Northwestern Mutual has introduced this yr’s fall cohort of Black-owned tech startups that can take part within the third yr of its Black Founder Accelerator program.

This system, run in partnership with gener8tor, a startup accelerator, is accepting 5 Black-owned tech startups for the autumn cohort.

Black founders obtain lower than 2% of obtainable enterprise capital, in response to The Hartford. To assist bridge this hole, every startup accepted to the Black Founder Accelerator program is eligible for a $100,000 funding and may take part in a 12-week program that gives entry to teaching and mentorship from business leaders, Northwestern Mutual mentioned.

This system is a part of Northwestern Mutual’s Sustained Motion for Racial Fairness (SARE) initiative, which goals to speed up the insurer’s dedication to struggle racism, prejudice and social injustice, with a concentrate on the African American neighborhood.

“As we witness the outstanding achievements of every cohort, we’re reminded that applications like these are important in fostering a extra inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem,” mentioned Abim Kolawole, chief audit government at Northwestern Mutual and government sponsor of the SARE initiative. “We hope that the success of those founders will encourage future generations of Black entrepreneurs to pursue their goals.”

“This program’s success is an trustworthy reflection of our firm’s unwavering assist to create a extra numerous business by serving to Black founders propel their companies ahead,” mentioned Craig Schedler, managing director of Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures. “We’re assured that this subsequent cohort of shiny entrepreneurs will use the sources supplied on this program to turn out to be leaders of their respective sectors.”

Startups within the fall cohort embody:

• Kingslet Ezeani, co-founder and CEO of cashex.app. CashEx helps immigrants construct credit score and set up a US checking account
• Kahlil Byrd, founder and CEO of shur.co. Shur helps pupil mortgage debtors construct monetary plans and perceive credit score. It additionally gives pupil mortgage reimbursement interruption insurance coverage
• Matthew Parker, founder and CEO of moderntax.io. ModernTax simplifies underwriting by enabling corporations to entry on-demand tax and monetary info on their clients
• Ashton Keyes, founder and CEO of athlytic.io. Athlytic gives a seamless connection between manufacturers and pupil athletes for identify, picture and likeness campaigns. It additionally makes use of knowledge insights and skilled suggestions to pair manufacturers with the most effective athletes for ROI-driven endorsement campaigns
• Jannae Gammage, founder and CEO, tryforesight.io. Foresight assesses credit score threat, fraud and bias, enabling banking companies to securely serve underserved shoppers

Learn subsequent: Northwestern Mutual earns good rating on Incapacity Equality Index

Along with the Black Founder Accelerator program, Northwestern Mutual has dedicated to offering a $100 million influence investing fund to assist tackle inequality and the racial wealth hole.

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