we just launched apps for our next cohort 🎉
we’re investing a $125K SAFE for 7% in up to 12 underrepresented pre-seed founders to build with us in brooklyn from july to sept
visit for more details and to apply!
IT’S OFFICIAL: applications are now open for BK-XL , our new Brooklyn-based early-stage startup accelerator for BIPOC founders!
Selected founders will have the opportunity to receive up to $500K in investments.
Deadline to apply is 1/20.
Apply now:
We’re proud to announce our inaugural cohort of talented BIPOC founders! 🎉
Our diverse group includes startups in SaaS, user-generated content, Edtech, and more.
Read more about the new cohort here:
#BKXL
#BIPOCFounders
Through BK-XL, under-represented founders of early-stage startups who commit to building full-time in Brooklyn will receive investments of up to $500K, which includes an initial investment of $125K & the opportunity to receive an additional investment of $375K.
ICYMI: This week, we announced the launch of BK-XL, a new Brooklyn-based early-stage startup accelerator for BIPOC founders, created in partnership by Clara Wu Tsai &
@visiblehandsvc
.
Here’s a list of some of our press highlights on the upcoming accelerator:
🎉 Our first-ever BK-XL Demo Day was a success!
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Barclays Center yesterday to support our BK-XL founders as they showcased and pitched their different startups!
#BKXL
#BKXLDemoDay
TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO APPLY FOR
@BKXLAccelerator
!
💸 Up to $500K in investments
🏢 office space & programming in Brooklyn
👥 a tight-knit community of founders, investors, and mentors who want to see you succeed.
What are you waiting for?
Apply here
Our inaugural cohort is launching soon! Stay tuned to see the founders who were chosen to be a part of our first ever
#BKXL
accelerator program!
#founders
#Brooklyn
Register today for one of our upcoming Info Sessions for BK-XL.
Our first session is happening THIS WEEK on IG! Join our IG live with
@visiblehandsvc
on 12/15 at 1pm ET for everything you need to know before applying for our accelerator!
Interested in applying for the upcoming BK-XL accelerator? Read on to learn more about the newest program coming to Brooklyn for underrepresented founders, and why you should apply when applications open, NEXT MONDAY, on 12/5!
Last week, our team met up for our first international staff retreat in CDMX! 🎉
We spent the week brainstorming, co-working, and planning for all of the exciting programming we have in store for this year. ❤️
Do you know a phenomenal, early-stage BIPOC Founder who could use $500K to scale their business in BK? 🧐
Have them sign up for updates at and we will email them an application when apps open on 12/5!
Curious to know who we invest in? Read on to learn about the main points we're looking for as we select our first cohort of founders.
#bkxl
#Brooklyn
#founders
We’re hosting an info session next wk for any founders with questions about our program to ask our team and get responses from us live
Register through the link in our bio ✅
Let us know what you're currently building or what startup you would build through our programming below! And mark your calendars - applications open 12/5.
12 startups founded by BIPOC leaders will be selected for BK-XL’s inaugural 2023 cohort and receive up to $500K, which includes an initial investment of $125K and additional investments of up to $375K.
Learn more here:
One of the most common questions we get:
"Do I need to be from Brooklyn or NYC to apply?"
A: No. You can apply from anywhere. Your company must be US-registered. You need to physically be in Brooklyn to take part in the programming during the 10-week accelerator Apr-Jun.
🚨🚨🚨
Attention all early-stage underrepresented founders!
The deadline to apply for BK-XL's accelerator is tomorrow, May 3rd, at midnight.
Take advantage of this opportunity to propel your startup forward. APPLY NOW!
#BKXL
#Founders
#Accelerators
1/ We've been getting a lot of questions from founders about our program so we put together some FAQs to clarify things for founders considering applying ⬇️
ICYMI: Applications opened this week for our new BK-XL accelerator!
Thank you to
@nytimes
for highlighting this launch - we're excited to be one step closer to support early-stage, BIPOC founders building in Brooklyn.
Learn more and apply today at
Happy Friday! Here are some questions we are getting re:
@BKXLAccelerator
:
Q: What’s the status of my app?
We had more applications than expected (2,000+) 🙌🏽
We’ll finish reviews, interviews and selection in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned for rolling email updates…
Join
@socialjusticefd
&
@visiblehandsvc
next week for our
@BKXLAccelerator
Demo Day! 🎉
Come see what our 12 exceptional BIPOC-led companies have been working tirelessly on to bring their visions to life.
Join us on 6/12 at Barclays Center! 🖤💙🤍
“We do believe we’ll earn profit from this,” said Clara Wu Tsai, the Vice Chairman of BSE Global, which owns the Brooklyn Nets, Barclays Center, & New York Liberty. “It’s a for-profit endeavor. We want to prove the thesis that investing in BIPOC companies is good business.”
With BK-XL, our intention is to identify the most innovative BIPOC founders and provide them with the funding and network support they need to build scalable and sustainable businesses.
@visiblehandsvc
12 startups founded by BIPOC leaders will be selected for BK-XL’s inaugural 2023 cohort and receive up to $500K, which includes an initial investment of $125K and the opportunity to receive an additional investment of $375k.
besides capital, we make sure that all of our founders have access to industry leaders that can guide them as they build generational cos
apply to today!
Mark your calendars! 🗓️
Join us on 6/12 for our first-ever Demo Day, where our cohort of 12 exceptional founders will pitch their groundbreaking companies 🚀
If you're an investor, founder, or tech enthusiast in the NYC area, register here:
#BKXL
hosting an early-stage investor fair for founders this tues in nyc
college fair style: every 45 mins, 30 select founders enter the room & meet two dozen top vc's including
@2048vc
,
@AforeVC
,
@anthemis
,
@BessemerVP
,
@CowboyVC
, & more
info 👉
Q: When does the accelerator programming occur?
A: Selected companies will be notified by early March 2023 & the program is expected to begin in mid-April 2023 and run until late June 2023.
“It’s just a missed economic opportunity, that women and folks of color—they make up 70% of the U.S. population, but less than 10% of capital is going to them,” said
@dpong
, Visible Hands, Co-Founder, and General Partner.
REMINDER - applications for BK-XL open next Monday, 12/5!
This program provides early-stage, BIPOC founders the opportunity to work on their startups in Brooklyn while experiencing in-person programming, mentorship, investments up to $500K, & more.
@socialjusticefd
@visiblehandsvc
Applications for BK-XL will open on December 5, 2022, with a close date of January 20, 2023. Read more about the program in this recent Forbes feature:
Q: Who is eligible to apply?
A: Founders of early-stage startups whose racial identities are under-represented, & who commit to building their startup full-time in Brooklyn for the entirety of the program.
How are accelerators boosting Black tech founders? On Tues. 1/17 at 12pm EST, join
@BKXLAccelerator
Lead
@chrisbmartinez
& BE NYC for “The ABCs of Startup Accelerators in NYC”!
RSVP here:
With Clara and the
@socialjusticefd
’s support, BK-XL will put fuel on the fire of
@visiblehandsvc
’s efforts to identify and support BIPOC founders so they can transform their vision into businesses that will prosper and benefit the larger community, especially in Brooklyn.
Applications for BK-XL will open on 12/5, 2022, with a close date of 1/20/2023. Selected companies will be notified by early March 2023.
More information on the timeline and application process is available at .
Why join?
• FIVE $10K grants for attending founders
• Finessing as a black founder panel
• Food, drinks, & a live performance
You won’t want to miss this!
REMINDER: applications are open for
@BKXLAccelerator
, a new Brooklyn-based early-stage startup accelerator for BIPOC founders!
Selected founders will have the opportunity to receive up to $500K in investments.
The deadline to apply is 1/20/23.
#BKXL
Brooklyn is home to a vibrant entrepreneurial landscape and is the founding place and headquarters of some amazing startups. Read more about Brooklyn businesses!
Looking to build a startup of your own in Brooklyn? Mark your calendars - applications for the BK-XL open on 12/5.
@UnderdogDex
@DarrelFrater
We've been reviewing the applications as we get them and will continue to do so over the next few weeks. After each application is reviewed by multiple investors on our team, we use a scoring system and invite the top candidates for interviews before deciding.
@visiblehandsvc
Can't make it this week? Have no fear - we've got two more info sessions happening on zoom!
Register here for our 12/20 Info Session:
Register here for our 1/12 Info Session:
#bkxl
#founders
Only 2.4% of all U.S. venture capital raised from 2015-2020 was allocated to companies with Black/Latinx founders - while funding for Black startups nearly tripled from 2020-2021, in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, that funding is already nearly back down to pre-2020 levels.
@visiblehandsvc
In addition to receiving funding, founders will participate in a 10-week program in Brooklyn, with office space & ongoing mentorship from investors & operators at Blue Pool Capital, Visible Hands, BSE Global, the Brooklyn Nets, Barclays Center, & other partnering organizations.
Q: Why is it taking so long?
A: Each app is reviewed by 3 investors & we use a criteria to reduce bias—meaning there are about 6,000 reviews being conducted. We also look at variance between scores and have several hours of discussion every week to determine interview invites.
we’ve been so excited by the quality of apps that have poured in today that we’ve decided to extend our application deadline to:
EOD NEXT WEEK MONDAY 05/06
we hope this gives underrepresented founders more time to capitalize on this amazing oppty
Curious to know about the main people and organizations behind the creation of BK-XL ?
Read on to learn more about who created Brooklyn's newest early-stage startup accelerator program focused on BIPOC founders.
#bkxl
#founders
#accelerator
#Brooklyn
Selected founders will participate in a 10-week immersion program in Brooklyn, where they'll receive office space along with ongoing mentorship & support from investors and operators at Blue Pool Capital, VH, BSE Global, the
@BrooklynNets
,
@barclayscenter
, and other partners.
@RojaySuccessful
Thank you so much for applying! We appreciate you. We had thousands of people apply so it’s been extremely competitive decision making process that is ongoing.
6/ "...We focus on equipping these founders with the skills they need and helping their companies drive the growth they need to go on and raise seed funding post-program."
Time for a
#tbt
featuring VH Co-Founder & GP,
@dpong
!
Daniel recently met with Gregg Bishop, Executive Director of the Social Justice Fund, at the Barclays Center! VH & the Social Justice Fund have partnered together to create the BK-XL Accelerator
@CreativeListA
@socialjusticefd
Yes! However your company must be incorporated in the US and you must be able to work in BK for the duration of the program.
5/ Q: "How is BK-XL different than YC or other accelerators?"
A: "BK-XL is a small hands-on accelerator with programming tailored to each of the companies in the cohort. To ensure this, we accept no more than 12 companies..."
3/ Q: "Are the investment terms flexible?"
A: "Our investment terms are fixed and non-negotiable. We hope to be equitable. Every BK-XL company will be offered the same market terms on an as-is basis."
2/ Q: "Do I need to be based in Brooklyn?"
A: "We accept companies around the world. However, you need to be able to participate in person in Brooklyn for 10 weeks starting on July 3rd. Your company must also be either be registered or intend to register as a US C-corp."
Join us on June 12th at Demo Day.
Our BK-XL 2023 cohort will pitch their great companies!!
This event at the Barclays Center will feature the 12 companies in the cohort and a fireside chat with Clara Wu Tsai and Andy Weissman.
Register at
4/ Q: "How much traction do I need to apply?"
A: "Traction is not one-size-fits-all. Successful applicants will likely have: 1) a working product or demo, and 2) users/customers that demonstrate willingness to try and willingness to buy whenever the product is ready"