in equity or debt capital. The goal is for at least half of the startups to be funded within nine months of completing the program.
“This week in September is going to be groundbreaking for the program, the American Underground and our city as we continue our commitment to fostering one of the most diverse entrepreneurial ecosystems in the country,” said Doug Speight, Executive Director of American Underground in a statement.
This opportunity for elite mentoring and training is incredibly valuable for founders who are already working to overcome bias and discrimination in the industry.
