Deadline: 2 February 2024
Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator is investing in up to ten companies per year (two cohorts of five) led by Black founders.
gener8tor and Northwestern Mutual will support the growth of these startups through the network of experienced mentors, technologists, industry experts, angel investors and venture capitalists. They accept applications from startups across the globe. However, they do require that at least one founder from each startup be based in the United States.
The investment priorities for Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator Powered by gener8tor are aligned with Northwestern Mutual Future Venture’s key strategic areas of focus:
- Fintech
- Insurtech
- Digital Health
- Data Analytics
Benefits
- Investment
- $100,000 cash investment in your current round (if raising) or an uncapped convertible bridge note (if not currently raising).
- Co-working Space
- Co-working space provided by Northwestern Mutual created to advance innovation, ideation and experimentation for local startups.
- $1M+ in Deals & Perks
- Amazing deals and perks from vendors like IBM Cloud, Rackspace, Amazon, PayPal, Zendesk and Microsoft.
- Cohort Programming
- Weekly cohort programming featuring topics including understanding market size, choosing a revenue model, and how to pitch investors.
- Mentorship, Coaching & One-on-One Meetings
- Twelve weeks of individualized coaching and mentorship from the gener8tor team during bi-weekly, one-on-one meetings. One-on-one meetings with 100+ connections including serial entrepreneurs, industry experts and investors.
- Exclusive Premiere Night
- Exclusive Premiere Night reception during which participating companies have the opportunity to pitch to an audience of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and community members.
What to expect from the Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator program
- Team Meetings feature individualized coaching and mentorship from the gener8tor team and Northwestern Mutual.
- Executive Mentor Chats are one-on-one meetings with your paired mentor from Northwestern Mutual. Each mentor is paired with one startup in the Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator for the duration of the 12-week program.
- Cohort Programming featuring topics relevant to startups including understanding market size, choosing a revenue model, and how to pitch investors.
- Mentor Swarms are speed-dating-style meetings with mentors including serial entrepreneurs, industry experts and investors.
- Investor Swarm is an opportunity for each company to pitch to 80+ angel investors, VCs and corporate funds locally and nationally.
- Cohort Meals are an opportunity to strengthen your relationship with founders from other startups while sharing and gaining knowledge that could be beneficial to you as a leader.
- Program Wrap-Up provides each cohort the opportunity to celebrate their program completion with one another and program partners. Participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback and complete mandatory exit surveys.
- Premiere Night is a celebratory reception during which participating companies have the opportunity to pitch to an audience of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and community members.
Who can apply?
- A company with respect to which: (i) one or more individuals with the title of “Founder”, “Co-Founder” or “CEO” identifies as Black or African American; (ii) at least twenty percent (20%) of the equity ownership interests are held by one more or more individuals who identify as Black or African American; and (iii) such individuals have a significant role in the decision-making process.
- They accept applications from startups across the United States. Relocation is encouraged but not required.
- Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator Powered by gener8tor accepts companies from napkin stage through post-revenue.
For more information, visit gener8tor.
