Featured Founders: September 2022
Top 10 (+1) New Majority founders currently raising from YOU.
Runner
Talent gig marketplace
Industry: Tech, HR
Impact: Economic development
Team Diversity: Black founder, female founder, LGBTQIA+ founder
Investment type: Crowd SAFE
Deadline: September 21, 2022
Investor Perks: Free Runner t-shirt with $100 investment
Overview: Talent gig marketplace connecting operations talent to companies with a focus on inclusive startups. Founded and led by Arlan Hamilton, founder of Backstage Capital and a phenomenal champion of New Majority entrepreneurs. Launched last September and has grown 57% month over month since March 2022 with over 120 customers.
All3D
Creating virtual products and storefronts for manufacturers and retailers.
Industry: Tech
Impact: Sustainability
Team Diversity: Female founder, AAPI founder
HQ: San Francisco, CA
Investment type: Crowd SAFE
Deadline: September 27, 2022
Investor Perks: Free bag of dog food with $500 investment
Overview: B2B SAAS business that offers cloud-based 3D software for the manufacturers and retailers (such as Home Depot) to sell their products "virtual-first." Customers are signing annual subscriptions for $5-$11k per month. Team - HBS Founder with multiple successful exits and Stanford ex-Apple CTO. They were founded in March 2020, achieved $434K sales in 2021 with a $860K net loss in 2021. In May 2022, hit $1M ARR with $1.4M in signed contracts. $27T market opportunity. Raised $1.2M from VCs and angels.
Sensate
Patented relaxation device focused on reducing stress
Industry: Wellness, hardware
Impact: Mental health
Team Diversity: Female founder
HQ: Los Angeles, CA
Investment type: Common stock, priced round
Deadline: April 30, 2023
Investor Perks: 1 Sensate and access to Sensate Masterclass with Inventor Stefan Chmelik with $2,500 investment
Overview: Formerly UK-based company, now based in LA. Venture and angel backed. Campaign launched August 16. $2.8M in 2021 revenue and 363% annual growth, although not reflected in their financials as they changed the company structure in HQ re-location to LA. Founder is offering meetings to investors considered $15K checks. Over $1M invested from over 300 investors.
Thomas & Wynter
Vegan leather tote bags
Industry: Retail
Impact: Sustainability
Team Diversity: All Black founding team & female founder
HQ: DC
Investment type: Crowd SAFE
Deadline: September 27, 2022
Investor Perks: Complimentary lunch (insulated!) tote with $150 investment
Overview: Thomas & Wynter (T|W) is a B2C business that offers vegan leather hand-sewn tote bags. Their main revenue is generated from 4 products that prices range from $74.99 to $249 via DTC, Wholesale, and e-commerce distribution channels. T|W Tote has amassed over 1,000 unique customers and over 2,400 totes sold.
Community Co-Pack NW
Food production facility focused on BIPOC and women entrepreneurs
Industry: Food, manufacturing
Impact: Economic development, BIPOC & women led businesses
Team Diversity: AAPI co-founder, female co-founder
HQ: Portland, OR
Investment type: Bond
Deadline: September 15, 2022
Investor Perks: N/A
Overview: Community-oriented production facility for BIPOC & women based in Portland, OR. Low-barrier contract manufacturer that incubates and scales BIPOC and women-led businesses. Has received several state and city grants and formed deep community partnerships with local markets and Oregon State University. Successful fundraise with $108K invested on a $100K bond offering (aka they will be funded).
Kado
Marketplace connecting immigrant students to paid internships and jobs.
Industry: Edtech
Impact: Economic development, immigrant students
Team Diversity: All Black founding team
HQ: Salt Lake City, UT
Investment type: Crowd SAFE
Deadline: None set
Investor Perks: Free Kado sweatshirt with $250 investment
Overview: A productivity hub for schools and businesses to manage their capstone projects. Revenue model based on 3 customers - universities, schools within universities, and businesses. Free for students. Offering early bird terms for investors up to the first $50K raised - these investors will be on a SAFE with a $1M valuation cap and 10% discount. Limited funds raised thus far as the campaign just opened August 24.
Growmotely
Global remote work marketplace for full-time roles.
Industry: Tech, future of work
Impact: Economic development
Team Diversity: Female founder
HQ: Remote
Investment type: Crowd SAFE
Deadline: September 26, 2022
Investor Perks: Complimentary access to masterclasses, events, and Align Summit with $500 investment
Overview: Helping smaller companies gain access to skilled and experienced talent worldwide with a focus on full-time roles and culture matching. Platform includes a job board and recruitment pipeline, global payroll and benefits marketplace, culture tools, and community tools. Revenue model based on 3 customers - companies, professionals, and recruiters. Launched in April 2021 with a waitlist over 5,000 users. In July 2021, raised a $1M pre-seed round.
Arepa Zone
DC-based Venezuelan restaurant focused on arepas, cachapas, and tequeños.
Industry: Food
Impact: Economic development
Team Diversity: Female co-founder, LatinX
HQ: Washington, DC
Investment type: Bond
Deadline: October 4, 2022
Investor Perks: N/A
Overview: Began as the first and only food truck serving Venezuelan arepas in the DMV region in 2014. Has grown to 6 locations, including multiple restaurants and space within La Cosecha latin market, a concession stand at DC United’s Audi Field, and a stand in National’s Park. Funds will be used to open a 7th location in Maryland. Interest Rate: 7.5% Loan term: 84 months
Boundless Robotics
AI enabled hydroponics device for growing cannabis.
Industry: Manufacturing, AI
Impact: Sustainability
Team Diversity: LatinX
HQ: Boston, MA
Investment type: SAFE
Deadline: None set
Investor Perks: 20% discount off 1 Annaboto system per year for 3 years with $1,000 investment
Overview: Targeting growing cannabis industry through supporting products. Hardware and subscription model. Estimates ROI for customers to be less than 6 months. Patent pending. Campaign launched on September 6. MassChallenge 2021 participant. Has raised over $755K in capital from Angels and VCs. Offering early bird terms for the first $500K investors.
Groundfloor
Platform offering short-term, high-yield real estate debt investments for the everyday investor.
Industry: Tech, fintech, real estate
Impact: Democratizing investment
Team Diversity: AAPI founder
HQ: Atlanta, GA
Investment type: Common stock, priced round
Deadline: None set
Investor Perks: Quarterly shareholder updates, access to product betas, access to shareholder-only investment offerings with $1,000 investment
Overview: 2 products - Groundfloor for short-term, high-yield real estate debt investments and Stairs for an account offering 4% interest secured by real estate notes. Over $800M has been invested on the platform from nearly 200,000 users. Raised more than $38M from angels, VCs, and retail investors.
The Conscious Pet
Upcycled dog food made from restaurant leftovers
Industry: Pet
Impact: Sustainability
Team Diversity: Female founder
HQ: Austin, TX
Investment type: Common stock & revenue share
Deadline: October 7, 2022
Investor Perks: Free bag of dog food with $500 investment
Overview: Public Benefit Corporation. Just launched this summer with an exclusive focus on Austin, TX, a city known for dog owners who love to pamper their pups. All financials are projections. Offering common shares + revenue share (5% of net revenues until investment paid back). Founding team combines food, pet, and compost backgrounds. Strong sustainability focus in product and process. Upcycling restaurant scraps at a zero-waste facility using 100% compostable packaging.