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Uncut Lab
Founder: Amewusika “Sika” D. Sedzro
Location: West Roxbury
Founded: 2020
Full-time employees: Six
Funding: $60K
Uncut Lab specializes in designing and engineering custom-software applications for small businesses and governments. The company is also gearing up to release several SaaS tools in 2023.
Founder: Amewusika “Sika” D. Sedzro
Location: West Roxbury
Founded: 2020
Full-time employees: Six
Funding: $60K
Uncut Lab specializes in designing and engineering custom-software applications for small businesses and governments. The company is also gearing up to release several SaaS tools in 2023.
Amewusika "Sika" D. Sedzro
True Given
Founder: Babatunde Ajao
Location: Remote, Boston/Western Mass.
Founded: 2020
Full-time employees: Two
Funding: $200K
True Given is a fintech company that creates financial products to promote economic mobility and opportunity for communities and businesses. The startup’s technology allows organizations to create customized intake forms, launch and receive online applications, manage and review grants, and disburse funds to individuals, communities and businesses.
Founder: Babatunde Ajao
Location: Remote, Boston/Western Mass.
Founded: 2020
Full-time employees: Two
Funding: $200K
True Given is a fintech company that creates financial products to promote economic mobility and opportunity for communities and businesses. The startup’s technology allows organizations to create customized intake forms, launch and receive online applications, manage and review grants, and disburse funds to individuals, communities and businesses.
Babatunde Ajao
Rubix LS
Founder: Reginald Swift
Location: Lawrence
Founded: 2016
Full-time employees: 12
Funding: $1.25M
Rubix LS is a research organization and development firm that’s designing adaptive clinical trials for underserved, underrepresented participants. The company’s hope is that the data will help create the next generation of precision therapeutics for those communities. Rubix LS is in the process of opening a new, 40,000-square-foot facility in Lawrence that will allow it to run its own trials.
Founder: Reginald Swift
Location: Lawrence
Founded: 2016
Full-time employees: 12
Funding: $1.25M
Rubix LS is a research organization and development firm that’s designing adaptive clinical trials for underserved, underrepresented participants. The company’s hope is that the data will help create the next generation of precision therapeutics for those communities. Rubix LS is in the process of opening a new, 40,000-square-foot facility in Lawrence that will allow it to run its own trials.
Gary Higgins / Boston Business Journal
1854 Cycling Co.
Founder: Brandale Randolph
Location: Framingham
Founded: 2016
Full-time employees: Eight
Funding: $759K
1854 Cycling Co. is a bicycle, e-bike and apparel company founded to provide meaningful work and a livable wage to the formerly incarcerated, particularly women. By training and employing the formerly incarcerated to build, service, and soon program its electronic bicycles, 1854 Cycling hopes to help them break the cycles of both poverty and recidivism.
Founder: Brandale Randolph
Location: Framingham
Founded: 2016
Full-time employees: Eight
Funding: $759K
1854 Cycling Co. is a bicycle, e-bike and apparel company founded to provide meaningful work and a livable wage to the formerly incarcerated, particularly women. By training and employing the formerly incarcerated to build, service, and soon program its electronic bicycles, 1854 Cycling hopes to help them break the cycles of both poverty and recidivism.
Brandale Randolph
MustWatch
Founder: Che Edouard
Location: Boston
Founded: 2017
Full-time employees: Six
Funding: $90.8K
MustWatch has built a mobile app that connects people around television. The app helps people find new shows on every platform, see what their friends are watching and recommend shows to other people.
Founder: Che Edouard
Location: Boston
Founded: 2017
Full-time employees: Six
Funding: $90.8K
MustWatch has built a mobile app that connects people around television. The app helps people find new shows on every platform, see what their friends are watching and recommend shows to other people.
Che Edouard
Paerpay
Founder: Derek Canton
Location: Boston
Founded: 2017
Full-time employees: 10
Funding: $4.26M
Paerpay offers a contactless payment service for restaurants to help them speed up drive-thru experiences. The tech works with restaurants’ existing point-of-sale system and credit card processor. The platform integrates with the existing technology stack, including loyalty programs. The company raised a $3 million seed round this year led by MassMutual’s MM Catalyst Fund.
Founder: Derek Canton
Location: Boston
Founded: 2017
Full-time employees: 10
Funding: $4.26M
Paerpay offers a contactless payment service for restaurants to help them speed up drive-thru experiences. The tech works with restaurants’ existing point-of-sale system and credit card processor. The platform integrates with the existing technology stack, including loyalty programs. The company raised a $3 million seed round this year led by MassMutual’s MM Catalyst Fund.
Derek Canton
Kalion
Founders: Darcy and Kristala Prather
Location: Milton
Founded: 2010
Full-time employees: Less than 10
Funding: $10M
Kalion’s fermentation system produces substances with high purity levels from biomass with applications in industrial water purification, material science and pharmaceuticals. Kristala Prather is an associate professor of chemical engineering at MIT, and Darcy previously worked at McKinsey & Co. and several startups.
Founders: Darcy and Kristala Prather
Location: Milton
Founded: 2010
Full-time employees: Less than 10
Funding: $10M
Kalion’s fermentation system produces substances with high purity levels from biomass with applications in industrial water purification, material science and pharmaceuticals. Kristala Prather is an associate professor of chemical engineering at MIT, and Darcy previously worked at McKinsey & Co. and several startups.
Lisa Fischer Photography, Webb Chappell
MathTalk
Founder: Omo Moses
Location: Cambridge
Founded: 2019
Full-time employees: Six
Funding: $3.2M
MathTalk was founded to help underperforming schools by making math fun. MathTalk’s team is made of parents, teachers, researchers, organizers, children’s media producers, designers, artists, game developers, entrepreneurs and kids that turn stories, public art, and augmented reality experiences into products and activities that make adults and children smile while learning math.
Founder: Omo Moses
Location: Cambridge
Founded: 2019
Full-time employees: Six
Funding: $3.2M
MathTalk was founded to help underperforming schools by making math fun. MathTalk’s team is made of parents, teachers, researchers, organizers, children’s media producers, designers, artists, game developers, entrepreneurs and kids that turn stories, public art, and augmented reality experiences into products and activities that make adults and children smile while learning math.
ab@alishabrook.com
CareAcademy
Founder: Helen Adeosun
Location: Boston
Founded: 2016
Full-time employees: 72
Funding: $33M
CareAcademy provides state-approved training for home care agencies, home health agencies, franchise systems, and payers. The startup says its training increases learner knowledge for better health outcomes. More than 300,000 learners have completed more than 1.5 million hours of training with CareAcademy.
Founder: Helen Adeosun
Location: Boston
Founded: 2016
Full-time employees: 72
Funding: $33M
CareAcademy provides state-approved training for home care agencies, home health agencies, franchise systems, and payers. The startup says its training increases learner knowledge for better health outcomes. More than 300,000 learners have completed more than 1.5 million hours of training with CareAcademy.
CareAcademy
Yobe Inc.
Founder: Ken Sutton
Location: Boston
Founded: 2016
Full-time employees: 11
Funding: $4.6M
Yobe Inc. is a software company that aims to create the platform of choice for anyone building intelligent audio applications. Even in busy environments, Yobe’s product can capture clean, high-quality, and machine-recognizable voice data, including sophisticated linguistic patterns and biological markers.
Founder: Ken Sutton
Location: Boston
Founded: 2016
Full-time employees: 11
Funding: $4.6M
Yobe Inc. is a software company that aims to create the platform of choice for anyone building intelligent audio applications. Even in busy environments, Yobe’s product can capture clean, high-quality, and machine-recognizable voice data, including sophisticated linguistic patterns and biological markers.
Courtesy of Ken Sutton
HourWork
Founder: Rahkeem Morris
Location: Boston
Founded: 2018
Full-time employees: 55
Funding: $18.1M
HourWork wants to help companies hire and retain hourly workers. It recruits talent by re-engaging with past applicants and former employees and aims to help franchises retain employees through its automated checkins. This year the company closed a $12.5 million Series A round.
Founder: Rahkeem Morris
Location: Boston
Founded: 2018
Full-time employees: 55
Funding: $18.1M
HourWork wants to help companies hire and retain hourly workers. It recruits talent by re-engaging with past applicants and former employees and aims to help franchises retain employees through its automated checkins. This year the company closed a $12.5 million Series A round.
Courtesy of Rahkeem Morris
Wise Systems
Founder: Chazz Sims
Location: Cambridge
Founded: 2014
Full-time employees: 130
Funding: $73M
This company was founded out of MIT Media Lab and Center for Transportation Logistics. Wise Systems is in the delivery operations business. It uses machine learning to continuously improve fleet efficiency, performance, and customer service, and to reduce fleet mileage, carbon footprint and late deliveries in beverage, food, courier and other industries.
Founder: Chazz Sims
Location: Cambridge
Founded: 2014
Full-time employees: 130
Funding: $73M
This company was founded out of MIT Media Lab and Center for Transportation Logistics. Wise Systems is in the delivery operations business. It uses machine learning to continuously improve fleet efficiency, performance, and customer service, and to reduce fleet mileage, carbon footprint and late deliveries in beverage, food, courier and other industries.
Courtesy of Chazz Sims
MeetCaregivers
Founder: Florence Furaha
Location: Newton
Founded: 2017
Full-time employees: 30
Funding: $1.5M
MeetCaregivers connects seniors with companions, additional care services and resources to help them age at home. The startup has a network of more than 10,000 HHAs, CNAs, and LPNs. MeetCaregivers helps match seniors with caregivers based on care needs, interest, personality, schedule and other criteria. The company said it has more than $20 million in revenue to date.
Founder: Florence Furaha
Location: Newton
Founded: 2017
Full-time employees: 30
Funding: $1.5M
MeetCaregivers connects seniors with companions, additional care services and resources to help them age at home. The startup has a network of more than 10,000 HHAs, CNAs, and LPNs. MeetCaregivers helps match seniors with caregivers based on care needs, interest, personality, schedule and other criteria. The company said it has more than $20 million in revenue to date.
Courtesy of Florence Furaha
BareHand
Founder: Edwin Jack
Location: Lawrence
Founded: 2014
Full-time employees: Three
Funding: $114K
BareHand is a game development company that combines gameplay experiences with blockchain technology. The company was built on the founder’s faith in Yahweh and the principles of this faith are embedded into each project. The studio is working on its first project, Cede, a combat farming game where players burst adversaries into seeds, which become supportive vegetation.
Founder: Edwin Jack
Location: Lawrence
Founded: 2014
Full-time employees: Three
Funding: $114K
BareHand is a game development company that combines gameplay experiences with blockchain technology. The company was built on the founder’s faith in Yahweh and the principles of this faith are embedded into each project. The studio is working on its first project, Cede, a combat farming game where players burst adversaries into seeds, which become supportive vegetation.
Courtesy of Edwin Jack
Black Girls Nutrition
Founder: Katia Powell-Laurent
Location: Boston
Founded: 2016
Number of employees: Three
Funding: $175K
Black Girls Nutrition is an online nutrition company designed specifically for women of color. The company helps women of color to lose weight, break the cycle of dieting, and connect with other women on a similar journey.
Founder: Katia Powell-Laurent
Location: Boston
Founded: 2016
Number of employees: Three
Funding: $175K
Black Girls Nutrition is an online nutrition company designed specifically for women of color. The company helps women of color to lose weight, break the cycle of dieting, and connect with other women on a similar journey.
Courtesy of Katia Powell-Laurent
Enlivity Corp.
Founder: Gillian Isabelle
Location: Newton
Founded: 2016
Full-time employees: Two
Funding: $200K
After losing a close friend to cancer, Gillian Isabelle decided to create a company that provided nutrition-based products that address treatment side effects of cancer. The company’s first product is Healios, which is for patients experiencing cancer-related mouth sores.
Founder: Gillian Isabelle
Location: Newton
Founded: 2016
Full-time employees: Two
Funding: $200K
After losing a close friend to cancer, Gillian Isabelle decided to create a company that provided nutrition-based products that address treatment side effects of cancer. The company’s first product is Healios, which is for patients experiencing cancer-related mouth sores.
Courtesy of Gillian Isabelle
LegacyShift
Founder: Sandra Appiah (pictured) and Isaac Babu-Boateng
Location: Boston
Founded: 2021
Full-time employees: Five
Funding: $165K
LegacyShift is a network-based, B2B company that matches members for skills training, mentorship and career support, and offers a structured path for one-on-one connections with integrated scheduling, messaging and videoconferencing tools.
Founder: Sandra Appiah (pictured) and Isaac Babu-Boateng
Location: Boston
Founded: 2021
Full-time employees: Five
Funding: $165K
LegacyShift is a network-based, B2B company that matches members for skills training, mentorship and career support, and offers a structured path for one-on-one connections with integrated scheduling, messaging and videoconferencing tools.
Sandra Appiah
Rivet
Founder: Anj Fayemi
Location: Boston
Founded: 2021
Number of employees: Five
Funding: $300K
Rivet uses its platform to help creators connect with their fans. Its offerings include analyzing fan data points and selling things like NFTs and merchandise directly to fans. Rivet’s tech plugs into other social and commerce platforms and captures what keeps fans engaged. It uses these insights to guide creators and automate fan retention.
Founder: Anj Fayemi
Location: Boston
Founded: 2021
Number of employees: Five
Funding: $300K
Rivet uses its platform to help creators connect with their fans. Its offerings include analyzing fan data points and selling things like NFTs and merchandise directly to fans. Rivet’s tech plugs into other social and commerce platforms and captures what keeps fans engaged. It uses these insights to guide creators and automate fan retention.
Rivet
InnoPsych
Founder: Charmain F. Jackman
Location: Boston
Founded: 2019
Full-time employees: Four
Funding: $130K
InnoPsych’s digital platform helps users find a therapist of color in its directory. The company’s goal is to use this directory and its educational content to combat negative mental health stigma.
Founder: Charmain F. Jackman
Location: Boston
Founded: 2019
Full-time employees: Four
Funding: $130K
InnoPsych’s digital platform helps users find a therapist of color in its directory. The company’s goal is to use this directory and its educational content to combat negative mental health stigma.
Courtesy of Charmain F. Jackson
SparkCharge
Founder: Joshua Aviv
Location: Somerville
Founded: 2017
Full-time employees: 25-49
Funding: $40M
Joshua Aviv, a graduate of Syracuse University, founded SparkCharge after building a portable, ultra-fast EV charger known as the Roadie. The company now offers on-demand EV charging through its mobile app, Currently, where EV owners can select how much range they want, where they want it, and get it delivered.
Founder: Joshua Aviv
Location: Somerville
Founded: 2017
Full-time employees: 25-49
Funding: $40M
Joshua Aviv, a graduate of Syracuse University, founded SparkCharge after building a portable, ultra-fast EV charger known as the Roadie. The company now offers on-demand EV charging through its mobile app, Currently, where EV owners can select how much range they want, where they want it, and get it delivered.
Josh Aviv
Launching a startup is never easy, and Black tech founders face even greater challenges in an industry that’s largely white and mostly homogenous.
Funding remains a barrier. In 2021, Black-led companies received only 0.4% of the venture capital that went to Massachusetts companies. And Black workers are still underrepresented in tech roles, despite a push in recent years for companies to diversify their ranks from the top down.
The founders on this list are some of Boston’s top tech talent, who successfully raised capital, grew their revenue, launched new products or expanded their teams. They are among the founders that BostInno and the Greater Boston innovation ecosystem will be watching in 2023.
Get to know some of these founders and their companies in the above slideshow. They're working in areas like nutrition, game development, mental health, e-bikes and fintech.Sign up for The Beat, BostInno’s free daily innovation newsletter. See past examples here.
