Built Oregon
Grant in 2023
Built Oregon is a digital magazine that serves as a platform for showcasing the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of Oregon. It focuses on narrating compelling stories that highlight the state's network of entrepreneurs, community leaders, and support organizations. By producing engaging written and interactive content, Built Oregon aims to inspire entrepreneurs and foster connections within the local business ecosystem. The organization emphasizes the importance of storytelling to reach a broader audience, encouraging the sharing of these narratives beyond state lines. Additionally, Built Oregon operates as a not-for-profit entity, dedicated to creating equitable opportunities and supporting sustainable job growth within the consumer product sector.
Kudzukian is a broadcast media production and distribution company that provides audio and visual content. They produced several livestream events for national entities as well as municipalities.
NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund
Grant in 2023
Legal Defense Fund is a non profit organization dedicated to racial justice. Through the power of law, narrative, research, and people, they defend and advance black people's dignity and citizenship.
Schoolseed Foundation
Grant in 2023
Schoolseed Foundation collaborates with individuals, community organizations, and businesses to ensure that children receive a high-quality education.
Justice for Black Girls
Grant in 2023
Justice for Black Girls is a social justice education space dedicated to meeting the needs of black girls for protection, safety, and belonging.
Lawndale Christian Development
Grant in 2023
Lawndale Christian Development provides affordable housing while also addressing economic challenges, encouraging homeownership, and assisting with community organising.
Thinkwatts Foundation
Grant in 2023
Thinkwatts Foundation focuses on grassroots community activation, financial literacy programs, custom container housing solutions, and charitable fundraising through entertainment industry efforts.
Citizens for Juvenile Justice
Grant in 2023
Citizens for Juvenile Justice is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to reforming and reimagining the juvenile justice and other youth-serving systems in Massachusetts.
Knowledge Quest
Grant in 2023
Knowledge Quest is a non-profit organization that provides access to health and creates opportunities for families through extended learning academies.
Equal Justice Initiative
Grant in 2023
The Equal Justice Initiative is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides legal representation to indigent defendants and prisoners who have been denied fair and just treatment in the legal system. We litigate on behalf of condemned prisoners, juvenile offenders, people wrongly convicted or charged with violent crimes, poor people denied effective representation, and others whose trials are marked by racial bias or prosecutorial misconduct. EJI works with communities that have been marginalized by poverty and discouraged by unequal treatment. EJI also prepares reports, newsletters, and manuals to assist advocates and policymakers in the critically important work of reforming the administration of criminal justice.
The HOPE Program
Grant in 2023
The HOPE Program tailors its recruitment and training services. With a comprehensive approach, they provide training, adult basic education, industry certifications, work wellness services, internships, and job placement with long-term support. The Hope Center provides training to prepare job seekers for a variety of careers. They also receive on-the-job training, resume development and interview preparation.
Children Striving Together
Grant in 2023
Children Striving Together offers enrichment activities, mentoring, and annual events to at-risk youth in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
All Star Code
Grant in 2023
All Star Code is a non-profit organization focused on empowering young men of color by providing them with the necessary skills and opportunities to succeed in the technology sector. The organization aims to attract, prepare, and place these individuals in tech careers, addressing the systemic opportunity gap they face. Through mentorship, industry exposure, and intensive training in computer science, All Star Code equips participants with the knowledge and experience required for full-time employment in technology companies. By fostering a foundation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the organization promotes economic opportunity and encourages financial independence and social mobility within underserved communities.
Start MMT, founded by renowned producer and Hall of Fame songwriter David Porter, operates as a music startup accelerator based in Memphis, Tennessee. This initiative aims to advance music industry technology and support creative talent and entrepreneurs globally. In collaboration with the venture development organization Start Co., Start MMT attracts innovative entrepreneurs to develop transformative business models for the music sector. The accelerator offers investment capital, access to business and technical partners, and guidance from industry mentors. With a structured program designed to expedite growth, Start MMT enables participants to evolve their ideas into market-ready products within a 100-day timeframe, fostering a new generation of music technology businesses.
National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
Grant in 2023
The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (The National Coalition) is a 501©3, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to increasing civic engagement and voter participation in Black and underserved communities. The National Coalition strives to create an enlightened community by engaging people in all aspects of public life through service/volunteerism, advocacy, leadership development and voting.
Just City’s mission is to transform local criminal justice policy and practice to ensure it is fair for all people regardless of wealth, race, or ethnicity.
Yetunde Price Resource Center
Grant in 2023
Yetunde Price Resource Centerprovides resources and free programmes to help individuals.
Hope Center Harlem
Grant in 2023
Hope Center Harlem offers high-quality therapeutic services to the Harlem community in order to address mental health issues and promote health and wellness.
LA Jets Track Club
Grant in 2023
LA Jets Track Club encourages black elementary students in the Los Angeles area to participate in track and field.
Rosewood Initiative
Grant in 2023
Rosewood Initiative is a community organization that prioritizes people over places. Creating a safe, healthy, and vibrant community in which neighbors can thrive together.
The Sophia Project
Grant in 2023
The Sophia Project engages, educates, and empowers young women to make wise decisions, embrace personal awareness, and form healthy relationships.
Grow Greater Englewood
Grant in 2023
Grow Greater Englewood is a social enterprise that collaborates with residents and developers to establish sustainable local food economies, green businesses, and land sovereignty in order to empower residents to create wellness and wealth.
Young Masterminds Initiative
Grant in 2023
The Young Masterminds Initiative is a non-profit organisation that promotes mentoring, leadership, and positive thinking.
STS Enterprise
Grant in 2023
STS Enterprise is an organization for leadership development. They provide life skills and tools for secondary or post-graduate opportunities to achieve economic mobility through mentorship, workshops, exposure to careers and experiences, and talent placement.
Year City is an organization dedicated to community service, engaging young individuals in meaningful service projects across 24 cities in the United States, as well as in London and Johannesburg. By fostering a spirit of volunteerism and leadership, Year City aims to address challenges faced by local communities while empowering participants to develop skills and gain valuable experiences. The organization focuses on creating positive change through various initiatives and programs, encouraging civic engagement and collaboration among its members.
Chicago Scholars
Grant in 2023
Chicago Scholars is a college access, mentoring, and career support program. They select, train, and mentor academically ambitious students from under-resourced communities to complete college and become the next generation of leaders who will transform their neighborhoods and city. They develop deep collaborations with community-based organizations.
Albina Vision Trust
Grant in 2023
Albina Vision Trust aims to honor lower Albina's history by facilitating the bold redevelopment of a new, diverse, and purposefully remarkable neighborhood.
Pure Youth Athletics
Grant in 2023
PURE Academy is recognized by the State of Tennessee as a non-public, Category IV church-related school. They are a private school with a holistic philosophy that is a college-preparatory in-person, personalized learning environment. PURE aligns state standards with an interdisciplinary project-based curriculum.
Founded in 1988, Roca takes on a unique and pressing challenge: helping to alter the life trajectories of America's most high-risk young people - the young people that are involved in crime, engaged in dangerous behaviors, have rejected help, have dropped out of school, and are simply too difficult for other programs to serve. Their mission is to disrupt the cycle of incarceration and poverty by helping young people transform their lives by providing them with tools they need to find long-term employment.
Year Up is a nonprofit organization focused on closing the Opportunity Divide by equipping urban young adults with essential skills and professional experience. It offers tuition-free, skills-based training programs that include internships with partner companies and comprehensive job search support. By empowering participants to develop their capabilities, Year Up aims to facilitate their entry into meaningful careers or higher education, ultimately helping them to realize their full potential.
Black Parent Initiative
Grant in 2023
Black Parent Initiative is a culture-specific, community-centered organization that co-creates and collaborates with our families to create innovative, culturally relevant, and long-term interventions and opportunities to help them thrive.
Read Lead is a literacy and leadership initiative for youth and young adults in Los Angeles County.
Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis
Grant in 2023
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis exists to empower African Americans and others throughout the region in securing economic self-reliance, social equality, and civil rights. The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. takes a holistic approach to economic empowerment and self sufficiency. Through community programs in three counties across the bi-state region, it helps its clients to climb out of poverty by helping them to find economic opportunity, providing educational excellence and community empowerment and encouraging civil rights and advocacy. The League’s Community Empowerment Initiative provides clients in need with food, clothing and other life necessities while strengthening families and helping people become self-sufficient. The Education Excellence Initiative encourages and enables participants to apply learning to everyday situations, to embrace technology and to achieve academic excellence. The Economic Opportunity Initiative provides resources to strengthen individuals, families, and communities by improving and climbing the economic “ladder” to a better quality of life.
Brave Space Alliance
Grant in 2023
Brave Space Alliance is the first black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ center, dedicated to developing and delivering affirming, culturally competent, for-us-by-us resources, programming, and services for LGBTQ+ people on the city's south and west sides.
Elevate Oregon
Grant in 2023
Elevate Oregon builds relationships with marginalised youth to promote education, self-reliance, and leadership. They provide a year-round mentoring programme that integrates with the high school curriculum to increase graduation rates and college enrollment as well as career development for students of colour in grades 6–12.
New Ballet Ensemble and School
Grant in 2023
New Ballet Ensemble and School is an arts community school with a small professional teaching and performing ensemble as a professional apprenticeship program. They serve youth from a variety of backgrounds by providing access to training, including a rotating roster of accomplished master teachers. They has produced trailblazing creators and dancers with the vision to bring new innovations to the world of dance.
InnerCity Weightlifting
Grant in 2023
InnerCity Weightlifting is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing youth violence in urban communities. The company achieves this by offering weightlifting training programs that engage at-risk young people, providing them with new networks and opportunities for economic mobility and social inclusion. Through these initiatives, InnerCity Weightlifting aims to disrupt the cycle of urban street violence by fostering professional, personal, and academic achievement among participants.
Hustle Mommies
Grant in 2023
Hustle Mommies aims to raise the voices of urban, inner-city moms by providing them with resources to advocate for their families and communities.
Word is Bond
Grant in 2023
Word is Bond is an opportunity for young black men to gain professional development skills they can use in their lives.
BUILD is a nonprofit organization focused on empowering high school students from underserved communities through entrepreneurship education. By providing a four-year curriculum, BUILD engages students in real-world entrepreneurial experiences that aim to enhance their educational prospects and professional success. The program motivates students to aspire to attend four-year colleges by integrating entrepreneurship training with college preparation. BUILD's approach not only fosters academic achievement but also encourages students to become leaders in their communities, thereby creating a positive impact in the areas they serve. Through its unique educational model, BUILD seeks to inspire and cultivate the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Their communities have a long history of socioeconomic injustices that created generational disparities; making it a challenge to advance in society. Their Own serves as a catalyst for innovation and epicenter to provide resources in untapped communities.
Goalsetter Foundation
Grant in 2023
Goalsetter Foundation educates the kids and teaches them how to build their future.
Pensole Lewis College
Grant in 2023
Pensole Lewis College offers the HBCU pipeline for career education and professional development in the product creation business provided by the school of business and design. They provide a wide selection of academic courses.
Youth Guidance
Grant in 2023
Youth Guidance is a non-profit organization that offers community and after-school programs for the youth in schools.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Grant in 2023
NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is a community organization that works to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons as well as eliminate race-based discrimination. NAACP was founded in 1909 and is based in Baltimore, Maryland.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Grant in 2023
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America provides children with assistance to reach their full potential. It is a non-governmental organization providing volunteer supported mentoring through a network that provides children with assistance to achieve measurable outcomes such as educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships. It provides its network of mentors through its partnership with schools, parents, guardians, corporations, and communities. It pairs children with screened volunteer mentors and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course. BBBS primarily provides professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships to children who face adversity and single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military. It currently has nearly 340 agencies across the country. BBBS serves approximately 200,000 children, their families and 200,000 volunteer mentors. It was established in 1904 and it is based in New York.
Harlem Grown
Grant in 2023
Harlem Grown is an organization that inspires youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives. Harlem youth were served by garden-based development programs. They offer to provide and distribute food; our model seeks to positively impact the entire community through mentorship, education, and partnerships to create sustainable change.
Memphis Shelby PAL
Grant in 2023
The Sheriff’s & Police Activities League of Memphis & Shelby County , TN (Memphis Shelby PAL) is a non-profit youth mentoring organization devoted to preventing crime, building character and promoting success for children 5-18. They are an affiliate of the National Police Activities League (NPAL) working in partnership with Shelby County Schools, the City of Memphis and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department.
Arch City Defenders
Grant in 2023
ArchCity defenders is a multi faceted legal advocacy company that helps to reduce the criminalization of poverty and state brutality, particularly in minority communities. ACD's civil and criminal legal representation, social services, impact litigation, policy and media advocacy, and community collaboration create and inspire justice and equitable outcomes for people in the region and beyond. d defenders imagines a society free of systems of oppression, where justice and candidates belonging are noticed; communities where public safety takes priority investment in well being, health, and transformation rather than criminalization and incarceration and people living freely in their societies, flourishing regardless of race or income.
Pensole Lewis College
Grant in 2022
Pensole Lewis College offers the HBCU pipeline for career education and professional development in the product creation business provided by the school of business and design. They provide a wide selection of academic courses.
WNBA
Funding Round in 2022
WNBA Enterprises is a privately held company based in Secaucus, New Jersey, that owns and operates a professional women's basketball league in the United States. Founded in 1996, it serves as a subsidiary of the National Basketball Association, Inc. The league consists of twelve teams that showcase skilled female athletes passionate about basketball. WNBA Enterprises not only promotes the sport but also provides a platform for fans to access news, scores, schedules, and player statistics, as well as tickets and merchandise. The organization is dedicated to elevating women's basketball and supporting coaches at all levels in teaching the fundamentals of the game.
RTFKT is a company that specializes in the development of custom-designed sneakers catering to video game enthusiasts and custom apparel fans. The firm creates limited edition sneakers that come with a unique digital counterpart stored on the blockchain, allowing customers to try on virtual versions and unlock special effects. This innovative approach enables users to enjoy their footwear in both the physical and digital realms, as they can trade, sell, or gift these digital copies, enhancing the experience of wearing their shoes in real life and online avatars.
All Star Code
Grant in 2021
All Star Code is a non-profit organization focused on empowering young men of color by providing them with the necessary skills and opportunities to succeed in the technology sector. The organization aims to attract, prepare, and place these individuals in tech careers, addressing the systemic opportunity gap they face. Through mentorship, industry exposure, and intensive training in computer science, All Star Code equips participants with the knowledge and experience required for full-time employment in technology companies. By fostering a foundation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the organization promotes economic opportunity and encourages financial independence and social mobility within underserved communities.
The SpringHill Company
Private Equity Round in 2021
The SpringHill Company LLC is a media and entertainment firm based in Los Angeles, California, that specializes in brand development and management. Incorporated in 2020, it focuses on producing a diverse range of content, including feature films, television series, and digital media. The company consists of several divisions, notably SpringHill Entertainment, Uninterrupted, and The Robot Company, each contributing to its mission of creating compelling narratives. In addition to content creation, The SpringHill Company offers event management services and consultancy to media partners, aimed at delivering competitive and innovative solutions in storytelling across various platforms.
Datalogue
Acquisition in 2021
Datalogue is a company comprised of computer scientists, business leaders, and designers dedicated to simplifying the data preparation process for data scientists. They have developed an artificial intelligence-powered platform that automates key steps in data management, including finding, cleaning, and normalizing data. This innovation allows scientists, developers, and researchers to save time on data formatting and wrangling, thereby enhancing productivity in their data projects. Datalogue focuses on improving the overall experience of its users by building products that address the challenges of data preparation in a straightforward manner.
HandsFree Labs
Corporate Round in 2019
HandsFree Labs is a footwear company that specializes in innovative hands-free footwear technology, allowing users to put on and remove shoes without using their hands. The company collaborates with leading footwear brands, offering design and development services to integrate its patented technology into various types of footwear for men, women, and children. By focusing on reinventing footwear technologies, HandsFree Labs aims to enhance the functionality and accessibility of shoes, making them easier to wear for a broad range of consumers.
TraceMe
Acquisition in 2019
TraceMe, headquartered in Seattle, WA, develops and manages a content-focused social platform that facilitates direct interaction between users and elite athletes, artists, and celebrities. As of October 2019, TraceMe operates as a subsidiary of Nike Inc., leveraging technology to create unique connections within the entertainment and sports industries.
Celect
Acquisition in 2019
Celect is a cloud-based predictive analytics platform founded in 2013 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company focuses on optimizing inventory portfolios for retailers, aiding in the management of complex inventory and product assortments. Celect's solutions encompass assortment optimization, predictive personalization, and markdown optimization, allowing retailers to harness inventory, transaction, product catalog, and impression data from various organizational silos. By streamlining these processes, Celect enables retailers to enhance their operations and achieve significant revenue growth.
Invertex
Acquisition in 2018
Invertex Ltd is a technology company based in Tel Aviv, Israel, specializing in online fitting and mass product customization. Founded in 2014, Invertex utilizes advanced 3D scanning technology to capture and analyze individuals' anatomical measurements in detail, enhancing the online shopping experience for consumers. Its mobile application enables users to accurately select, measure, modify, and purchase fitting products, thereby facilitating a personalized e-commerce experience. Invertex also offers ScanMat, a solution designed to create "feet-to-fit" experiences that empower consumers to confidently shop for shoes both in-store and online. The company's innovative platform serves retailers in the footwear, eyewear, and apparel sectors, allowing them to tailor existing products to meet specific customer needs or develop entirely customized product lines. As of 2018, Invertex operates as a subsidiary of NIKE, Inc.
Zodiac
Acquisition in 2018
Zodiac Inc. is a predictive analytics company that specializes in forecasting individualized customer lifetime value using real-time sales data. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Zodiac provides a cloud-based analytics platform that enables businesses to make informed marketing decisions based on accurate predictions of future sales volumes and customer behavior. By employing advanced data models and behavioral analysis, the company helps organizations optimize their marketing campaigns, enhance sales forecasting, and focus resources on acquiring and retaining high-value customers. Initially known as CLVMetrics, Inc., Zodiac operates as a subsidiary of NIKE, Inc. as of March 2018.
Virgin Mega
Acquisition in 2016
Virgin Mega USA is a virtual community and application that provides users with a platform to purchase and engage with music products and pop culture items. The company focuses on offering limited edition releases, fostering a mobile community where fans can connect and compete with each other. Users can experience the excitement of waiting in a digital line for exclusive products, enhancing their engagement with the brand and its offerings. Through its innovative approach, Virgin Mega creates a unique environment for music and pop culture enthusiasts to interact and access sought-after items.
Reflektion
Series A in 2014
Reflektion, Inc. is a technology company that develops an artificial intelligence-driven customer engagement platform aimed at enhancing e-commerce experiences. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Mateo, California, with an additional office in Chicago, Reflektion's platform analyzes individual shopper behaviors to determine preferences and intent, enabling businesses to deliver personalized content and product recommendations in real-time across various digital touchpoints, including site search, category pages, and email. The company's offerings include solutions for personalized site search, predictive product recommendations, and behavioral email marketing, which are designed to engage customers effectively by responding to their specific shopping behaviors. Reflektion also provides analytic solutions to help businesses gain insights into customer interactions. The company has established strategic alliances and partnerships to enhance its service offerings.
Grabit, Inc. is a technology company based in Sunnyvale, California, specializing in electroadhesion-based gripping solutions for robotics and material handling. Founded in 2011, Grabit develops innovative products designed to enhance productivity in various industries, including manufacturing, logistics, and apparel. Its offerings include Stackit, an auto-layering robot that utilizes electroadhesive grippers for stacking materials; Meterit, a gravity-fed conveyor equipped with an electroadhesive film for intelligent load handling; and Conveyit, a system that employs an electroadhesive belt to secure items for automated sorting and delayering. The company serves several Fortune 500 clients, providing advanced solutions that facilitate efficient operations in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, and package shipping. In December 2019, Grabit filed for reorganization under Chapter 11, indicating a restructuring phase in its business operations.
Umbro is a Manchester-based English company specializing in sportswear and football equipment. The brand is known for its wide range of products, including soccer cleats, shoes, football uniforms, training apparel, and various soccer-related equipment. Additionally, Umbro offers lifestyle clothing and footwear, catering to both athletes and casual consumers. With a strong heritage in football, Umbro has established itself as a significant player in the sports apparel market.
Converse
Acquisition in 2003
Converse is a manufacturer, designer, and marketer of athletic footwear and sports goods, known for its iconic sneakers and apparel. The company also engages in licensing its brand for sports apparel, extending its reach in the athletic market. Converse products are available through various retailers and licensees across approximately 100 countries, highlighting its global presence and popularity in the sports and lifestyle segments. With a focus on innovative design, Converse continues to attract a diverse customer base, maintaining its status as a prominent player in the athletic footwear industry.
Hurley
Acquisition in 2002
The history of Hurley traces its roots back to the surf industry in Southern California in the late 1970's. Hurley Surfboards was established in Costa Mesa in 1979. Well into the early 1980's, Hurley Surfboards was excelling as a company and Bob was shaping surfboards for many of the best surfers in the world. In 1982, Bob and his business manager, Joe K., began pursuing a hot Australian clothing brand, Billabong. Bob was attracted to the company because of their super long, punk rock boardshort styles. With the help of friends and family, Billabong USA was established as a separate entity and licensee for Billabong.
Cole Haan
Acquisition in 1988
Cole Haan LLC is a retailer based in Greenland, New Hampshire, specializing in the manufacture and marketing of a wide range of apparel, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and children. Founded in 1928, the company is known for its commitment to American craftsmanship, blending traditional techniques with modern innovations to create stylish and comfortable products. Its offerings include leather shoes, sandals, sneakers, handbags, wallets, belts, and sunglasses, catering to a diverse clientele. Cole Haan operates both physical stores and an online platform, providing various customer services such as shipping information, returns and exchanges, and gift card options. The company, which was previously a subsidiary of NIKE, Inc., remains dedicated to quality and design, appealing to optimists of all ages worldwide.