Future Founders Announces 2019 Alumni Accelerator

February 12, 2019

Future Founders, a non-profit organization that believes every youth can become an entrepreneur, announced the 30 entrepreneurs who are part of the 2019 Future Founders National Fellowship Alumni Accelerator.

The Alumni Accelerator is a program designed to engage those Fellowship alumni who have demonstrated significant traction as founders and have taken intentional steps to work on their businesses full-time. Participating founders benefit from a national peer community of millennial founders, mentoring by our Entrepreneurs in Residence, entrepreneurship retreats, and volunteer opportunities through Future Founders programs. Select founders from the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Fellowship cohorts were invited to participate in this prestigious program.

“Through the Alumni Accelerator, Future Founders continues to support our most promising founders, giving them additional runway to grow sustainable companies,” said Scott Issen, President & CEO, Future Founders. “The program will build on the success from our first four cohorts that generated over $17.7 million in revenue, secured $12.4 million in capital and created 317 jobs.”

This Alumni Accelerator is generously supported by Motorola Solutions Foundation (organizational founding sponsor), Capital One, The Coleman Foundation, The John E. & Jeanne T. Hughes Foundation, Keywell Foundation, EY, and Jack and Goldie Wolfe Miller Fund.

The 30 entrepreneurs represent 13 states and one district, operating in industries ranging from agriculture and energy to consumer products and tech.

Murtaza Bambot, CareerBlitz, GA
CareerBlitz builds artificial intelligence to match job seekers to employers.
2018 Fellowship

Sheldon Barrett, Cocovana, FL
Cocovana is a tropical lifestyle company currently focused on creating innovative tools for opening coconuts.
2016 Fellowship

Mike Black, Told Media, TX
Told Media is a software development agency that focuses on building digital products for well-funded startups.
2017 Fellowship

Ryan Deitrich, Abandon Comfort, NJ
Abandon Comfort is a vlog about how minimalism has afforded Ryan and his girlfriend the chance to travel the world – by sailboat.
2017 Fellowship

Chase Dittmer, Apex Officer, NV
Apex Officer builds turnkey virtual reality training technology for the military, law enforcement, and first responders.
2018 Fellowship

Josh Doering, Seed Slide (Acquired), IA
Seed Slide is a remote seed box opener that adds safety and convenience into farming operations by replacing the need to climb on top of wagons with the push of a button.
2016 Fellowship

Brandon Frisch, Evrpresent, IL
Evrpresent is a video-based communication skills training app that curates custom audience experiences which bring public intensity to private training, deepening learning.
2016 Fellowship

Brendon Geils, DC
2017 Fellowship

Andrew Glantz, GiftAMeal, MO
GiftAMeal turns those photos into food. Users simply take a photo at a participating restaurant, and GiftAMeal helps provide a meal to someone in need through a local food pantry.
2016 Fellowship

Carson Goodale, FanFood, IL
FanFood is an in-stadium mobile ordering app that allows fans to get concessions delivered directly to their seats.
2018 Fellowship

Chris Heckman, Maverace, PA
Maverace is a full-service digital marketing agency specializing in E-commerce sales, lead generation, and brand strategy.
2018 Fellowship

Isaac Hetzroni, Imprint Genius, FL
Imprint Genius creates unique promotional items with high ROIs for corporate and organizational marketing needs.
2017 Fellowship

Adam Hoffman, CheckTheQ, MO
CheckTheQ delivers real-time alerts on security line length so airports and facilities can improve operations and reduce average wait times.
2018 Fellowship

Vinesh Kannan, Omnipointment (Acquired), IL
Omnipointment equips students and teachers with collaboration tools and analytics to make group work more rewarding.
2017 Fellowship

Hannah King, Woven Futures, FL
Woven Futures preserves culture and combats poverty through artisan-crafted fashion. They source global goods to create jobs and share culture with the world.
2018 Fellowship

Nika Koda, Hermit, IL
Hermit is a platform that connects people who want customized art to artists with the right skill set to make it.
2016 Fellowship

Jason Lees, Clarifii, MI
Clarifii is a unique water repellent designed for safe use on camera housings to ensure water spots don’t ruin footage while filming in wet conditions.
2017 Fellowship

Daniel Natsagdorj, Laugh and Learn Child Development Center, GA
Laugh and Learn Child Development Center is dedicated to creating an environment which values the uniqueness of each child and encourages the development of socialization skills, independence, and positive self-image.
2017 Fellowship

Swarnav Pujari, ToughLight Innovations, CA
TouchLight develops renewable energy technologies to help utilities and commercial properties attain their 100% renewable energy goals.
2017 Fellowship

Christopher Roche, RecruitChute, WI
RecruitChute is an online social platform that connects aspiring youth athletes with college coaches and recruiters.
2018 Fellowship

Matthew Rooda, SwineTech, IA
SwineTech provides farmers with the technologies necessary to reduce piglet deaths due to disease, starvation, and from their moms laying on and crushing them.
2017 Fellowship

Katarina Samardzija, Locker Lifestyle, MI
Locker Lifestyle™ has three products providing small storage to safely stash small valuables such as cash, keys, an ID, phone, and more. The Wrist Locker, Little Locker and Head Locker provide protection and convenience.
2018 Fellowship

Omeed Shams, Kwest, TX
Kwest is an augmented reality gaming platform, enhancing the world around us through choose your-own-adventure style experiences.
2018 Fellowship

Danya Sherman, KnoNap, DC
KnoNap, the napkin that knows, is a discreet, disposable device that detects selected dangerous chemicals within a beverage.
2018 Fellowship

Mikayla Sullivan, KinoSol SBC, IA
KinoSol is on a mission to end global food waste. Its first product, a solar-powered food dehydrator, is helping families in 40+ countries.
2018 Fellowship

Stephen Tinney, Creative Home Maintenance, IL
Creative Home Maintenance finds creative solutions for commercial and residential maintenance needs.
2016 Fellowship

Tyler Turk, Crated with Love, CA
Crated with Love is a subscription box for couples that offers date nights and activities to better strengthen their relationships.
2016 Fellowship

Shannon Varcoe, ZYX Sticks, PA
ZYX Sticks is an open-ended, gender neutral, building toy that promotes creativity and hands-on play for kids and adults through planning and collaboration without instructions.
2017 Fellowship

Ben Weiss, Zcruit (Acquired), IL
Zcruit is the place college coaches go to find recruits and to access trusted and comprehensive recruiting information.
2017 Fellowship

Jackie Wu, Corvus Robotics, IL
Corvus Robotics provides an advanced inventory and inspection solution for warehouse and manufacturing facilities.
2016 Fellowship