StartupBus Diversity Fellowship Sponsors.
StartupBus prides itself as a "people accelerator" - we don't build startups; we foster the next generation of leaders in tech. We believe that, by expanding our boot camp to a wider audience of under-represented talents, we can foster a diverse pool of up-and-coming underestimated founders.
Entrepreneurs from low-income and marginalized communities have the deepest understanding of problems in their communities.
Their unique perspectives enables them to develop solutions that address the root causes of systemic problems.
Given the right mix of opportunities, tools, and mentorship, these entrepreneurs have the most potential to ignite change.
Success stories inspire others to imagine “better” and see themselves in positions of sustainable influence, ultimately paving new paths to change.
Thanks to our Diversity Fellowship Sponsors, more than 20 Diversity Fellows are able to attend StartupBus in 2018!
Here are some of our top candidates:
Since 2014 it's been my mission to increase diversity & inclusion in fintech and have been traveling, living in developing countries to advise and invest in emerging fintech and impact entrepreneurs (Kenya, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivorie, St. Lucia, Suriname, Barbados, St. Kitts & Nevis).
At Beyond Capital Markets, I've helped build the fastest growing fintech and impact innovation ecosystem across the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and the Diaspora. My diversity & inclusion fintech journey started helping women build wealth via stock investing, in 2013 launched Beauty & The Bull a social trading and TV network for women.
More recent achievements include: Keynote Speaker at d10e Cayman Islands, Host of ICO4Impact Summit & Fintech Diaspora Forum, Co-Author of The Insurtech Book, Founding Member of Black Women in Blockchain Council, and Partner at Prohaus Capital (raising blockchain for impact VC Fund focused on developing countries, black blockchain entrepreneurs, and women in blockchain), and launching the first decentralized investment exchange platform for social impact at Beyond Capital Markets.
As an arts organizer and strategist, I create and support not-for-profits and community-based initiatives that center grassroots activism and social engagement, with a goal of creating alternatives to existing legal constructs and social norms. Specifically, those that limit freedoms for LGBTQIA* communities, immigrants, and people of color.
In the next year, I hope to embark on a journey of previously unimagined, even unimaginable, leaps in the direction of justice. I know that the most vulnerable path is through embracing and considering my identity as a queer, non-binary person as inextricably linked with this work.
I realized this after participating in three fellowship programs this past year focused on social justice: the Art & Law Program, the Center for Artistic Activism’s Art Action Academy at the Queens Museum and Queer Resistance at the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art. The beauty of an initiative like StartupBus is the possibility for its diverse participants to forge unique bonds and opportunities, under immense time constraints, for mutual learning, understanding, and co-creation.
Since 2014, I co-founded and direct the NGO “Argentinean Network for Public Service” (www.redargentina.org). Our objective is to create a network of young and committed citizens across the country who wants to create positive change and take action.
Within the NGO we organized annual national conferences for students to meet public officials, renowned professors, leaders of the public and private sector and activists. During the 4 days of the conference, the participants have to form teams, create a project and pitch their idea to a judges panel. The best three projects obtain seed capital to start their projects. Moreover, we organize a mentoring project and different volunteer work. The NGO inspired a social movement now present in 12 Latin American Countries.
Within this NGO, we were selected as one of the best social projects in the Western Hemisphere by the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) a fund that supports initiatives that promote innovative solutions to global challenges.
We've made it easy for you and your company to foster the next generation of leaders in tech from under-represented communities.
Here are the few things in our Diversity Fellowship Program that we do to encourage diversity and inclusion in our community:
Our streamlined payment process allows you to give to potential Diversity Fellows in one simple form. We will keep you up-to-date on your recipient and how they did during the StartupBus competition.
Our national team of conductors is composed of 40%+ women, with diverse ethnicities represented.
A more diverse organizing teams lead to a more diverse recruiting pool and more inclusive communities getting involved.
Our independent Diversity Fellowship Committee is composed of experts who are experienced in D&I efforts. Each fellowship applicants will be evaluated not just by their background but also their potential in bringing change to their communities.
In your StartupBus application, address all three aspects of the prompt in 250-500 words: