SoLo Funds: Black-Owned Fintech Startup Empowering Underserved Communities
Tampa Bay Wave is delighted to announce that the Nielsen Foundation, our longstanding sponsor, has made a renewed commitment to funding the TechDiversity Accelerator for the next three years. This accelerator program, which was established in 2018 with the support of the Nielsen Foundation, focuses on promoting diversity and inclusivity within the tech startup industry in Tampa Bay and beyond. The program spans 90 days and is designed to assist early-stage tech startups that are owned, controlled, and operated by underrepresented founders, ensuring that they have the necessary resources to achieve significant growth.
The Nielsen Foundation's continued support over multiple years will allow us to expand the program and provide assistance to diverse-led tech startups participating in the TechDiversity Accelerator cohorts of 2023, 2024, and 2025. The program is highly competitive, attracting hundreds of applications from across the United States and other countries. Previous TechDiversity participants have represented over 120 cities, spanning nearly all 50 states and 30 nations.
We express our sincere gratitude to the Nielsen Foundation for their generous support. We eagerly anticipate the positive impact that this multi-year commitment will have on driving social and economic change by championing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the entrepreneurial tech ecosystem. In recognition of our ongoing partnership with the Nielsen Foundation, we would like to acknowledge several successful TechDiversity startups that embody the program's mission. Let us join together in celebrating the accomplishments of these innovative founders who are revolutionizing their industries and solving real-world problems to create a better future for everyone.
LunaJoy (2022 TechDiversity Accelerator)
LunaJoy, a healthtech startup led by women, is revolutionizing women's healthcare by removing barriers and introducing disruptive solutions. Their digital care clinic offers in-network therapy, medication management, and coaching to support women throughout their lives. Co-founded by Sipra Laddha, MD, and Shama Rathi, who are psychiatrists, mothers, and innovative thinkers, LunaJoy addresses the lack of accessible and affordable mental health resources for mothers. Since its launch in 2021, the startup has joined the Y Combinator accelerator program, successfully completed an oversubscribed seed round, and is now preparing to raise funds for a Series A round.
Home Lending Pal (HLP)
Home Lending Pal (HLP), an AI-powered mortgage advisor, is committed to reducing bias in the home buying process for underrepresented individuals. CEO Bryan Young developed this platform with the goal of making homeownership accessible to everyone, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. To disrupt the mortgage industry, the fintech company partnered with tech giant IBM, which played a crucial role in their growth and technology stability, with a focus on data security. HLP was featured on Smart Talks with IBM, hosted by Malcolm Gladwell, where they discussed their use of blockchain technology to conceal social identifiers from lenders and bridge the homeownership gap, enabling systemic change. In 2022, HLP acquired Horizons, a tech startup, to streamline the home buying process further and enhance their customer-lender connections. Their AI and digital ledger technology received recognition on UNESCO's Global Top 100 list for projects contributing to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
SoLo Funds (2020 TechDiversity Accelerator)
SoLo Funds, the pioneer Black-owned fintech startup to achieve B Corp Certification, is dedicated to fostering a fair economy by providing opportunities for underserved communities. Their mobile and online lending platform introduces an innovative peer-to-peer lending model, offering microloans with terms determined by the borrowers themselves. Co-founded by Rodney Williams and Travis Holoway (recognized by Forbes on the Next 1000 list), SoLo Funds aims to empower underrepresented communities by offering financial solutions during emergencies and promoting financial literacy. In 2020, SoLo Funds was honored with the Startup of the Year award at the 8th Annual Startup of the Year Summit. Additionally, the FinTech company has partnered with Habitat for Humanity International and United Way, enabling users to donate a portion of their earnings to nonprofit organizations.
To learn more about TechDiversity Accelerator startups click here.
The Nielsen Foundation's continued support over multiple years will allow us to expand the program and provide assistance to diverse-led tech startups participating in the TechDiversity Accelerator cohorts of 2023, 2024, and 2025. The program is highly competitive, attracting hundreds of applications from across the United States and other countries. Previous TechDiversity participants have represented over 120 cities, spanning nearly all 50 states and 30 nations.
We express our sincere gratitude to the Nielsen Foundation for their generous support. We eagerly anticipate the positive impact that this multi-year commitment will have on driving social and economic change by championing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the entrepreneurial tech ecosystem. In recognition of our ongoing partnership with the Nielsen Foundation, we would like to acknowledge several successful TechDiversity startups that embody the program's mission. Let us join together in celebrating the accomplishments of these innovative founders who are revolutionizing their industries and solving real-world problems to create a better future for everyone.
LunaJoy (2022 TechDiversity Accelerator)
LunaJoy, a healthtech startup led by women, is revolutionizing women's healthcare by removing barriers and introducing disruptive solutions. Their digital care clinic offers in-network therapy, medication management, and coaching to support women throughout their lives. Co-founded by Sipra Laddha, MD, and Shama Rathi, who are psychiatrists, mothers, and innovative thinkers, LunaJoy addresses the lack of accessible and affordable mental health resources for mothers. Since its launch in 2021, the startup has joined the Y Combinator accelerator program, successfully completed an oversubscribed seed round, and is now preparing to raise funds for a Series A round.
Home Lending Pal (HLP)
Home Lending Pal (HLP), an AI-powered mortgage advisor, is committed to reducing bias in the home buying process for underrepresented individuals. CEO Bryan Young developed this platform with the goal of making homeownership accessible to everyone, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. To disrupt the mortgage industry, the fintech company partnered with tech giant IBM, which played a crucial role in their growth and technology stability, with a focus on data security. HLP was featured on Smart Talks with IBM, hosted by Malcolm Gladwell, where they discussed their use of blockchain technology to conceal social identifiers from lenders and bridge the homeownership gap, enabling systemic change. In 2022, HLP acquired Horizons, a tech startup, to streamline the home buying process further and enhance their customer-lender connections. Their AI and digital ledger technology received recognition on UNESCO's Global Top 100 list for projects contributing to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
SoLo Funds (2020 TechDiversity Accelerator)
SoLo Funds, the pioneer Black-owned fintech startup to achieve B Corp Certification, is dedicated to fostering a fair economy by providing opportunities for underserved communities. Their mobile and online lending platform introduces an innovative peer-to-peer lending model, offering microloans with terms determined by the borrowers themselves. Co-founded by Rodney Williams and Travis Holoway (recognized by Forbes on the Next 1000 list), SoLo Funds aims to empower underrepresented communities by offering financial solutions during emergencies and promoting financial literacy. In 2020, SoLo Funds was honored with the Startup of the Year award at the 8th Annual Startup of the Year Summit. Additionally, the FinTech company has partnered with Habitat for Humanity International and United Way, enabling users to donate a portion of their earnings to nonprofit organizations.
To learn more about TechDiversity Accelerator startups click here.
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