Dallas-based Impact Ventures, a startup accelerator dedicated to creating more diverse and inclusive ecosystems, is hosting its own virtual startup showcase and pitch competition this Saturday, Jan. 30 as a culmination of its 12-week Growth Track Accelerator Program.

Presented by Bank of America, the free event will feature 13 tech startups and small businesses led by diverse founders—women, Black, and Latino—from across North Texas and the U.S. Expert-led breakout sessions, live networking, and a virtual expo booth will fill the day, all anchored by a “Shark Tank”-style $50,000 pitch competition and live audience Q&A with the founders.

The three breakout sessions will feature local entrepreneurs, national leaders, and corporate executives from the likes of Bank of America, Intuit, Capital One, and Toyota North America. Attendees can expect engaging discussions on entrepreneurship and mission-oriented investing.

“Bank of America is committed to connecting entrepreneurs to the resources needed to succeed,” Emily Ledet, Dallas market executive for Bank of America, said in a statement. “Our partnership with Impact Ventures will help courageous, hard-working, and diverse business owners make a meaningful impact in North Texas by creating jobs that support economic mobility in their communities.”

The event caps off Impact Ventures’ Fall 2020 accelerator program, also supported by Capital One and Santander Consumer USA.

Ben Vann

Formerly known as Impact House, Impact Ventures was founded in 2017 by CEO Benjamin Vann to close the income and wealth gap for minorities and women via tech career pathways, inclusive entrepreneurship, and capital investment. Last year, Vann and his team launched a new 12-week accelerator dedicated to assisting underrepresented communities looking to break into the tech industry.

But as COVID-19 spread, the program transitioned its startup and growth track programs to be 100 percent virtual, supporting diverse-led startups with the opportunity to engage with a broader audience.

When that inaugural cohort concluded, the 25 North Texas startups collectively raised $458,000, created 46 new jobs, and participated in more than 500 hours of education and mentoring. It was widely praised as “North Texas’ first minority-focused startup accelerator program.”

“The continuation of the COVID-19 precautions has been a constant adjustment, but we are seeing some of the benefits of virtual settings providing pathways for increased visibility and engagement from mentors and investors—two critical resources that our vulnerable business owners the most right now,” Vann said in a statement.

Impact Ventures’ Virtual Startup Showcase and $50K Pitch Competition is Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can sign up here.

Explore the panels

Building A Million Dollar Business In a Pandemic

Panel 1: Danyel Surrency Jones, Mandy Price, Lucy Huang, and Lyndsey Harper [Photos: Impact Ventures]

Panel 2: Andrea-Womack, Andrella Thomas, Jessica Taylor, Tia Bradley, and Eric Battle [Photos: Impact Ventures]

Integrated Capital: Financing for a New Majority

Panel 3: Ben Vann, Catherine Burnette, Deb Nelson, Tynesia Boyea-Robinson, Deborah Frieze, and Tynesia Boyea-Robinson [Photos: Impact Ventures]

Who’s pitching?

Round 1

The first round of founders pitching are (from top left) Darrel-Frater; Mehmet Günal founder, AccessMyResearch; Fiona Rayher founder, Hoovie; Kedreon Cole founder, XR Sports Group; and Alexander Deeb, founder, ClassHook. [Photos: Impact Ventures]

Round 2

The second round is (from top left) Eric Adolphe, founder, Forward Edge; MaryAlice Turletes, founder, HairVoyage; Miguel Zavala, founder, Codubee; Jacob Makuvire founder, SWYE360; Ronnie Green, founder, Algopear; Bryon Pierson, founder, EDURain; Alec Fischer, founder, Fischr Media; and Gary Lewis, founder, Neo Curly. [Photos: Impact Ventures]

Get on the list.
Dallas Innovates, every day.

Sign up to keep your eye on what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth, every day.