Rachel Francois

From Sara Keenan at POCIT The Google for Startups Founders Fund is back for the fifth year and is funding 20 Black and Latine AI companies in the US. The fund first launched as part of Google’s $175 million commitment towards racial equity and to date has deployed more than $50 million dollars to more than 570 Black and Latine founders around the world. The criteria to qualify is: - Diverse companies with at least one underrepresented founder on their founding team - Between Pre-seed and Series A - Scalable product or service with a significant total addressable market and defensible growth model - Ready to go global #GoogleForStartups #BlackFoundersFund #LatinxFoundersFund #AIforGood #RacialEquity #SupportingEntrepreneurs #TechInnovation #FundingDiverseFounders #InvestInAI #CommunityCollegeSuccess #blackowned #blackled #latineled #minorityfounders #intentionalinvesting https://lnkd.in/gkrAZdvY

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🚀 Exciting News! I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Harlem World to discuss my entrepreneurial journey from the entertainment industry to launching my tech startups, Project Casting and Livy AI. In the interview, I delve into how growing up and working in Harlem has shaped my entrepreneurial spirit and passion for creating opportunities for others. Harlem isn't just a place; it's a pivotal part of my story, influencing my commitment to innovation and community empowerment. 🌟 Project Casting aims to democratize access to opportunities in the entertainment industry, making it easier for aspiring artists to find their big break. Meanwhile, Livy AI is at the forefront of integrating AI into everyday solutions, enhancing how we live and work. I'm thrilled to share how these ventures not only embody cutting-edge technology but also a deep-rooted desire to give back to the community that raised me. Let's keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible! #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #CommunityEmpowerment #Harlem Check out the full interview here for more insights into how Harlem has inspired a broader vision: https://lnkd.in/eRn_vtXK

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💜 Hue. has been awarded a $150K equity-free grant from the Google for Startups Founders Fund! 🎉 Funding Black founders is crucial, here’s why ⬇ I recently spoke with a founder—let’s call him David—who needed fundraising advice. David’s startup is gaining traction, and he’s been advised to raise a #friendsandfamilyround to boost product development. Sadly, he feels discouraged. David is the first in his family to graduate college, and at 21, he earned more than anyone else in his family in his entry-level job. Now in their late twenties, him and his friends are still in their growth era and don’t have extra cash to invest. David feels stuck. 🚫 His network can’t fund his venture, and he has too little traction to raise a formal round. This is a common experience for many underrepresented founders—Black, Latino, low-income, women, and more. ✨ Grant programs like the Google for Startups Founders Fund provide essential capital to level the playing field. ✨ The Hue team is incredibly grateful for Google’s support for underrepresented founders and its commitment to uplifting startups pushing boundaries in AI. ❓ Does David’s experience resonate with you? Have you raised a friends and family round? What advice would you give other founders? ❓ Comment below ⬇ Check out to the other Black & Latino founders in my Google for Founders cohort! Sherisse Hawkins Nana Wilberforce Ph.D Seke Ballard Megan Nunes Manny S. Kene Anoliefo Tiffany Ricks George Holmes, PhD Rocio Frej Vitalle Rocio Frej Vitalle Florian Pestoni Darren Riley Eitan Winer Darryl Keeton Constanza Gomez Sergio Suarez Jr. Gerald Kierce Iturrioz #GoogleForStartups #FoundersFund #poweredbyhue #beautymarketing #huecommunity #hiring #fundraising

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How to Raise Money as a Black Beauty Brand - Sheena Butler-Young (The Business of Fashion) Black founders carry a markedly higher burden when it comes to educating investors on the value and viability of their business ideas — but there is an art and science behind knowing when your brand is ready and what kind of investors will be the best fit. There are many reasons driving the dearth of funding going to Black business — but chief among them, experts say, is that Black founders carry a markedly higher burden when it comes to educating investors on the value and viability of their business ideas.

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Let’s talk about it

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Part 2 explains the operational challenges of scaling and going retail. Although this is a challenge for most indie brands in general, it's more of an obstacle for Black owned brands. "Black founders encounter some of the most daunting obstacles in propelling their businesses beyond the startup phase and into large-scale retail, especially as they often navigate the journey alone and face limited access to capital. Being retail-ready entails having operational support, such as a seamless supply chain process with a reliable manufacturer and fulfilment centre, as well as a team capable of handling marketing, branding and influencer partnerships. "

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Building a tech-enabled company comes with a mix of different challenges, emotions, and intricacies. I embarked on the journey to innovate in the creative industry 445 days ago. A journey I knew there was no turning back from. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, and nights felt like a thousand years. I met some amazing people along the way, learned some hard lessons, got beaten down, felt alone, and became stronger than ever. I burnt the midnight oil with my head constantly searching for solutions with so much conviction that one existed. Good news, We found it! Growth comes with pain, and I felt every bit of it. It’s a humbling experience, and I wish everyone gets to feel it at some point. Design Launchpad first phase is live at www.designlaunchpad.co, and now you get the opportunity to learn design from the best African Designers in the world and connect with designers right from your own comfort. We moved mountains to make this a reality. The Cherry on Top: We created three learning tiers for you so you can grow without worrying about the learning complexities of the design industry. Ready to get started Visit www.designlaunchpad.co today!

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Join us in the Zone👊🏿 We are so excited to announce that the BlackNorth Initiative, Black Founders Network, Nobellum, Black Entrepreneurship Alliance, Federation of Black Canadians, Black Opportunity Fund, DMZ, Tribe Network, and African Impact Initiative are uniting to form the Black Innovation Zone - featured at this year’s Collision Conf 2024! 🎉This collective is dedicated to increasing access and visibility, by amplifying the voices and innovations of Black founders, investors and professionals across Canada and beyond.🙌🏿 The Black Innovation Zone is more than just a collective; it's a movement aimed at empowering Black entrepreneurs, investors and professionals by providing them with the platform they need to showcase their talents on an international stage. Our goal is to foster professional development, community building, and to serve as a beacon for those navigating the challenges faced by Black founders in the tech industry and other sectors. Join us at our booth (E167) during Collision week, and stay tuned for exciting updates about the events, opportunities and activations we will be curating for Black innovators. We’re here to promote cross-cultural collaborations and inclusivity within the global business ecosystem. It's time to share the stories and innovations of Black founders at Collision. 🎉Here's to building a legacy and creating a road map for future Black innovators in Canada and around the globe! 🌍 Help us shape the Black Innovation Zone experience, by filling out our programming survey in the link below. With your feedback, we can continue to build for the community, with the community. 💪🏿 https://lnkd.in/gkUXq4nt #BlackInnovationZone #Collison2024 #TechConference #BlackEntrepreneurs #ProfessionalDevelopment #Community

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We do not live in a merit-based society. We never have. Advancement based on merit alone is impossible in a society that created a 300+ year headstart for one group of people at the expense and detriment of another group. We live in a society that has ALWAYS granted certain people special access, resources, and value based on their relationship to and memembership amongst those in the seat of power. What we are seeing now is that the white-male led power group is attempting to enforce their hegemony by trying to close the doors that they held open for one another for generations. We've got to continue to kick these damn doors in or we will never get anyhere, because the bootstraps are NOT bootstrapping!!!! https://lnkd.in/dEu5hVAt 

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This is disappointing. Venture capital can do so much good to uplift good, solid business ideas to become realities, particularly those led by Black women. The American Alliance for Equal Rights is suing Fearless Fund because it claims FF violates a civil rights law. But then the lecture "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" is meaningless when that is what a community is doing. Someone is bent on destroying the bootstraps they keep hounding underrepresented communities about. Make it make sense. #venturecapital #vc #investing #business #startups

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Four years ago, we launched a new series on VentureFizz called Black in Tech. This series profiles Black professions in the tech industry across all different job functions. In support of #juneteenth, please take a moment to read some of their profiles here: https://lnkd.in/ez-Nckx By sharing these inspirational stories of Black professionals, we want to celebrate their contributions in tech, while also encouraging others to get involved in the tech industry. #diversitymatters

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Excited to be part of NY Tech Week! 🎉 Come see me and let's talk tech. Whether you have questions, want to start or scale your business, or are interested in a quick intro to AI as a productivity tool, drop by and say hello! Let's innovate together. 🚀 #NYTechWeek #Innovation #AI #BusinessGrowth

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From my students at Cornell Tech and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to our work at Startups & Society Initiative and Responsible Innovation Labs, continue to see the brightest young people hungry for models of business and technology that reject 'growth at all costs' and embrace more deliberate notions of value creation. From climate, to democracy, to public health, the next generation holds deep intuition that value is not captured by 'valuation.' Its not that they outright don't believe in profit, but they know it's essential to build with intention and responsibility, mindful of broader societal impacts. It was a treat to join Keshav Rastogi — a young person already building and leading with his values — for his Podcast "Playgrounds to Pixels." Keshav asks thoughtful questions about the business motivations for responsible tech, my work at MEET - Middle East Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow, and how young people can start thinking about responsible tech. Thanks again for having me, Keshav.

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Only a few spots left! Join my Mastermind Program for women founders kicking off in June! This program is designed for women founders raising their pre-seed or seed round. Over 2 months, a select group of 5 to 10 brilliant women will come together every week for one hour to: ⭕ Define a funding strategy that aligns with your vision ⭕ Create a compelling pitch deck ⭕ Perfect your pitch in front of various investors You’ll gain exclusive access to my network of investors who are committed to supporting female founders. Plus, you’ll be part of a community that offers unwavering support throughout your fundraising journey. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to nail your fundraising alongside other amazing women. → Sign up now before the spots are gone! Comment or DM me "FundHer" to get all the details of the Mastermind program. _____________________ 👋🏻 Hi there, welcome! ✨ I'm Sarah. I guide women who feel unsure or overwhelmed about starting their startup, helping them shape their ideas into a business that's ready for funding. If you're a woman beginning your startup journey, follow me here on LinkedIn. I'll keep sharing advice and support to help you grow.

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During BIA's NY DOBI Impact Gathering, Ifeoma Ike, Esq., Founder & Chief Equity Weaver of Pink Cornrows, highlighted crucial statistics often overlooked in discussions about building equitable ecosystems. Ifeoma's insights underscore the systemic barriers Black entrepreneurs face and the urgent need for a shift in mindset among those with power and resources. #BlackInnovationAlliance #Equity #BIADOBI

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Just to frame up this story clearer, only 1%-3% of all Venture Capital goes to women & people of color. I’m just sayin. This fund should not be hindered. Wanna good story? “Movie Pass/Movie Crash”. Watch it. Two black entrepreneurs found it, grow it to profitability, two old white men take it over and kick them out, then run the whole thing into the ground in SPECTACULAR fashion. Oh…they’re currently on trial for securities fraud😂 Spoiler!: the original black founders bought Movie Pass from the junk heap of Bankrupcy court, dusted it off, turned it profitable again! And it’s a huge win-win-win for studios, theater owners, consumers. Data analytics for studios, increased concessions for theaters, cheaper prices for consumers https://lnkd.in/gtXutkDX

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The Google for Startups Founders Fund is back for the fifth year and is funding 20 Black and Latine AI companies in the US. The fund first launched as part of Google’s $175 million commitment towards racial equity: - Akeptus (Glenwood, MD) provides a smart home energy management system that helps homeowners optimize their energy usage and reduce costs. - Beta Financial Services (Chicago, IL) removes bias in financial services through tools like BetaScore, a proprietary credit model designed to help SMBs obtain loans. - Bountiful (San Francisco, CA) helps farmers and food industry professionals with forecasts and critical insights for speciality crops. - Cambio AI  (New York, NY) provides software that helps commercial landlords and corporate tenants reach their net zero goals by decarbonizing their facilities. - EdVisorly (Los Angeles, CA) helps community college students explore and apply to public and private universities. - Elis (Pound Ridge, NY) helps product and marketing teams efficiently collect rich insights from their customers via interviews. - HacWare (Frisco, TX) helps businesses combat phishing attacks through experiential learning. - Hire Henry (St Louis, MO) develops industrial robotic mowers for large greenspaces. - Hue. (Boston, MA) helps brands source and integrates authentic customer testimonials on their marketing channels. - Improving Aviation (Tampa, FL) provides AI and emerging vehicle technologies to enhance public safety, aviation and wildfire management operations. - InOrbit.AI, (Mountain View, CA) helps developers and operators virtually manage and scale their robotics fleets. - JustAir (Detroit, MI) equips community leaders with health and environmental insights through air quality monitoring networks. - Maverick (San Francisco, CA) helps ecommerce stores create personalized customer experiences with generative AI. - Pagedip (Boulder, CO) is a no-code content publishing app that helps teams work more effectively and efficiently. - Raincoat (San Juan, PR) provides governments, financial institutions and insurers with automated and scalable climate insurance tools. - Sensagrate (Scottsdale, AZ) aims to reduce traffic and decrease traffic related fatalities with cutting edge computer vision and AI solutions. - Sortile (New York, NY) is a waste management system that uses AI to identify, sort and trace textiles. - TackleAI (Schaumburg, IL) turns unstructured documents and datasets into intelligible and immediately accessible data. - Trustible (Arlington, VA) helps companies surface hidden AI risks, check compliance requirements and accelerate responsible AI development. - Waterplan (YC S21) (San Francisco, CA) is a water sustainability platform which helps organizations gather, report and act on water related risks. #startups #entrepreneurship #google #diversity #tech https://lnkd.in/gHUWVF_3

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Final part 3 of the Beauty of Business series on Black Founders in Beauty. This part discusses the challenges Black founders face when raising money for their beauty brands, providing tips on how to navigate the fundraising environment. Black founders typically raise less capital than other founders, often due to a lack of investor awareness of the consumer needs of the Black beauty market. Some founders have overcome this by pitching to investors who focus on BIPOC businesses, but this is limiting.. https://lnkd.in/effKDQDp

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