6+ things to know in #MiamiTech: News from Blackstone Launchpad, Strive305, Black Ambition, Togal AI, Picsart, Social Mobile and more – Refresh Miami

1

MDC, FIU and FIU obtain grants to establish Blackstone LaunchPad programs on their campuses

Miami Dade College, Florida International University, and Florida Atlantic University have each received grants from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation to establish the Blackstone LaunchPad program on their campuses. A total of five Florida universities, including Florida State University and Florida A&M in Tallahassee, have received funding as part of the Blackstone Foundation’s three-year, $5 million commitment to expand access in the Sunshine State to higher education institutions that have a predominantly underrepresented population or serve disadvantaged communities.

Miami Dade College has already begun using Blackstone LaunchPad resources to create a new satellite space for The Idea Center at MDC West Campus in Doral, which will open next spring. Blackstone LaunchPad also gives students access to competitions, funding, and mentorship to take their ideas to the development stage.

“Miami’s growing entrepreneurial and technology ecosystem calls for a transformational investment in local talent that will fuel this growth,” Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega said of the $500,000 grant the college received from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. “Miami Dade College has a long history of promoting entrepreneurship in this community through The Idea Center and this partnership with Blackstone LaunchPad will allow us to further expand our entrepreneurial skills development across the College.”

FLorida International University also received a $500,000 grant. Blackstone LaunchPad at FIU, will be hosted at FIU Business’ Pino Global Entrepreneurship Center, and will collaborate with FIU Business’ Florida Small Business Development Center, FIU StartUp Entrepreneurship Incubator, and Business Innovation & Technology Clinic under FIU Law, the College of Engineering and Computer Science and College of Communication, Architecture + Arts.

Blackstone LaunchPad at FIU will boost business coaching for FIU student entrepreneurs and create a new FIU student pitch competition linked to LaunchPad’s national pitch competition. William Hardin, Dean of FIU Business, said, “This grant will allow us to further our commitment to providing our students with the tools they need to assess new business opportunities and start new businesses.

2

Miami-Dade County launches Strive305, a virtual incubator

This week, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced the launch of Strive305, a free virtual small business incubator that is a collaboration between the county and Florida International University’s StartUP FIU regional partners, Micro Business Catalyst, BizHack and Femcity.

Strive305 will help some 70,000 small and micro businesses with educational resources, starting with four courses on topics ranging from marketing to learning QuickBooks software. A marketing master will be released in January in English, Spanish and Creole. The incubator will provide access to venture capital resources, training and technical assistance, and finding affordable workspace, among other areas.

“I affirm that we are the most creative and innovative place on the planet,” she said of Miami-Dade at a launch event at the county’s main library. “We’re going to have a full library of on-demand entrepreneurial resources on any device.”

For more information, contractors can visit the site here

3

Winners of the Black Ambition of the 305 and 954

When Black Ambition Founder Pharrell Williams and CEO Felecia Hatcher announced the winners of the 2022 Black Ambition competition, several South Florida founders were in the process of receiving prizes.

“Over the two years of Black Ambition, this will mark us at $6 million that we have invested in Black, Latinx and HBCU [entrepreneurs]“, said Hatcher.

The winner of Black Ambition’s $1 million grand prize was Philadelphia startup Pound Cake Cosmetics, a Black and Latinx-owned cosmetics company that is revolutionizing the way color is done for darker skin tones. Yet she wasn’t the only winner, as Black Ambition awarded more than $2.5 million in additional prizes — and South Florida businesses were among the winners.

The winning prizes worth $15,000 to $100,000 were these South Florida businesses:

• KAZMALEJE: Founded by LaToya Stippup and her two sisters, the company is on a mission to help customers have better wash days by designing innovative hair tools and accessories.
• JACQ’S Skincare: Founded by Barbara Jacques, Jacq’s is a vegan and sustainable skincare line created for women of color by women of color.
• Pressy: Founded by Erdina Francillonl Pressy is a booking platform for time-pressed people looking for help with small but special events.

Additionally, Black Ambition, in partnership with Billionaire Boys Club, recently hosted a contest showcasing Miami-area digital apparel companies. And the winners were:

• Thermaband, founded by mother-daughter duo Debbie Dickinson and Markea Dickinson-Frasier, received the grand prize of $10,000. it is a smart wearable accessory that provides cooling or warming temperatures for menopausal women.
• Brandon Chance, CEO of Loan My Sole, received a $7,000 prize. Loan My Sole is a rental community for sneakerheads built on the blockchain.
• Mya Wright, CEO of Myne Mane, received a $3,000 prize. It is wearable and streetwear with wearable technology for local urban youth cultures.