Fiverr Expands Second Annual Future Collective Business Accelerator for Black Entrepreneurs, Announces New Cohort
January 26 2023 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
The company is partnering with 1863 Ventures on
programming for the fellowship and doubling the number of accepted
fellows for this year’s cohort.
Fiverr International Ltd. (NYSE: FVRR), the company that is
revolutionizing how the world works together, is announcing the
accepted members of its second annual Future Collective for
Black-Owned Businesses. The program, hosted in partnership with
1863 Ventures, an independent, Black-led nonprofit organization
that delivers business development programs designed to bridge the
gap between entrepreneurship and equality, aims to support Black
entrepreneurs looking to take their businesses to the next level.
Now in its second year, Fiverr is building upon the program’s
original mission, doubling the number of accepted fellows for this
year’s cohort and inviting them to join a lineage of participants
that are evolving their businesses through Future Collective grants
and community-driven programming.
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Fiverr is partnering with 1863 Ventures
on programming for the fellowship and doubling the number of
accepted fellows for this year’s cohort. (Graphic: Business
Wire)
While the number of Black-owned small businesses was 28% higher
in the third quarter of 2021 than it was pre-pandemic, there’s
still a long way to go: one Brookings Institution report estimates
that 800,000 more Black-owned employer firms are needed to reach
equity. Black founders are also denied financing more frequently
than any other racial group. Data from the Federal Reserve found
that roughly 80% of white companies receive a part of or entirety
of the funding they seek. Minority-owned businesses receive the
same result just 66% of the time.
“Launching the second iteration of Fiverr’s Future Collective
presents an exciting opportunity for Fiverr to build upon the
foundations it established in the program’s first year, and make
bigger strides toward supporting underrepresented and marginalized
entrepreneurs in pursuit of their business dreams,” said Micha
Kaufman, CEO of Fiverr. “While meaningful progress has been made
since we launched the program last year, there is still a lot more
work to do. We are thrilled to be expanding the program by
providing a new class of fellows with the tools to take their
businesses to the next level and foster a community of diverse,
talented entrepreneurs in the process.”
The ten businesses that have been selected as Fiverr’s 2023
class of Future Collective fellows are:
- Bailan - A purpose-driven food company that helps people
create delicious meals and live healthier with foods that capture
the rich flavors of Africa.
- Femigist - A purpose-driven feminine care brand that
provides plant-powered menstrual management and feminine wellness
products along with educational resources and supportive
community.
- Flora and Noor - A skincare brand designed for those
with melanin-rich skin and chronic skin conditions, offering halal
certified, sustainable products.
- Look Good Live Well - A beauty-focused wellness brand
offering clean, adaptogen-fueled products designed to heal and
hydrate stressed-out skin.
- PPGJ Books - A publishing house and social enterprise
that publishes, promotes, and distributes books that empower Black
children to find joy in reading.
- Tiny Docs - An education platform providing an
interactive experience designed to empower kids with
age-appropriate information about various health-related issues
without complex medical details and terminologies.
- Under Her Empire - A conscious, creative community and
production house on a mission to decentralize media and
entertainment by allowing consumers and brands to make socially
impactful investments in the creators they love.
- Unoma Haus - A PropTech company creating a more
sustainable and equitable future for housing and community building
through two main verticals: modular homes and van conversions.
- Vontelle - An eyewear brand offering better-fitting
vibrant, luxury frames in sizes that complement diverse faces;
handcrafted to empower humanity to see the world through a cultural
and global lens.
- Wasabi + Well - A wellness company founded to help Black
women feel seen, heard, and healed through therapy, community, and
courses.
Each of the 10 Future Collective fellows selected for this
year’s cohort will receive $24K in funding from Fiverr through a
combination of Fiverr credits and a cash grant, placement in an
accelerator program delivered by 1863 Ventures and regular
mentorship and guidance. The structure of the program will consist
of core curriculum sessions, assigned online materials, and
individual coaching. The fellows will also have access to a number
of other resources including personalized service recommendations
from Fiverr Customer Support Managers and fireside chats with
Fiverr executives.
“Black entrepreneurs have made significant strides in the last
two years. We must sustain momentum in the pursuit of economic
parity for Black-owned businesses,” said Melissa Bradley, Managing
Director of 1863 Ventures. “The Black-white wealth gap could cost
the economy $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion per year by 2028. Equity
by way of access to capital and sufficient business development
counsel is a restorative process. We’re excited to be teaming up
with Fiverr for a second year and double down on our efforts to
uplift talented Black founders by providing the resources,
programmatic support, and funding they need to grow and
thrive.”
You can learn more about the 2023 Future Collective cohort and
follow their journeys here.
About Fiverr
Fiverr’s mission is to revolutionize how the world works
together. We exist to democratize access to talent and to provide
talent with access to opportunities so anyone can grow their
business, brand, or dreams. From small businesses to Fortune 500,
over 4 million customers worldwide worked with freelance talent on
Fiverr in the past year, ensuring their workforces remain flexible,
adaptive, and agile. With Fiverr’s Talent Cloud, companies can
easily scale their teams from a talent pool of skilled
professionals from over 160 countries across more than 550
categories, ranging from programming to 3D design, digital
marketing to content creation, from video animation to
architecture. Don’t get left behind - come be a part of the future
of work by visiting fiverr.com, read our blog, and follow us on
Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
About 1863 Ventures
1863 Ventures is an independent, Black-led national business
development nonprofit and venture capital accelerator for New
Majority founders (i.e., individuals who have been historically
marginalized). The District of Columbia-based organization supports
over 3,000 entrepreneurs across the United States, leveraging
capital investments, owned-curricula, grant support, as well as
corporate & philanthropic partnerships to scale businesses from
high potential to high growth. Learn more at 1863ventures.net.
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Press Contacts Molly Nolan press@fiverr.com
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