Three Dallas entrepreneurs have been selected as recipients of the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund and Latino Founders Fund. These funds provide non-equity cash awards to promising startups led by Black and Latino entrepreneurs, aiming to support their businesses.
Out of the 46 recipients in the United States, six are from Texas, with a total investment of $900,000 in Texas startups.
Lisa Gevelber, VP of Google for Startups, expressed excitement about welcoming a new group of diverse founders who are using technology to address some of society’s biggest challenges.
In 2020, we launched our first Google for Startups Black Founders Fund to help Black tech entrepreneurs overcome the disproportionate hurdles they face when raising capital, Lisa Gevelber, VP of Google for Startups, said in a statement.
The cash awards, amounting to $150,000, along with hands-on support, will aid the entrepreneurs in building and expanding their businesses in the U.S.
In addition to the non-dilutive capital and up to $100,000 in Google Cloud credits, recipients also receive mentorship from Googlers, along with other resources such as sales training, investor prep, mental health coaching from a team of Black and Latino therapists, and community offerings at no cost.
One of the recipients, Buzzbassador, is a content creator platform that helps DTC and retail brands unlock scale with influencer marketing using end-to-end automated workflows.
Calvin Waddy, CEO and co-founder at Buzzbassador, says the startup’s inclusion in Google for Startups’ Black Founders Fund is a pivotal milestone in their growth trajectory.
Google’s investment and belief in our company is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication to our mission, he said in a statement. This partnership gives us the unique advantage of access to a vast ecosystem of advanced technologies and unparalleled expertise from Google’s worldwide network.
This support from Google not only has the potential to catalyze Buzzbassador’s growth but also enables them to achieve unprecedented innovation in their competitive industry.
Another recipient, Stemuli, is a Dallas-based edtech company that offers a 3D, immersive gaming experience to help students navigate from their current academic proficiency to their dream job. Stemuli recently announced a double merger with LA-based Infinity.careers and Oppti in April. Together, they aim to provide career navigation tools to empower students with the skills needed to thrive in the 21st-century economy.
The power of community and collaboration is invaluable, and we’re honored to join the esteemed Google for Startups Black Founders Fund community, said Taylor Shead, CEO of Stemuli. Access to this network of startups and experts propels us forward in our mission to revolutionize the educational landscape.
Stemuli’s Shead was recognized by Dallas Innovates as a 2023 Future 50 disrupter earlier this year.
The other Texas-based recipients include Roboamp from Dallas, which helps sites load in one second or less on mobile with just one line of code. Houston-based That’s Clutch, which elevates emerging brands’ digital marketing presence by connecting them to next-generation creators. And Austin-based Omaiven, which provides workflow automation for clinic operations. San Antonio-based DataScope leverages mobile technology to revolutionize data collection and deliver valuable insights in real time to any industry.
Overall, the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund and Latino Founders Fund have provided $45 million in cash awards to 547 entrepreneurs to date. Google has significantly expanded these funds to support founders in Europe, Africa, Brazil, and Latino founders in the United States.
We’ve seen our funds have a catalytic effect for founders, helping them raise further capital, the company said. Past recipients have gone on to raise over $400 million in investment after being selected, and they’ve used these funds to create jobs and grow their revenues.
The Google for Startups Black Founders Fund and Latino Founders Fund are part of Google’s commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity in the startup ecosystem. By supporting Black and Latino entrepreneurs, Google aims to unlock their potential and empower them to create impactful and innovative businesses that address major societal challenges.
