SYRACUSE — The first five startups in CenterState CEO’s yearlong Syracuse Surge Accelerator have finished their work in the program. The inaugural group of startups involved Clutch Delivery, Certainty Analytical Labs, HippoH Apparel, Sign-Speak, and Talkadot. A recognition event held Aug. 7 at Le Moyne College included presentations by Surge Accelerator team founders, a keynote […]
SYRACUSE — The first five startups in CenterState CEO’s yearlong Syracuse Surge Accelerator have finished their work in the program. The inaugural group of startups involved Clutch Delivery, Certainty Analytical Labs, HippoH Apparel, Sign-Speak, and Talkadot. A recognition event held Aug. 7 at Le Moyne College included presentations by Surge Accelerator team founders, a keynote address, and the chance to network with the teams, CenterState CEO said. “We are so lucky to be a part of these five incredible companies’ journeys. Over the course of the year, they have all been able to advance their businesses, bringing their innovative ideas to life,” Emad Rahim, Syracuse Surge Accelerator program manager, said in the announcement. “The perspectives and experiences shared by these five founders will continue to shape CenterState CEO programming as we seek to continually build a more inclusive economy.” Syracuse Surge is described as an “inclusive community plan to ignite economic growth and neighborhood transformation in the city of Syracuse and the Central New York region. It builds on a massive investment in technology infrastructure to drive new strategic investment,” per the CenterState CEO announcement. The program provides Black-Indigenous-Persons of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs who want to launch and accelerate tech-related and tech-adjacent startups with supports needed to grow a successful business. The companies had access to free workspace at the Syracuse Tech Garden, extensive programming, executive advisors, and marketing and fundraising support. Each startup also received financial support — such as ignition grants and monthly stipends — totaling more than $50,000. “The Syracuse Surge Accelerator played a pivotal role in helping me overcome a significant challenge I was facing before joining the program,” Yami Payano, co-founder of Sign-Speak, said in the announcement. “One of the main issues I encountered was effectively scaling my sales operations. Through the accelerator, I gained access to experienced mentors and industry experts who provided invaluable insights and strategies tailored to my specific needs. Additionally, the collaborative environment fostered by the program allowed me to exchange ideas and receive feedback from fellow entrepreneurs, which further refined my approach.” Funding for the Syracuse Surge Accelerator was provided, in part, by JPMorgan Chase Foundation and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). “This program was created in response to a critical gap in the innovation ecosystem. Fewer than 25% of tech startups in the United States have founders of color, which is fueled by structural and cultural barriers,” Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO. “The Syracuse Surge Accelerator gives BIPOC entrepreneurs direct access to resources and expertise, and with this support, each founder advanced their business and gained skills they’ll use to continue their success. I can’t wait to see all that they accomplish in the future.” The Syracuse Surge Accelerator has not yet started accepting applications for the next cohort. Those interested in applying should complete the interest form and will be notified when the application period opens. The link to the interest form is: https://fs4.formsite.com/2yTmtI/SurgeAccel/index.