At first glance, streaming music discovery tool Deepr appears to have little in common with Mini City Atlanta, a resource for helping Atlanta’s homeless population obtain government-issued identification. Yet the two startups, which both received investments from the SCADpro Fund in 2021, have focused missions to elevate underserved communities, albeit in different ways.
“Both Mini City Atlanta and Deepr are founded by SCAD alumni, and a significant aspect of what they are both doing is tied to the powerful legacy of Atlanta as a city that uplifts,” says SCADpro Managing Director Ray Crowell. (Innovationists may recognize Crowell’s name; he is an alum of VC firm humble ventures, a DC Inno 50 on Fire winner in 2017.)
Crowell states that SCADpro Fund supports SCAD alumni entrepreneurs in the early stages of fundraising, offering significant financial support in exchange for equity. “We’re committed to helping develop these particular Black founders and their ethical approaches to their respective missions,” he said.
Deepr founder and CEO Austin Webster graduated from SCAD with a degree in industrial design and a complementary understanding of UX design. With Deepr, Webster and Co-founder and COO Darrell Thompson have created a suite of products, chief among them the Deepr App, rooted in an unabashed love of music. A streaming discovery tool for iOS and Android devices, the Deepr App coordinates with users' Apple Music, Spotify and/or YouTube accounts, using audio recognition technology to instantly identify a song, as well as diving into advanced options including songwriting, sampling and musician and production credits.
“Our proprietary technology connects the dots between millions of songs, enabling listeners to craft personalized playlists in an instant,” Webster explains.
While Webster points out that “Deepr is for the discovery and appreciation of all music, including country, rock, pop and hip-hop” he is clear on the company’s objective. “Being a Black-owned music tech company in Atlanta, it is Deepr’s mission to offer visibility and be a platform for all creators, but especially Black creators who so often have been forgotten, overlooked, or who have not received their just due.” Webster regularly hosts Deepr Talk, a video series with guests including legendary producers Dallas Austin and Jimmy Jam.
Deepr and Mini City Atlanta are also both recipients of Google for Startups’ Black Founders Fund.
“Our primary goal is to combat chronic homelessness," says Mini City Atlanta (MCA) Founder India Hayes, a SCAD graphic design alumna. Hayes founded MCA to help the city’s homeless population obtain government-issued identification. Organizations and volunteers can access MCA’s web-based platform to assist those in need with filling out forms in order to acquire an ID that allows them to receive government-funded aid.
"By placing identification cards into the hands of the homeless and those who care for them, we can help these individuals get housing, jobs, food resources, and educations,” she said.
As Hayes explains, a birth record is essential to solving the unhoused epidemic: "Our software is able to work with other states’ databases to ensure we are able to track down that information. If we can prove who you are, we can help you get the help you need.
“We're looking to get resources into the hands of thousands of homeless citizens in our city," says Hayes, who envisions MCA growing beyond Atlanta Metro area. "We can break the cycle of homelessness.”
SCADpro Fund’s Crowell sees innovation as an inextricable attribute of these Atlanta-based businesses. “We’re proud to be a developmental resource for both Mini City Atlanta and Deepr,” says Crowell. “The missions of these Black entrepreneurs are aligned with our values. We believe their success will make Atlanta, and the world, a better place.”
SCADpro is a preeminent university partner in higher education and among design agencies worldwide, generating business solutions for the world’s most influential brands. Operating in the U.S. and Europe, SCADpro solves creative and business challenges for Fortune 500 clients, launches alumni brands through SCADpro Fund and provides executive education. Find out more at scad.edu/scadpro.