Twelve startups from across the country, including two in Durham and one in Raleigh, have been selected to participate in the Google for Entrepreneurs Black Founders Exchange program next month.

The conference, which is being hosted and supported by the American Underground, is intended to help black-led startups. Some 160 firms applied to participate.

Part of the Google for Entrepreneurs Exchange Series, the “Building and Funding the Best Black Led Startups” conference runs from Oct. 9-14 and will feature a variety of programs as well as participation by numerous venture capital investors.

WRAL TechWire reported about the AU-Google partnership last month.

“As Jesica Averhart [director of new business development for AU] and I considered what unique angle American Underground and Durham could offer, support for Black founders was at the top of the list,” AU’s top executive Adam Klein told WTW.

“From historical roots in Black Wall Street to American Underground’s commitment to build the most diverse startup hub in the world, this Exchange program made sense to be based here. We’re excited to continue positioning our community as the Startup Hub of the South and a destination for founders from many backgrounds.”

Participating companies

The three Triangle firms are: BlindedHR, RewardStock and RantRoom.

Here are brief profiles about the 12 participants as provided by Google and AU:

  • AM Money (Chicago): Providing cheaper financial services to underserved young adults (16-24) through alternative risk assessment. Sandbox (Austin): Allows retailers who are selling products online to build, deploy and maintain a mobile application that increases sales on iPhone and Android devices.
  • Bandwagon (Greenville, SC): A sports tech company that utilizes data to help fans optimize their game day experience while helping teams gain transparency into attendance.
  • BlindedHR (Raleigh): A platform that helps companies form a talented, creative and inclusive workforce from use of inclusive unbiased recruiting measures. BlindedHR seeks to eliminate human error in the early stages of the candidate review process.
  • CareAcademy (Boston, MA): In an $84 billion industry the US will need five million caregivers for older adults. CareAcademy fills the gap through online training.
  • Castar (Los Angeles): An app-based community for creatives, talent, artists and entrepreneurs to connect, collaborate, and find opportunities.
  • Ceek VR (Miami Beach): A platform for self generating, managing and distributing Virtual Reality experiences. CEEK enables anyone with digital assets, even those with no developer experience, to create and distribute VR.
  • InstaFund (New Orleans): InstaFunds focuses on the unbanked and underbanked population and works to help them in becoming financially organized and disciplined, while also increasing financial literacy.
  • Little Bird HR (NYC): The first HR software and employee benefits platform purpose-built for K-12 schools.
  • RantRoom (Durham): A social engagement platform which allows users to create public and/or private rooms based on specific topics.
  • RewardStock (Durham): Our free website creates plans for the best way to travel with frequent flier miles, credit card rewards and hotel points instead of cash.
  • SandBox Commerce (Austin): SandBox Commerce allows retailers who are selling products online to build, deploy and maintain a mobile application that increases sales on iPhone and Android devices.
  • TresseNoire (Philadelphia): The premiere beauty booking app for on-demand, on-location hair & makeup services for women of color.

Google and AU say investors representing Village Capital (Washington DC), Comcast Ventures (Philadelphia), Backstage Capital (West Hollywood, CA), SJF Ventures (Durham), FullTilt Capital (Raleigh), Investors Circle (Durham) are committed to attend.

Look for Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst to be among the mentors.

Program details

The participating startup executives will receive mentor, advice about approaching investors, the vetting process, and more.

Also to be offered is what the hosts call “training … around overcoming racial bias in the fundraising process.”

The conference will conclude with a “pitch” event where the entrepreneurs will try out what they have learned.

“The funding gap for diverse founding teams is one of today’s most pressing issues in tech and business,” Klein says. “We’re honored to host world-class entrepreneurs, investors and corporate leaders in Durham to address that need head-on, and are thankful to Google for Entrepreneurs for their partnership and shared vision.”