Ten Tech Startups Complete 2025 Pre-Accelerator Program

In a move that underscores the growing demand for culturally grounded innovation, ten tech startups have successfully completed the 2025 GROWTH pre-accelerator program. Selected from a competitive pool of applicants across the United States, these startups are focused on sectors such as media, SaaS, fintech, and entertainment, demonstrating the diverse potential of technology-driven solutions.

Program Overview and Objectives

The GROWTH pre-accelerator program is designed to support overlooked and underestimated founders with a comprehensive approach that combines mentorship, training, and grant funding. Industry experts and operators lead the program, offering valuable insights and guidance to help early-stage founders bring their innovative ideas to fruition. This cohort, described as outstanding, has shown a remarkable ability to blend creativity with practicality in their business models.

Geekz Ventures, backed by the Techstars Foundation, facilitates this pre-accelerator program, focusing on media and mobile technology. The objective is to provide a supportive environment through community, curriculum, and coaching, allowing entrepreneurs to thrive regardless of their industry. This year's cohort included 40 startups, reflecting the program's selective nature with an acceptance rate of less than 2%.

Key Highlights and Workshops

The program featured various workshops aimed at enhancing the skillsets of the participants. One such workshop, led by storytelling expert Mike Lightman, emphasized the importance of storytelling in crafting compelling pitch decks. Lightman encouraged participants to build curiosity among potential investors, one slide at a time, highlighting the narrative's role in securing investment and support.

Throughout the 10-week program, participants engaged in activities such as MVP development and customer discovery, crucial steps in refining their business ideas and understanding market needs. Mentorship from seasoned professionals across different industries provided participants with the tools and knowledge to navigate the complex startup landscape.

Meet the Startups

The cohort featured an array of innovative startups, each tackling unique challenges within their respective domains:

• Troodie: An AI-powered social commerce platform for restaurants, aiming to enhance customer engagement and streamline operations.
• Beebz: A video-first marketplace designed to empower local businesses by enhancing their digital presence.
• BlackLaunch: A networking platform specifically for Black professionals, co-founded by Titus Colloway, Taylor Davis, and Habeeb Ayangbade.
• PaintLabs: A company focused on modernizing fan engagement through body art.
• ConcordeApp: A platform that transforms traditional networking into a growth engine for professionals.
• CloutBank: An initiative that creates AI-native credit infrastructure for financial services.
• Fanatech: A platform designed to connect athletes, teams, and fans, fostering a closer connection within sports communities.
• Tykoon AI: Aims to support student-athletes in building their personal brands using AI technology.

Looking Ahead: Showcase and Future Opportunities

As the program concludes, these startups will have the opportunity to showcase their innovations at the AWS re:Invent event in December. This venue offers a significant platform for visibility and networking with potential investors, partners, and industry leaders. The involvement of AWS domain experts has provided the cohort with valuable insights into generative AI innovation, further enhancing their technological capabilities.

The GROWTH pre-accelerator program represents a crucial step in supporting diverse entrepreneurship by providing access to resources and mentorship that might otherwise be unavailable. As these startups continue to develop their ideas and expand their reach, the program's impact will likely be seen in the transformative solutions they bring to the market.