News platform UrbanGeekz is making headlines of its own this week with the launch of a new pre-accelerator program.
The Atlanta-based outlet, which covers multicultural news around technology, science, businesses, and entrepreneurship, launched Geekz Ventures as a way to help tech-focused startups with underestimated founders get off the ground.
While the pre-accelerator is industry agnostic, there is a specific focus on media, connectivity, entertainment, and mobile technology-focused ideas.
The goal of providing community, curriculum, training, and resources to founders is personal to UrbanGeekz’s founder Kunbi Tinuoye. She launched UrbanGeekz seven years ago after building up her career as a broadcast correspondent and reporter. It was her time in journalism that made her realize that there was a gap in coverage surrounding African American and Latino tech entrepreneurs building across the globe.
The launch of the pre-accelerator is about helping more underestimated founders launch new ventures and move beyond just providing mentorship to early-stage entrepreneurs.
“I know that launching a brand from scratch and navigating the whole entrepreneurial journey is tough,” Tinuoye told Hypepotamus. “I wanted to have a platform that created role models.”
Some well-known names in the accelerator world are also backing the new venture.
Geekz Ventures was selected as one of four participants in Techstars Foundation: Accelerate Equity Cohort for entrepreneurial support organizations. The team has also participated in Resource, a program that supports ecosystem leaders who support minority entrepreneurs. That program helped Tinuoye and the UrbanGeekz better learn how to launch a specific accelerator program in the social entrepreneurship space.
The 10-week program is set to launch in Q1 2023. Initially, programming will be virtual, but it will likely be hybrid further down the line. Five to ten startups will be selected for the first version of the accelerator. No equity is taken for those selected to participate.
Not a founder? Not a problem. Those looking to support can donate to Geekz Ventures through the Techstars Foundation.
