Creativity, sustainability and lifestyle – three things the create Denton’s identity and the three industries that unite the companies making up the newest cohort of the AccelerateHER incubator program in the city.
Formed last year in a collaboration between Texas Woman’s University’s Center for Women Entrepreneurs and local coworking space Stoke, the early-stage, female founder-focused AccelerateHER program has selected seven companies to participate in its second cohort.
“We are not trying to compete with other incubator or accelerator programs in the region, but rather create something unique and additive to the area and Denton specifically,” said Heather Gregory, executive director at Stoke, via email. “We aim to have a positive impact on the economy and a meaningful impact on the culture in our community and the Metroplex as a whole. We are trying to help these women grow sustainable businesses, generate revenue, create jobs, and find ongoing success and personal fulfillment in their journey as entrepreneurs.”
The five-month hybrid incubator program focuses on establishing a business, testing ideas and growth, and leveraging TWU’s entrepreneurial knowledge and Stoke’s startup network, including the local investment group Denton Angels created by Stoke owner and satellite software startup Kubos CEO Marshall Culpepper. For this year’s program, local leaders will lead workshops, including Cathy Trinh, client services manager at TechFW; Aaron Powell, founder and CEO at Bunch Bikes; and Will Akins, director of operations at the North Texas Angel Network.
Last year’s inaugural cohort included six companies, largely from the Denton County area.
“We work hard to understand and help set individual achievable goals with each entrepreneur early in the program and do our best to help them reach these goals,” Gregory said. “Beyond that, we hope that we build a strong alumni network of women founders that will continue to nurture their relationships and collaborations beyond the five months of the program. We look for pretty early-stage companies… we like to focus on companies that we believe the program could help launch or get to revenue.”
Stoke opened its doors in 2016 in a partnership with the city of Denton to boost the local entrepreneurial scene. Last month, the coworking space hosted a ribbon-cutting of its redesigned interior, including 12 new private offices.
TWU has also been active in helping local entrepreneurs. Earlier this month, its Center for Women Entrepreneurs announced plans for its fifth round of the StartHER Grant Program. The program will provide women-owned businesses with $5,000 in funding for equipment, marketing, property improvements, and other business activities.
“I see this program as a great option for any woman founder who is serious about taking their business to the next level, accomplishing their goals and wants the support of a cohort and two organizations dedicated to their success,” Gregory said.
Meet AccelerateHER’s second cohort below.
Cooperative Coaching (Plano) – Launched in 2016 by former Green Top Grocery Outreach Manager Katie Novak, Cooperative Coaching is a planning and consulting firm focused on co-ops, helping with hiring and planning capital campaigns.
Filthy Rich Nutrients (Grand Prairie) – Created by Darciea Houston, a motivational speaker, wellness consultant and farmer, Filthy Rich Nutrients as a seller of gardening-related products, including soils, garden kits and potted plants.
Menza Art Studio (Dallas) – The Menza Art Studio highlights the work of local artist Carmen Menza, whose art incorporates light, sound, video and interactive software. The studio’s installations have been set up in places like the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Soluna Festival.
Secure and Known (Argyle) – A maker of educational toys for children, Secure and Known was established by Holly Michael to help parents of small children create impactful playtimes.
The Auntie Network (Dallas) – Designed by founder Radha Patel, adds transparency to the online dating process for Southeast Asians. The Auntie Network is a dating app that notifies users that the parents are behind the profiles looking to match others. The concept came out of Patel’s other business, Single to Shaadi, a matchmaking platform launched in 2018.
Thistle Creative Reuse (Denton) – Thistle Creative Reuse is based on the concept of former business SCRAP Denton. The art and craft store uses donated and recycled materials. Thistle was launched at the beginning on this year by Kari Meyercord-Westerman, Jeanna Dunlap and Heather Leigh Hoskins. It opened it's first brick-and-mortar location in April.
Truli Eco (Austin) is a stealthy, sustainable fashion brand that uses regenerative stretch materials and focuses on “human and ecological flourishing.”
This article has been updated to show that Kari Meyercord-Westerman, Jeanna Dunlap and Heather are the co-founders of Thistle Creative Reuse.
