J.P. Morgan and StartOut have announced the inclusion of nine new early-stage companies into the 2024 Growth Lab Accelerator program.
An organization focused on LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, StartOut works to accelerate “the growth of the LGBTQ+ community to drive its economic empowerment, building a world where every LGBTQ+ entrepreneur has equal access to lead, succeed and shape the workforce of the future.”
Since the Growth Lab began in 2016, 74 companies have participated and raised more than $892 million in funding, while creating more than 4,200 jobs.
J.P. Morgan has once again teamed up with StartOut for the Growth Lab, sponsoring the cohort and providing mentorship and guidance to members.
Over the course of five months, this program aims to provide LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs with access to extensive networking, mentorship, and educational opportunities, furnishing them with the tools and resources needed for growth and success.
Carbon Reform is a “climate technology company focused on democratizing access to carbon removal solutions, decreasing building energy costs and improving indoor air quality.” Started by Jo Norris and Nick Martin, the company was an early-stage startup when accepted into the Growth Lab in 2022. However, they had been involved with StartOut since 2020.
“It’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day details of running your own company,” said Norris. “Especially when you are pre-revenue, because it’s all about getting the product to where it needs to be so you can sell it. But being involved in Growth Lab was a peek into the future for us.”
For Martin, the lab helped him realize the empowering element of being a majority LGBTQ+-run company.
“Instead of making it an accessory, making it really like a superpower,” said Martin. “Because I truly believe that LGBTQ+ founders are some of the best, well-positioned entrepreneurs.”
Chris Witherspoon is a participant in this year’s cohort. His entertainment-focused company, Popviewers, is a “content discovery platform delivering next-level customer sentiment to studios, content creators, and brands.”
After a decade as an entertainment analyst for companies like CNN and MSNBC, he started Popviewers. Like Martin and Norris, he had been involved with StartOut before his inclusion in the lab. Witherspoon had been seeking mentorship opportunities and had seen successes from previous cohorts. Now working with other LGBTQ+ business owners, Witherspoon is learning from the challenges they all have faced.
“Each person has a story where we defied odds,” said Witherspoon. “So, to me, getting to be a part of that collective unity, learning from these other founders and building together – it’s a dream come true.”
Global Head of Lending Product for J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Anthony Coppola, is a StartOut Growth Lab mentor. For Coppola, being a mentor to the Growth Lab has been a profound experience. His mentee worked on a project making “the road less traveled” more accessible to the average traveler. The work was inspiring to Coppola.
“I was struck not just with the creativity of his idea (and the seamless execution), but his passion, drive and determination,” said Coppola. “It made me think about my own passions in work and in life and how they fuel me – and how I sometimes needed to exercise more courage in how I pursue those passions. I’m incredibly grateful to the StartOut Growth Lab and especially to my founder/mentee for the opportunity to be involved.”
The companies selected to join Cohort 13 are:
Ceemo.ai (Washington, D.C.): Generates custom visual identities and marketing materials for startups.
Gay Water (New York, NY): Offers mission-driven lifestyle products that celebrate and empower the LGBTQIA+ community.
Growbie (Boston, MA): Delivers career support for international students in the United States.
Hera Solutions, Inc. (Atlanta, GA): Supports delivery companies’ operations with performance tracking, automated coaching and vehicle management.
Merify (Portland, OR): Empowers people managers through a community-based skills assessment platform.
Modica (Louisville, KY): Offers a superfood cocktail and mocktail mix for consumers.
PopViewers (New York, NY): Provides media consumers a platform to react and engage with TV and movies.
Rare Candy (New York, NY): Enables card collectors to trade cards on a digital platform.
Studious (New York, NY): Helps individuals study through an AI-driven, gamified learning assistant.
Applications for the next cohort open in May. To apply, first create an account on Start Up and check the Growth Lab page for updates.
