Apply to Accelerate: Diversity‑focused Impact Ventures Opens Applications for Fall 2020 Program

Founder and CEO Benjamin Vann says the startup accelerator aims to create more diverse and inclusive ecosystems.

Entrepreneurs celebrate a 2019 Impact Ventures' cohort, photographed in the time before COVID. [Photo: Impact Ventures]

Dallas-based Impact Ventures, a startup accelerator dedicated to creating more diverse and inclusive ecosystems, has opened applications for its Fall 2020 program

The fall cohort for Impact Venture IV Accelerator, virtual for now, will be focused on tech/tech-enabled startups, consumer products, and existing growth-oriented small businesses impacted by COVID-19, says founder Ben Vann.


READ NEXT: Minority-Focused Startup Accelerator Aims to Help Underrepresented Startups


A condensed dual-track, equity-free 8-week program will offer tailored support to startups with milestone setting and business continuity planning, 1-1 expert mentorship, technical assistance, and debt and equity capital match-making.

Thus far, the accelerator has “successfully supported 24 founders and 15 companies to go on to raise $485,000 and create 46 new jobs—despite the challenges presented by COVID-19,” Vann says.

Applications for fall close Oct. 17th. The program will begin Nov. 2, 2000 through January 30, 2021.


Series: Meet the Startups

Meet some of Impact Ventures’ startups from its spring program in our limited series.

Meet Exgratias, a Financial Platform for Entertainment Gig Workers
Exgratias is a first-of-its-kind financial platform for the entertainment industry that helps contractual workers get paid quickly and effortlessly.

Meet Education PowerED, an Online Marketplace of Culturally Responsive Teaching
Education PowerED is behind a fast-growing educational movement designed to energize educators, empower students, and eradicate educational inequity.

Meet HVACIntel, an IoT Platform That Helps Contractors Manage HVAC Installations
HVACIntel hopes to disrupt the legacy industry with its patented IoT platform that monitors HVAC systems, proactively detects operational issues, and prevents failures.

Meet Latinx Spaces, a Digital Publication Redefining Latinx Media
Latinx Spaces is at the intersection of art, culture, and politics. The digital media platform is dedicated to amplifying the voices of the Latinx movement—though anyone can consume the content.

Meet nVenue, a Sports Tech Startup That Wants to ‘Revolutionize the World of Fan-Engagement’
nVenue hopes to marry tech and sports in a way that enhances the game-watching experience. The Dallas-based startup has set out to open a new market of virtual fan-engagement.

Meet Red Plum, a Platform That Makes Building WordPress Sites Easier
Dallas-based Red Plum WP Builder makes the open-source content management system easy for designers and marketers so they can get back to making clients happy.

Meet One Stop Wellness, a Comprehensive Health Solution That Empowers Employees
The Dallas-based startup offers customizable programs that empower employees to improve their wellness behaviors while helping to reduce their company’s health insurance costs. In response to COVID-19, the team launched a risk mitigation tool for employers to remain compliant with OSHA guidelines.

Meet TopIt, a Social Platform for Communal Direct-Challenge Competitions
Dallas-based TopIt allows users to create customized challenges based on their interests and hobbies. A user can choose to post their own niche challenge from a variety of categories or join in on an active one.

The story was updated on Sept. 21, 2020. The application date has been extended and new program dates have been announced.

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