Nex Cubed, an early-stage innovation and startup accelerator, has announced the founders (and companies) selected to participate in the inaugural HBCU Founder’s Summer Acceleration Program taking place virtually this summer and a lot of Black fraternity and sorority member led companies made the list.

The founders invited to the Summer Acceleration Program will receive $10,000 in non-dilutive capital, technical resources to develop an MVP, physical working space in Silicon Valley, a business advisor, and over $1M worth of service provider perks and discounts to help propel their companies.

Here are the members of our Black fraternity and sorority community who have been accepted into the acceleration program

Candice Blacknall (Delta Sigma Theta)

Candice Blacknall is a Spring 2012 initiate of the Omicron Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her company GABA matches medical trainees to study tools and support services featured in the GABA marketplace based on their learning style. Their dynamic community allows students to connect with other students with similar academic goals and learning styles and they negotiate group discounts on study tools on behalf of their membership ranging from 40-60%. Through strategic partnership, they offer group and text-based emotional resilience coaching through training.

Jovante Ham(Kappa Alpha Psi) and Darsha Carter-Ham(Delta Sigma Theta)

Jovante Ham, is a Spring 2016 initiate of the Zeta Beta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and Darsha Carter-Ham, is a Fall 2015 initiate of the Eta Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Their company has created Mel x Studio, a hybrid eLearning software that provides education in a simple, easily digestible, step by step format for new online business owners. Mel x Studio leverages artificial intelligence and gamification to ensure each business owner is not a part of the gaping 90% failure rate within their first four months of business.

Gerard Charlot (Alpha Phi Alpha) and Trevor Alexander (Alpha Phi Alpha)

Gerard Charlot is a 1993 initiate of the Rho Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Trevor Alexander isn a 2014 initiate of the Nut Theta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. Their company Diversity Health Networx is platform that increases clinical trials participation by addressing health disparities. It uses blockchain technology to log interactions between pharma and biotechs with end users in a transparent way and leverages technology to reduce friction in clinical trial costs due to waste, fraud and abuse.

Leslie Winston III (Alpha Phi Alpha)

Leslie Winston III is a Spring 2019 initiate of the Beta Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. His company Monocle makes a collaborative e-reader. Designed to enable connection while reading, Monocle provides the tools for groups and individuals to share annotations on their favorite books.

We at Watch The Yard would like to congratulate these brothers and sisters for their achievements. It will be great to see how their companies grow.

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