The American Underground names a new leader for its partnership efforts and also plans to seek additional partner opportunities.

Aisha Lewis, who came in contact with the AU through her work at Code2040 in San Francisco, will join the AU on March 20. The Underground has worked with Code2040 to host an entrepreneur-in-residence program since 2015.

“While at Code2040, I was exposed to Durham through the American Underground,” Lewis said in a statement. “As I started working more closely with the team, I found there was an opportunity for me to support this region in the entrepreneurial, corporate, policy and community spaces and help its brilliant companies reach new heights.”

Lewis succeeds Jes Averhart, who left in January to join Leadership Triangle.

The AU already has partnerships with Google for Entrepreneurs, Duke University, Coastal Federal, Lincoln Financial, Research Triangle Foundation and Fidelity Labs.

“She will also be responsible for identifying and pursuing new partnership opportunities designed to support the more than 275 startup companies in the American Underground,” the AU noted.


Bio: Aisha Lewis

Aisha Lewis comes to the American Underground after working most recently on the Residency Program at Code2040 in San Francisco. Prior to that, Aisha worked at LivelyHoods, a startup in Nairobi, Kenya that creates sales jobs for youth in developing urban markets. She also worked for Isidore Electronics Recycling, a Los Angeles based company that provides highly skilled work for previously incarcerated people with an emphasis on environmental responsibility. Aisha earned her degree from the University of Southern California where she graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration.

Source: AU


“From LA to Africa to Silicon Valley, Aisha has worked all corners of the entrepreneurial landscape,” said Adam Klein, the Underground’s chief strategist. “As the American Underground continues to grow at a fast pace, Aisha’s experience and connections will prove invaluable to our teams and the ecosystem the entire nation recognizes we’re building in the Triangle.”