Our Mission - As recent national events demonstrate, there are persistent needs for new solutions for solving the most pressing issues in society. Our mission is to tackle important issues through a comprehensive approach involving stakeholders including local businesses, founders, investors, and community residents. We aim to support diversity and enhance the social impact of entrepreneurs, especially those from under-represented backgrounds in the founder community. We will build comprehensive networks of individuals invested in solving problems from multiple angles, strengthening partnerships while improving the lives of citizens and supporting under-represented founders with valuable social enterprises. Program Overview After many discussions surrounding how to address the problems faced and improve the impact of startups founded by under-represented founders, we had the idea to create a new kind of accelerator to address the issues raised by the cohort while also serving the community and strengthening the entire Seattle ecosystem for under-served individuals. This program will serve as a safe and intentional community for founders and other allies. These entrepreneurs would be able to share networks and resources while working towards a common, local community-sourced goal. Guided by the framework from United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we sought topics relevant to local stakeholders (e.g., homelessness in Seattle for the first cohort) and recruit a cohort of companies working on the problem from multiple angles (such as housing, mental health, food security, or improving access to government-sponsored programs). In so doing, we will create cohorts that share resources rather than compete for customers and that nurture a sense of community within their incubator while benefiting from the power of multiple individuals tackling a problem with unique approaches.
