Cincinnati’s Hillman Accelerator Begins Second Group Program For Underrepresented Startups

Hillman Accelerator, which helps support women and people of color in tech, is beginning its second cohort Monday. Though the startups were not announced by name, there are four of them that will be given a combined $100,000 in initial funding, according to a report from American Inno. The accelerator program that runs through October will provide mentorship and give the chance for the emerging companies to establish connections. The chosen startups will also be able to take advantage of Hillman’s network throughout Ohio and the Midwest and the proven track record of getting companies off the ground like SoLo, a mobile-based funds startup; Ilearsoft software company; and Warmilu, which provide non-electric heat packs. Those companies have now secured some $3 million in funding since taking part in the first cohort. Hillman’s thought leaders also promise business implementation strategy as part of the three-month-long accelerator program that it is calling cohort two. “It’s not hard to find great companies founded by underserved individuals. The hard part is narrowing down an overly qualified pool to a few select teams,” said Hillman Executive Director Candice Matthews in a written statement. “Hillman is excited to kick-off Cohort Two with four venture-backable companies created by brilliant teams.” Hillman was created to bridge the wide gap of opportunity that women and people of color usually aren’t granted when they come into the industry. According to the accelerator’s own numbers, such founders are given just two percent of all venture capital in the startup scene. “Hillman was derived because within the state of Ohio or throughout the United States, there’s a need for diverse talent and there’s a need for diverse individuals within the world of tech,” former NFL star and current Hillman leader Dhani Jones told Tech Ohio a few months ago.