Showcasing the best of its program, five finalists from the nonprofit-focused United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ Social Innovation Accelerator went virtually head-to-head in pitch competition.
With ideas ranging from workforce development programs and leadership training to counseling initiatives, each of the nonprofits received $40,000 for making it to the finals. Up for additional grabs was a $15,000 judges’ choice prize, a $10,000 audience choice prize, which was determined by those who purchased a ticket to the event, along with $10,000 prize for entrepreneurial spirit from event sponsor The Satori Foundation.
"We believe when we put our greatest minds and creative ideas together, we can solve even the most pressing challenges in our community,” said Jorge Corral, managing director at Accenture’s Dallas office, in a statement.
For the judges’ award, startups were selected based on impact, innovation, sustainability and presentation. The judges’ panel was made up of local leaders, including Corral; Chris Kleinert, CEO at Hunt Investment Holdings; and Amber Venz Box, co-founder of rewardStyle, among others.
Check out the winners below, with descriptions provided by the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.
- Judges’ Choice Winner: Better Block Foundation (Dallas), which is launching a workforce development program that teaches students how to use digital fabrication to reshape their communities while earning a living wage.
- Audience Choice Winner: Trey Athletes (Dallas), which empowers athletes to become lifelong leaders, unlocking their potential to serve as societal change makers, representative role models and influential voices for underserved communities.
- Entrepreneurial Spirit Award: EdCor Health (Dallas), which is working alongside a southern Dallas community providing access to health and hope over decades of challenges that often plague disinvested communities of color.
And meet the other two finalist startups that took that stage at the event (descriptions also provided by United Way):
- Carson's Village (Dallas), which helps families navigate the challenging decisions they face after the sudden death of a loved one.
- The Home Visit Project (Dallas), which trains teachers to engage and partner with families to build authentic, trusting relationships through home visits to ensure every child is socially, emotionally and academically successful.
In addition to the excitement of the pitch competition, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas announced a new partnership with local startup Cherry, a mobile platform that connects freelance nail technicians and manicurists with clients that was co-founded by Venz Box. The organization hopes the move will help more local beauty entrepreneurs find pathways to employment.
“Especially in these challenging and dynamic times, innovation is required to drive lasting impact in education, income and health, which are the building blocks that put opportunity in the hands of all North Texans,” said Anne Chow, CEO at AT&T Business and United Way’s campaign chair, in a statement.
While the event capped off the most recent Social Innovation Accelerator cohort class, a new one was announced at the event. Each year, since being launched in 2013, the Accenture-powered accelerator program helps a selected group of about 10 impact-driven nonprofits find investments. Seed funding is awarded to participating organizations for completing certain steps in the program.
Meet the members of the 2021 cohort below, with descriptions provided by the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.
- Agape Resource & Assistance Center (Plano), a scalable and replicable affordable housing solution that supports residents to sustain or attain economic stability.
- The Concilio (Dallas), whose innovative “talk pedometer” helps parents understand the importance of and increases their children’s exposure to early-language learning.
- Connected Mind (McKinney), a mental health triage tool that identifies up to six of the most troubling mental health conditions and provide school counselors with an instant mental health risk in minutes.
- Cornbread Hustle (Addison), the first-ever staffing agency for second chances, which changes lives by helping people with criminal records find meaningful employment.
- Dwell With Dignity (Dallas), a retail pop-up thrift shop where high-end furniture, art, and accessories are sold at deep discount to fund the homes where domestic abuse survivors and their families can thrive.
- Kimiya International (Dallas), whose Fight Club has an interdisciplinary approach to addressing mental health care for women who are survivors of trauma, by integrating boxing, yoga, group talk therapy and/or journaling, and individual counseling.
- To Be Like Me (Dallas), an innovative disability awareness program, currently targeted to schools, that aims to build more inclusive communities through education and purposeful interactions.
- Trusted World (Garland), which streamlines the labor-intensive work of accepting donations of food, clothing and personal care products for the nonprofit community with no-cost service and online inventory.
- The Welman Project (Fort Worth), which gives teachers the tools and the creativity needed to provide equal education regardless of school funding by connecting educators in need of supplies and companies with surplus goods to make better use of the resources already available in our community.
Pro tip: You can check out the full 2020 Social Innovation Accelerator cohort here.
