Pitch Night event marks the culmination of a
six-month intensive entrepreneurial development cohort of 10 Black,
Latinx, Asian and Pacific Islander education leaders
CHICAGO, July 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Surge Institute, a
trailblazing organization that empowers leaders of color in
education, recently awarded $100,000
in funding through its Surge Angels program to three early-stage
ventures run by Black, Latinx, Asian and Pacific Islander education
leaders. The awards were determined and announced on Friday, June 28, in Chicago during a special Pitch Night event,
culminating in the intensive six-month Surge Angels entrepreneurial
development program.
This year's event celebrated the hard work, dedication and
visions of 10 Surge Institute Alumni, culminating in a grand
showcase where three founders were honored with substantial prize
money. The event started with an introduction from Tiara Wheatley, Surge Institute's Vice President
of Alumni Impact. Chief External Affairs Officer Will Collins welcomed guests, founders and
investors who were there in person and watching via livestream.
The Surge Angels program is designed to support the
entrepreneurial aspirations of Surge Alumni, providing them with
the resources, mentorship and capital necessary to bring their
innovative ideas to life. Participants received intensive training
in business fundamentals, strategic planning, financial management
and marketing, preparing them to secure funding and incubate their
innovative entrepreneurial ventures grounded in service to their
communities. Additionally, each participant was paired with an
executive coach experienced in entrepreneurship, ensuring tailored
guidance and support.
The program culminates in Pitch Night, where each participant
can present their venture plans to Angel investors in hopes of
securing funding. On June 28, after
considering pitches from the 10 founders in this year's Surge
Angels cohort, the panel of Angel investors funded the growth and
development of the top three ventures.
Overall Placement:
- 1st Place, with an award of $50,000: Marcus
Wilson (DC22), Founder & CEO of The Village
Network
- 2nd Place, with an award of $30,000: Cescily
Phillips (KC20), Founder & Executive Director of
Inspired Aesthetics
- 3rd Place, with an award of $20,000: Naomi Fierro Peña (OAK22),
Founder & CEO of That Art
Party
The Village Network, based in Washington, D.C., is a collection of
programming initiatives supporting youth and educational leaders'
diverse needs and interests. The organization believes in the
inherent power of community and seeks to empower its communities
through relationship, resource and capacity building. Wilson said
he was overcome with emotion when he heard his name called and
added that he must pour into Black and Brown youth the way people
poured into him.
"I've been so fortunate throughout my life to be surrounded by
genuine love, whether it's family, friends, teachers, mentors or
co-workers," said Wilson, who went full-time with his venture in
May. "The Surge Angels fellowship has allowed me to think about a
business plan, a budget, marketing—all of these different things
that will help not only the programming aspect but the
administrative side of running an organization."
Inspired Aesthetics envisions a community where
young Black and Brown people who want to learn more about art,
cooking or engineering have places within reach to do so—and can
learn from people who look like them.
That Art
Party combines Fierro Peña's love of art and play
with her professional skills to curate artistic experiences for
BIPOC adults to nourish their inner child and play as a tool for
liberation.
Other ventures in this cohort included youth wellness solutions,
a residential fellowship for Black high school students
experiencing homelessness, a youth STEM education program and a
program that increases the visibility of Black girls excelling in
math.
"This year's cohort of founders represents the brilliance that
is our growing and dynamic Surge Alumni Community," said Wheatley,
also a 2020 Surge Chicago alumna herself. "These leaders are
transforming lives, communities and schools for students
nationwide. We are extremely proud of all of our founders and the
work they've done to chase and accomplish their Freedom
Dreams."
The Surge Angels funding prizes will give the winning founders
the capital needed to move their ventures toward more impactful
implementation or growth. Surge Institute believes that by
investing in these leaders, is not only supporting individual
entrepreneurial journeys but also contributing to a broader
movement of educational equity and excellence.
"Surge was always designed to support and elevate brilliant and
bold leaders with big dreams to transform education," said Surge
Institute Founder and CEO Carmita
Semaan. "The Surge Angels program is our opportunity and
honor to continue that work with our alumni and invest directly
into their visions. I am so inspired by what all 10 of these
founders presented, and I am confident they will all take their
work to the next level."
About Surge Institute
Surge Institute is a
national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was established with
a simple but important mission: To develop and elevate leaders of
color who create transformative change for children, families and
communities. Founded by Carmita Semaan in 2014, the organization
was designed to empower emerging diverse leaders to change the
landscape of education by providing them with a unique, authentic
leadership development experience.
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SOURCE Surge Institute