Future Founders, a nonprofit organization building the nation’s largest inclusive community of intentional young entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial-minded leaders, today announced the 23 entrepreneurs who were selected to participate in its 2023 National Fellowship program.
The Fellowship, now in its ninth year, is a prestigious year-long cohort designed to accelerate the nation’s top young entrepreneurs and their businesses. The goal of the program is to develop both the founders and their startups, giving them the greatest foundation for future success. Fellows benefit from mentoring, skill development, entrepreneurship retreats, a peer community, and volunteer opportunities through Future Founders programs.
“The 23 founders joining the Fellowship this year comprise the largest and most diverse group of entrepreneurs to join our community yet,” said Scott Issen, President & CEO, Future Founders. “Today, they take their places among the ranks of our Fellows who are already creating positive change around the world, having generated over $325 million in revenue, raised $250 million in capital, and created more than 1,700 jobs through their paradigm-shifting businesses.”
“This group of Fellows is a testament to the transformative power of entrepreneurship,” said Tina Hrabak, Senior Director of Startups, Future Founders. “Some of our new founders took a chance on their dream during the early days of COVID-19 and are now navigating the growing pains of scaling a business in a post-lockdown world. Others are working intentionally to build coalitions and connect people with resources to address some of society’s most critical challenges. I can’t wait to get to work with these extraordinary entrepreneurs!”
By nearly every metric, the 2023 Fellows represent our most diverse group of founders and businesses to date. They hail from a vast array of industries—among them beauty and cosmetics, music technology, food science, and healthcare innovation, to name only a few—and bring with them a wide variety of lived experiences and perspectives on entrepreneurship. At Future Founders, we believe that this kind of diversity makes for the richest learning opportunities, and will ultimately lead us to a better future. We are thrilled to see how our newest Fellows grow and advance that mission.
The Fellowship is generously supported by Blackstone Charitable Foundation, Keywell Foundation, The Coleman Foundation, and The John E. & Jeanne T. Hughes Foundation. Acceptance into the Fellowship followed a highly competitive nationwide application and interview process.
Gia Biaggi, Magnolia Project – CA
Magnolia Project is redefining the middle and high school experience through student-centered career technical education programs.
Sam Chason, Storage Scholars – TX
Storage Scholars provides storage, moving, and shipping services on college campuses across the country.
Johnny Crowder, Cope Notes – FL
Cope Notes delivers daily mental health support via text message.
Hennesys Disla, ArmHug – NY
ArmHug is an e-commerce medical kit company that provides kits for home healthcare professionals.
Rachel Domb, Rooted Living – MA
Rooted Living is an eco-friendly, plant-based snack company that uses no refined ingredients and compostable packaging instead of single-use plastic.
Anj Fayemi, Rivet – IL
Rivet is an AI-driven platform that uses machine learning to help creators find and understand their high-potential fans and provides creators with actions and automations to unlock more revenue from them.
Shannen Garza Hakim, Womxn on the Moon – TX
Womxn on the Moon is an LGBTQ+ Afro-Latina-owned jewelry brand that focuses on handmade resin jewelry designs and engraved adornments.
Ian Grant II, WaySlay – FL
WaySlay is an on-demand delivery app for Black hair care and cosmetics, delivering beauty supplies in as little as 20 minutes.
Kyle Guinness, Revitalize Energy – PA
Revitalize Energy produces energizing eye drops to alleviate eye fatigue from digital devices.
Ernest Holmes, CodeHouse – GA
CodeHouse is a nonprofit focused on exposing students of color to the tech industry.
Courtney Howard, Love Your Scalp – AL
Love Your Scalp is a scalp care company that produces plant-based scalp care products to soothe itchy, dry, and flaky scalps.
Chukwudi Kanu, HumbleBrag – TX
Humblebrag is a relationship engagement tool that turns a founder’s private network into the ultimate resource for their company.
Joe Knopp, We Are The Ripple (WATR) – OH
We Are the Ripple (WATR) is educating the next generation of social entrepreneurs while solving the water crisis.
Henry Matus, Pizza Politano – MO
Pizza Politano provides the most authentic Neapolitan pizza experience by using imported, Italian ingredients and traditional cooking methods that include a 900-degree pizza oven.
Nicholas Nastasi, 4U Medical Designs – NJ
4U Medical Designs has a mission to reduce anxiety and fear for pediatric patients by brightening up their experience with our medical device stickers.
Elliott Notrica, Symbio Bioculinary – MO
Symbio helps companies reduce food waste through innovative fermentation.
Christine Osakwe, Coco Cabana Events – TX
Coco Cabana is a one-stop shop for all things events. They plan, design, decorate, and coordinate events as small as birthdays and as large as weddings.
Hayoung Park, HYP – NY
HYP is the social auction house for exclusive releases in fashion, art, vehicles, and more.
Precious Price, LANDRIFT – GA
LANDRIFT is an edtech platform on a mission to help homeowners of color increase their financial flexibility through leveraging their excess land.
Carly Simenauer, Strapt – GA
Strapt is expanding access to personal care through automated, data-driven product sampling.
Kenya Staples, Dear Sunday Skincare – AL
Dear Sunday Skincare creates a self care experience through skin treatment and nourishment.
Kayla Wooley, StaffonTap – CT
StaffOnTap connects understaffed nursing homes and temporary nurses.
Yehong Zhu, Zette – CA
Zette gives readers pay-per-article access to paywalled publications, all while sharing revenue with newsrooms.
For media and sponsorship inquiries, contact Scott Issen at scott@futurefounders.com.
To learn more about the Future Founders Fellowship, sign up for email updates or contact Nick Barba at nick@futurefounders.com.
To learn more about our newest Fellows, as well as program alumni, check out our Founder Directory.
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