7 YEARS OF IMPACT
Supporting startups with high-growth potential
With love, from Startups Ignite.
Over the years we have cultivated amazing cohorts of founders and supporters dedicated to beating the startup odds. The pandemic put us on pause, but we're back - and we're kicking it up a notch.
From a passion project started in a community center in Virginia to becoming one of the region's most active accelerators, look how far we have come. It's all thanks to the power of community.
As a community, we connect through founders struggles, and we share in the dream of success.
Moving forward, we're calling on the community yet again. March with us in a single united purpose - removing current and future suffering from the human race.
With our inaugural impact accelerator we aim to be on the forefront of the world's most pressing challenges.
Together, let's make a dent in the world.
Amu Fowler, CEO & Founder
In Review
2015
Formation
Community is Born 17 events 885 attendees An explosive start. We build an dynamic community of technologists, startups, and mentors that grows organically. We host pitch competitions, trainings, workshops, webinars and get 885 attendees. Our community grows strong, and asks for a program. We think through a community driven incubator program.
2016
Incubation
Incubator is Born 26 startups in program 1625 attendees + 29 events The program supports 26 startups simultaneously, we partner with co-working spaces and give structured programming, space, and the community steps up to provide mentorship while on the community front we continue to host pitch competitions, trainings, workshops, webinars and get 1,625 attendees.
2017
Acceleration
Accelerator is Born 15 startups accelerated 1,269 attendees + 14 events On the community front we host startup launch parties, and launch the Startup Social a monthly event with pitches, mentor AMA, startup open mic every Thursday the events garner 1,269 attendees. On the incubator front we learn that supporting dozens of founders with an open application is really hard to manage logistically. We start to think about running cohorts of startups. We retire our Ignition Path program and launch our inaugural Accelerate24 90 day cohort with 15 startups.
2018
Momentum
Accelerator Expansion 20 startups accelerated, 31 pre-accelerator 1,322 attendees + 20 events We run two Accelerate24 cohorts supporting a new 20 startups while continuing to support the previous batch. We also launch an 14 day challenge for customer validation which supports 31 founders. On the community front we host startup launch parties, and launch the Startup Social a monthly event with pitches, mentor AMA, startup open mic every Thursday the events garner 1,322 attendees.
2019
Hybrid Growth
Virtual and Global Hybrid 18 startups accelerated Demo day We run two Accelerate24 cohorts supporting 18 new startups while continuing to support the previous batches. Our founder gets hit with a serious illness and has to take a break from running events. The "hit by a bus" factor has as side-effect of a forced look into scalable programming. On the community front we phase out events to only Demo Days. We trial digital hybrid and digital only cohorts opening up to selective global startups. Before we finalize a pivot crisis looms.
2020
& 21
Crisis Mode
Crisis Action Team Forms 100+ startups supported 18 weather the storm sessions We drop the accelerator programs and global expansion notions and double down on supporting both our graduate and extended community through weekly zoom get togethers. Our community of graduates and mentors step up and form a Crisis Action Team. We host weekly zoom calls to keep the community sane, connected, and informed through the first year of the pandemic.
2022
Virtualize
Open Innovation Accelerator 10 startups supported Product Team Develops An unique and reformative year for us. We continue to support all the previous batches of founders who are still at the grind, we can't really relaunch in person programming just yet. We launch and iterate an online accelerator platform, which supports a dozen founders. We do an mission audit, and decide on where we make an impact next. It takes us a little while but we get there. What the world needs is entrepreneurs who will help solve the biggest challenges humanity faces today. And we're poised to help. Last quarter of 2022 is hyper-focused on aligning stakeholders so together we can help founders make their biggest impact.
2023
Impact
Impact Accelerator is Born 32 startups accelerated
We've changed through the years, but diversity and inclusion has been an constant
26%
are black founders
16%
of founders are middle eastern
64%
of founders are minority
90%
of mentors are minority
34%
are woman founders
20%
of founders are asian
#Life Sciences #Enterprise #Cybersecurity #Citizen Tech #Gig Economy #Lifestyle #Logistics #sustainability
70 startups 88 mentors 5,101 attendees
The future looks brighter, thanks to entrepreneurs leading the way.
Raised 3.8 M
Spring 2019 Batch
#Pediatric Health
Pediametrix
assisting parents ofinfants with flathead syndrome
Dr. Fereshteh Aalamifar
CEO & Co-founder
Raised 3.8 M
Spring 2019 Batch#Pediatric Health
Created 100s of jobs
Winter 2017 Batch
#Social Impact
HerDomain
empowering women in the middle east
Qurutal-Ann Malik
Chairman & Co-founder
Created 100s of jobs
Winter 2017 Batch
#Social Impact
Helped 100s of asthmatics
Winter 2017 Batch
#Respiratory Health
DailyBreath
connecting a community of asthmatics
Eric Klos
CEO & Co-founder
Helped 100s of asthmatics
Winter 2017 Batch
#Respiratory Health
Raised 1M
Winter 2019 Batch
#AgriBioTech
Solmeyea
enabling industries to meet circular economy policy goals
Vasilis Stenos
CEO & Co-founder
Raised 1M
Winter 2019 Batch#AgriBioTech
Raised 1.5M
Spring 2018 Batch
#NeuroHealth
JuneBrain
empowering people with multiple sclerosis
Dr. Samantha Scott
CEO & Founder
Raised 1.5M
Spring 2018 Batch
#NeuroHealth
Pilots with Cities
2022 OIA Batch
#PublicSafety
Cocoon Technologies
humane solutions to improve public safety and policing
Dr. Leah C.K. Lewis, J.D.
CEO & Co-Founder
Pilots with Cities
2022 OIA Batch
#PublicSafety
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you all for making this journey possible.
Born of community, grown of community.
Program Leadership
Event Support
Mentorship
Lokesh Kumar • Callye Keen • Swathi Sambhani • Dawn Myers • Maria Valverde • Ameya Argekar • Saliha Ghaffar • Keith Fowler • Reika Madison • Kiran Yeddala • Aaron Enatsky • Shiva Thirumazhusai • Henrick De Gyor • Ganesh Tayi • Kevin Ringham • Demetrios Sapounas • Iris Sherman • Santhan Kumar • Maham Siraj • John Yu • David Beg • Fahima Kadhiri Beg • Will King • Sandy Vasan • Joshua Stacy • Jeremy Snyder • Ash Rofail • Hector Del Castillo • Brad Smith • Eugene Rosenfeld • Subodh Nayar • Jeremiah Tamagna-Darr • Mari Ganapathy • Michael Mort • Jonathan Altman • Tricia Ratliff • Robin Dvorak • Ray Piluso • Mike Olex • Larry Cynkins • Suresh Harikrishnan • Mike Ravenscroft • Olga Bukharina • Gisele Stolz • Mark McMahon • Carter McClure • Karen Kalantiz • Mo Kennedy • Wyatt Grantham • Mike Loving • Steve DuBois • Eric Klos • Stephen Gheysens • Fereshteh Aalamifar • Sudanshu Luthra • Brandon Howard • Chris Bennett • Vanessa Wagner