GROWTH TRACK
Jacob Makuvire
Founder, SWYE360
Jacob Makuvire
Founder, SWYE360
SWYE360 (Frisco, TX) – An all-in-one collaborative e-learning platform for teachers to deliver teaching to students anywhere, synchronously and asynchronously. With one login, teachers, students and parents will have access to their daily needs, combining the fragmented world of online education.
Bryon Pierson
Founder, EDURain
Bryon Pierson
Founder, EDURain
EDUrain (St. Louis, MO) – EDUrain is a marketplace that aggregates financial aid, scholarships and off-campus housing to provide unprecedented ease of access for college-bound students.
Alexander Deeb
Founder, ClassHook
Alexander Deeb
Founder, ClassHook
ClassHook (San Francisco, CA) – ClassHook helps teachers find educational scenes from popular TV shows and movies to meaningfully engage their students and spark their curiosity. Teachers in over 12,000 schools use ClassHook’s web-based platform to increase student engagement by 66 percent on average.
Mehmet Günal
Founder, AccessMyResearch
Mehmet Günal
Founder, AccessMyResearch
AccessMyResearch (Richardson, TX) – A nonprofit social network platform removing barriers between academia, industry and the public. The social platform simplifies sharing research for academics and offers free services to tech and medical companies, research labs and institutes and individuals who are seeking access to cutting edge research across the globe.
Gary Lewis
Founder, Neo Curly
Gary Lewis
Founder, Neo Curly
NeoCurly (Richardson, TX) – A platform that educates African-American women about their hair, conducts surveys to gather data about each customer and formulates products that cater to women.
Darrel Frater
Founder, TheClub App
Darrel Frater
Founder, TheClub App
TheClub (Ewing, NJ) – TheClub is an interactive live streaming app that enables DJs and other entertainers to seamlessly earn income while streaming.
Eric Adolphe
Founder, Forward Edge AI
Eric Adolphe
Founder, Forward Edge AI
ForwardEdge AI (San Antonio, TX) – Leverage emerging technologies including AI, blockchain, machine learning, robotic process automation, and swarm intelligence to solve complex problems of social consequence.
Kedreon Cole
Founder, XR Sports Group
Kedreon Cole
Founder, XR Sports Group
XR Sports Group (Frisco, TX) – XR Sports is a B2B white label software solution that hosts and powers digital gaming platforms for traditional entertainment properties, such as pro sports teams, college conferences, celebrity influencers and physical venues, such as movie theaters.
Fiona Rayher
Founder, Hoovie
Fiona Rayher
Founder, Hoovie
Hoovie (Vancouver, Canada) – Social cinema platform that allows viewers to meaningfully engage around a movie and provides just compensation to independent filmmakers.
MaryAlice Turletes
Founder, HairVoyage
MaryAlice Turletes
Founder, HairVoyage
HairVoyage (Anchorage, AK) – Beauty tech marketplace company connecting beauty professionals globally for paid peer mentorship experiences.
Miguel Zavala
Founder, Codubee
Miguel Zavala
Founder, Codubee
Codubee (Austin, TX) – Codubee provides underrepresented minorities with tech internship experience when a traditional internship is not possible.
Ronnie Green
Founder, Algopear
Ronnie Green
Founder, Algopear
AlgoPear (Dallas, TX) – A marketplace that automates stock trading by connecting retail traders with proven algorithms to consumers looking to maximize profits, minimize risk and democratize wealth.
Alec Fischer
Founder, Fischer Media
Alec Fischer
Founder, Fischer Media
Fischr Media (Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN) – A media company focused on bringing authentic, diverse and empowerment-based stories from the Midwest region to national mainstream audiences. Currently working with 215+ educational institutions across 12 states to distribute content to younger audiences.
STARTUP TRACK
Danielle Davis
Founder, 3D Keebs
Danielle Davis
Founder, 3D Keebs
3D Keebs (Dallas, TX)– Online store specializing in providing the North American custom mechanical keyboard community access to the basic components required to build a custom mechanical keyboard.
Shareene Lindquist
Founder, Praxsim VR
Shareene Lindquist
Founder, Praxsim VR
Praxsim VR (Charlotte, NC)– VR based medical training solution with simulation capabilities that supplement classroom medical education.
Derek Townsend
Founder, Bizowna
Derek Townsend
Founder, Bizowna
Bizowna (Mansfield, TX)– Professional social network platform that connects underrepresented entrepreneurs, small business owners, and consultants.
Brittany Lambert
Founder, The Double Bottom Line
Brittany Lambert
Founder, The Double Bottom Line
Double Bottom Line (Dallas, TX)– Diversity, Equity, Inclusion training and workforce development training services, targeting organizations.
Jordan Haywood
Founder, Ex Nihilo LLC
Jordan Haywood
Founder, Ex Nihilo LLC
Ex Nihilo Training (Dallas, TX)– Health and wellness offerings including differentiated personal training, counseling services, and spiritual counseling.
Heidi Peace
Founder, PoA
Heidi Peace
Founder, PoA
PoA (St. George, UT)– Provides business tools for the gig economy including freelancers, independent contractors, influencers, entertainers, artists, athletes, nonprofits, etc.
Jamese Cherry
Founder, Mentships
Jamese Cherry
Founder, Mentships
Mentships (Grand Prairie, TX)– Online matchmaking platform that empowers upcoming and established professionals in finding mentorship relationships in the corporate world.
Leland Paul
Founder, Billing Blocks
Leland Paul
Founder, Billing Blocks
Billing Blocks (Coppell, TX)– A healthcare billing, payment, and clearing house platform based on Blockchain that connects patients, providers, and payers.
Lisa Kimberle
Founder, Black Date Box
Lisa Kimberle
Founder, Black Date Box
Black Date Box (Arlington, TX)– Subscription or one-time experience in a box for couples and relationships in the black community
Rhodesia Walker
Founder, Rainbow Resources
Rhodesia Walker
Founder, Rainbow Resources
Rainbow Resources (Dallas, TX)– App for entertainment, travel, professional advancement and networking for the LGBTQ community.
Santana Thrasybule
Founder, KeepUPosted
Santana Thrasybule
Founder, KeepUPosted
KeepUPosted (Garland, TX)– Influencer and content platform that enables businesses to collaborate with a community of influencers on demand
Tonny Oluoch
Founder, Tulia App
Tonny Oluoch
Founder, Tulia App
Tulia (Fort Worth, TX)– App-based online platform featuring an event service provider marketplace where users can shop and purchase directly on the platform with confidence.
Simone Allen
Founder, Trip'IN LLC
Simone Allen
Founder, Trip'IN LLC
Trip’In (North Richland Hills, TX)– Provides a fresh, new road trip experience through a fleet of custom designed skoolies available for rental through an innovative app.
Marcus Howard
Founder, ROSA
Marcus Howard
Founder, ROSA
ROSA the Wellness Pal (Saint Louis, MO)– Web-based wellness application that provides a safe space for instructors to provide differentiated social emotional learning to all of their learners.
Je Amaechi
Founder, Ilera Market
Je Amaechi
Founder, Ilera Market
Ilera Market (Portland, OR)– Wholesale shopping club and lifestyle brand committed to elevating “woke” herbalists. We not only provide discounts on raw materials and supplies to help grow their businesses, we also provide education and office hours to give them the knowledge to succeed.
Eric Brundidge
Founder, Aspira Pura
Eric Brundidge
Founder, Aspira Pura
Aspira Pura (Dallas, TX)– Minority-owned premium water company that features a great taste at 9.5ph+ Alkaline water, infused with electrolytes and UV and ozone treatment.