SYRACUSE, N.Y. — CenterState CEO on Monday introduced the Syracuse Surge Accelerator, a program that it says seeks to “address the lack of diversity in the technology industry.”
Specifically, the initiative seeks to empower Black-Indigenous-Persons of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs to launch and accelerate new or existing tech-related startups within the city of Syracuse.
“The Syracuse Surge Accelerator is an inclusive, dynamic tech program with the focused resources and tools BIPOC startup founders need to grow and thrive,” Dr. Emad Rahim, Syracuse Surge entrepreneurship manager at CenterState CEO, said. “We know there are significantly few tech startups with minority founders. Through this program we seek to drive change and create opportunities for those innovators to turn their ideas into businesses right here in Syracuse, New York.”
Today, fewer than 25 percent of tech startups in the United States have founders of color. Rahim explained the goal of the accelerator program is to “help remove the structural and cultural barriers that make it more difficult for a minority to enter the tech industry.”
Over the course of the 12-month experience, entrepreneurs will have access to the programming and resources at CenterState CEO’s Tech Garden.
The Syracuse Surge Accelerator will provide entrepreneurs with “culturally competent” programming as well as capital during the various stages of their development, “contributing to the city-wide Syracuse Surge initiative,” CenterState CEO said.
Applicants are encouraged to submit an electronic application by May 31 at https://fs4.formsite.com/2yTmtI/SurgeAccelerator/index.
CenterState CEO and the Syracuse Surge Accelerator program will select and announce qualified applicants in mid-June. The first cohort will begin the program in August.