WRAL Techwire: Triangle startups graduate from top accelerator for underrepresented founders

WRAL Techwire has recognized the work of our CEO, Dr. Shahar Keinan, who was just announced as a member of the 2020 cohort of the Silicon Valley startup accelerator, Founder Gym. Of her participation in the program, Keinan said, "“I am much more confident in my pitch.  Now, I’m part of a community of other founders who are also underrepresented in tech, share the same difficulties, and support each other.”

Also in her cohort was the CEO of another member of the American Underground in Durham, NC, All Elements founder Mutuk Karpakakunjaram. Both of the attendees were supported through a scholarship from Google for Startups, who also partners with American Underground to help their members hone their skills when it comes to fundraising, communication, and connection with other startups facing similar challenges.

FOUNDER GYM

Led by experts in Silicon Valley, Founder Gym is an accelerator program that teaches underrepresented founders how to raise money to scale their startups.

Participants are chosen through application or nomination and over six weeks are coached on pitch crafting, fundraising and teambuilding by venture capitalists and other experts.

Since its inception in 2017, more than 440 founders from over 20 countries have graduated from Founder Gym, having been featured in Forbes, WIRED, Essence, CNBC and on NPR.