Eight North Texas entrepreneurs will tackle education, income and health issues as members of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ 2027 Social Innovation Accelerator.

“Some of the most powerful solutions to our community’s toughest challenges are developed by people who understand those challenges firsthand,” Frank Santoni, the United Way’s vice president of social innovation and design, told Dallas Innovates.

The accelerator enables the United Way “to invest in these local innovators, helping them strengthen what’s working, build the partnerships and resources they need, and scale solutions that expand access to education, income and health so all North Texans can thrive,” Santoni said.

Since the United Way founded the program in 2013, the Social Innovation Accelerator has helped 113 innovators through 15,000 hours of mentoring and coaching. It now awards $545,000 in annual seed funding. In the past 13 years, those organizations served almost 580,000 people and raised $83.2 million.

How it works

The Social Innovation Accelerator begins with a six-week bootcamp where participants strengthen their business models, hone strategies and target priorities.

Next comes the Milestone Accelerator. There, the accelerator’s “fellows” turn priorities into action by working with mentors to achieve milestones and grow their ventures.

Then, the eight fellows participate in a United Way showcase. The showcase introduces them to community leaders, prospective customers, financial backers, partners and supporters.

The accelerator’s final event is The Pitch, a social innovation competition. Presenting before an audience, five finalists will compete for cash prizes.

2027 Social Innovation Accelerator

Here are the eight fellows in the 2027 Social Innovation Accelerator, ranging from the creator of a social club for new dads to the founder of a STEM program for girls.

Kalvin Bridgewater, founder, Daddy Stroller Social Club

Kalvin Bridgewater created the Daddy Stroller Social Club to address the overlooked issue of postpartum depression among new fathers. Daddy Stroller Social Club said it helps remove the stigma of paternal postpartum depression through community-building, advocacy, outreach and storytelling.

The club has chapters in more than 20 cities, including Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio.

Bridgewater said his club “hopes to create a sustainable operating model that includes a robust customer relationship management system, allowing us to reach deeper into our community and further tackle the challenges of fatherhood postpartum depression.” 

Kimberly Brown, founder and CEO, Snugs and Kisses

Snugs and Kisses helps North Texas families cope with pregnancy, postpartum issues and workplace re-entry.

Since 2019, Snugs and Kisses has provided in-home and virtual doula care, lactation consulting, sleep coaching and parental education. Snugs and Kisses is working on backup childcare, a childcare membership model and employer-sponsored benefits.

“United Way picks ventures they truly believe can make a difference. Being chosen for this program is the platform I need to continue showing why parental support like this matters in the home, in the workplace and in the community,” Brown said.

Dominique Johnson, founder, Mindful Resource Inc.

A Mindful Resource Inc. strives to improve the mental health of Black men through Bro Chill. The Bro Chill initiative seeks to build trust, reduce stigma and connect men to support services.

Bro Chill combines peer-led wellness circles, mental health education, digital engagement and community partnerships to foster conversations about mental health. Through the broader Care Before Crisis system, participants can access mental health screenings, resources, training and care.

Johnson, a former firefighter/paramedic and ER nurse, said he’s “seen what happens when support comes too late.”

“Bro Chill was created to change that by giving Black men a trusted space to connect before a crisis,” he said. “The Social Innovation Accelerator is helping us build the partnerships and infrastructure needed to grow this model and create lasting change in our communities.”  

Von Minor, founder and executive director, South Dallas Driving Academy

The nonprofit South Dallas Driving Academy helps new drivers overcome economic barriers that hinder access to driver’s licenses. It does this by offering affordable training that carves out a pathway to employment and mobility. 

Minor said he’s participating in the Social Innovation Accelerator “to strategically scale South Dallas Driving Academy’s driver and commercial licensing programs across North Texas. Through mentorship and peer collaboration, we hope to refine our growth strategy, expand institutional partnerships and secure sustainable funding to break economic barriers for more individuals.” 

Shelby Patrice, founder and CEO, Budget University

The accredited Budget University teaches financial literacy to people from all backgrounds. The platform provides structured, self-paced instruction through modules and quizzes. Topics the university covers include 401(k), banking, credit, investing, student loans, life insurance and real estate.

Patrice said participation in the accelerator means “Budget University now has the minds, ears and eyes to expand a platform built to be a positive disruption for communities, schools and individuals.”

“Our mission is to break cycles and create generational wealth, which is exactly the kind of change United Way works to make every day,” she said.

Brian Reynolds, founder and CEO, First Team

The United Way said Reynolds is the first accelerator fellow to return to the program with a new venture. He previously participated as co-founder of Trey Athletes.

First Team, a workforce development nonprofit, helps college athletes translate their sports experiences into meaningful careers. The nonprofit’s career preparation program, coaching and employer partnerships help lead to internships, jobs and long-term career success. First Team builds on a university pilot project in which 75% to 80% of participants secured full-time employment within six months.

“I’m excited to work alongside United Way and the Social Innovation Accelerator community to strengthen First Team, build the partnerships that will make our work successful and lay the foundation in North Texas to serve college athletes everywhere,” Reynolds said. 

David Stenson, founder, EETZ Technologies

EETZ Technologies, a logistics platform, identifies excess food at its source and connects it with organizations and people who need it.

Around the world, an estimated 30% to 40% of food produced for human consumption goes to waste, the World Resources Institute said. EETZ uses mobile technology and real-time notifications to pinpoint surplus food and coordinate its redistribution to families and military veterans. 

“Participating in the Social Innovation Accelerator will allow me to learn from experienced mentors, strengthen [our] business model and build relationships with other purpose-driven entrepreneurs,” Stenson said.

Kristen Wells-Collins, founder and CEO, Black to the Lab

Black to the Lab seeks to introduce more girls to STEM education. How? By using cosmetic chemistry as a gateway into science.

In the program, girls create products like lip gloss, body scrubs and bath bombs while learning the science behind them. The mission: increase girls’ confidence in, engagement with and awareness of STEM. A key focus: girls traditionally underrepresented in STEM.

Wells-Collins said that by participating in the accelerator, she hopes “to gain the strategy, connections and resources needed to grow sustainably while building stronger systems to measure and communicate our impact.”