Techstars Washington DC Powered By J.P. Morgan Announces Inaugural Class of 2022
Sep 12, 2022
Techstars is delighted to announce the inaugural class of the Techstars Washington DC Powered by J.P. Morgan Accelerator.
First announced in March, the Techstars Powered by J.P. Morgan programs will distribute $80M in funding to 37+ Techstars accelerator programs and elevate 400+ companies and their communities over the next three years. Launching in five U.S. cities this fall, the Techstars Powered by J.P. Morgan Accelerator programs are designed to provide equitable access to funding and support for Black, Hispanic and Latino, Indigenous American and/or Pacific Islander entrepreneurs.
“I’m inspired by the passion and drive of the diverse group of founders in our Techstars D.C. cohort, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to be part of their journey. I look forward to bringing the full strength of J.P. Morgan’s network to support and advise these companies as they progress throughout the accelerator program,” said Victoria Davenport, Vice President, Technology & Disruptive Commerce, Middle Market Banking & Specialized Industries, J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking.
The 13 week Techstars Washington DC Powered by J.P. Morgan program, which begins today, is comprised of 12 promising startups poised to impact a broad array of industries including health and wellness, education, finance, government, and more.
“We sought startups with extraordinary teams that were demonstrating promising early traction in solving problems that address large markets, and that can benefit from tapping into the unique strengths of DC’s innovation and startup ecosystem,” said Techstars Managing Director, Keith Camhi. “And after an extremely competitive selection process, we couldn’t be more excited with the outstanding and highly diverse class of founders that will be joining us.”
Through investment and community partnerships, this program will take steps towards dismantling institutional, structural, and systematic barriers that often limit opportunities for communities that are often underfunded by traditional venture capital. Of the 12 companies, three quarters are led by ethnically and racially underrepresented CEOs, more than half are led by female CEOs, two thirds are headquartered in the DMV, and a third are graduates of HBCUs.
The class represents an intentional investment in the rich talent and diversity of the tech startup ecosystem blossoming in the nation’s capital. “DC is where people come to change the world, and Mayor Bowser is committed to DC’s growth as a technology hub with tremendous partners like Techstars," said John Falcicchio, Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development.
Leona Agouridis, Executive Director of the Golden Triangle BID, added, "We’re thrilled to welcome Techstars DC Powered By JP Morgan to the Penn West Equity and Innovation District in the Golden Triangle. By harnessing the power of startups, accelerators, large companies, academia and the federal government, we are creating an ecosystem that is positioned to catalyze DC’s tech sector, foster equity and inclusion, and accelerate technological innovation in an unparalleled way.”
The 12 founding teams will leverage an exceptional mentor network of industry leaders and subject matter experts, successful entrepreneurs, investors and prospective partners. During the program, each company will participate in workshops, engage with over 120 mentors, form deep relationships across the Techstars global network, iterate on their products, business models and growth milestones, master the ability to communicate their brand and vision, and more.
“Our team couldn’t be more excited to join the inaugural class of Techstars Washington DC. We know participating in Techstars will take CarpeDM to new heights and we look forward to tapping into Techstars’ amazing network to both accelerate our growth and to show the next generation of diverse female entrepreneurs that women-led startups represent the largest disruptive force in business,” said Naza Shelley, Founder CEO CarpeDM.
Meet the Techstars Washington DC Powered By J.P. Morgan Class of 2022:
ALIVE Podcast Network | Washington, DC
ALIVE Podcast Network provides engaging content with an interactive e-commerce experience for BIPoC consumers.
https://alivepodcastnetwork.com
Beepboop | New York City, NY
Beepboop is a gamified language-learning platform for companies wanting to recruit, retain and upskill their workforces.
CarpeDM Dating | Washington, DC
CarpeDM is a tech-enabled matchmaking service and patented video-based dating app designed to help professional Black women, and all those seeking to date them, find love.
Cerebro NeuroTech | Washington, DC
Cerebro NeuroTech is the world’s most intelligent rapid detection software for sport-related concussions (SRC).
http://www.cerebroneurotech.com
Clymb | Baltimore, MD
Clymb is an emotional health software for youth.
EQLAB | Miami, FL
EQLAB is a web-based social virtual reality platform for career counseling and reskilling.
K'ept Health | Washington, DC
K’ept Health is an integrative AI system powering dermatological solutions to provide precision care for patients with chronic skin conditions.
Navina | New York City, NY
Navina makes low-alcohol wine from herbs and botanicals using ancient techniques.
Poly Platform | Salt Lake City, UT
Poly Platform is a smart city civic engagement platform serving as a one-stop shop for both city residents and city officials.
http://www.getpolyplatform.com
Right Hear | Rockville, MD
Right Hear turns public spaces into accessible environments with an audible wayfinding system.
University Startups | Gaithersburg, MD
University Startups helps underserved students apply for college or obtain a better paying job through an EdTech SaaS platform.
http://university-startups.com
Wellthi | Washington, DC
Wellthi helps banks turn one customer into a community of customers.
About Techstars
Techstars invests in early-stage startups led by unstoppable entrepreneurs with transformative businesses. With 45+ accelerators worldwide, an unrivaled network of alumni, mentors, commercial partners, investors, and dedicated operating teams, Techstars supports entrepreneurs throughout their entire startup journey while helping to build thriving startup communities. Since 2006, we have invested in more than 4,400 portfolio companies, accelerating the growth of businesses including Chainalysis, Zipline, DataRobot, Alloy, and many, many more. www.techstars.com
About JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services Firm with assets of $3.2 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of customers in the United States and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands.