Demo Day Cheers for 2023 Elevate Equity Cohort

D. Sangeeta, Elle Baker, Basset Smith, Leah Lewis, Denisha Porter

Four Cincinnati social ventures completed their Elevate Equity Program April 18th with Demo Day at MadTree Brewing in Oakley. All four businesses were led by underrepresented founders. The startups were established to address some form of systemic race or gender bias while succeeding as profitable, thriving businesses.

Almost 200 investors, and supporters attended Demo Day. Guests also had to the opportunity to contribute data to a study about how pitches are perceived, being conducted by a researcher Jonathan Predom from Clemson University.

Spectrum News Ohio covered Demo Day as a part of a feature story they are doing on Flywheel and social enterprises. We will share the story when it becomes available.

The event started with networking. Flywheel’s host and longtime partner, MadTree Brewing, welcomed the crowd to their beautiful space followed by reflections from our Elevate Equity sponsor, Ernst & Young (EY), represented by Ki-Afi Ra Moya, and from Roddell McCullough representing sponsor First Financial Bank.

Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney gave a keynote address. She spoke of her own journey of entrepreneurship and the city’s commitment to supporting emerging startups with missions for social good.

Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney

Pitching began with Dr. Leah Lewis with Cocoon Technologies, developing a technology solution to improve safety for police officers and motorist during routine traffic stops. Dr. D. Sangeeta with Gotara shared her education and mentoring platform to close the gender gap for women in STEM+ careers. She is already profitable with over $1M in sales. The Empower Group with co-founders Basset Smith and Elle Baker shared their system for helping businesses successfully hire and retain fair chance workers. With a penchant for creating coalitions that work, Denisha Porter with All-In Cincinnati announced she was expanding her racial equity work to other communities and cities.

Each founders had over 36 hours of mentorship from our volunteer coaches who dedicated the previous eight weeks to helping our founders make progress and connections.

We are grateful for all of our sponsors and supporters including City of Cincinnati, The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, MadTree Brewing, Queen City Angels and Black Achievers. We also receive support from our Philanthropreneurs® individual donors who make it possible for Flywheel to make a founder friendly investment in our companies.

If you are interested in learning more, or perhaps have talent, connections, or capital to offer any of our founders, you can google their websites or contact me and I’ll make the connection. Enjoy our short video below.