V.E.R. SOCIAL IMPACT INCUBATOR

Led by a diverse network of instructors and mentors from the social impact sector, this 5-month incubator brings a comprehensive and proven curriculum of business development to early-stage Black and Latinx social entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs are our V.E.R. Fellows: Vision. Execution. Results.

For 5 months our Fellows meet (virtually) with our amazing instructors, mentors, and volunteer consultants for:

​Ten development sessions that include:

• ​Mission and Vision Setting
• Program and Product Development 
• Organizational Leadership 
• Pilot Programming and MVP Design 
• Technology Literacy
• Financial Management & Budgeting  
• Strategic Communication
• Fundraising and Development 
• Impact Measurement  
• Diversity and Leadership Panel

Participants receive​:

• Access to industry panels and workshops
• A community of like-minded entrepreneurs  
• Curated introductions and referrals for your business
• A Personal mentor to support the leadership journey
• A Culminating ‘KickBack’ celebration
• Access to Represented Foundation's network of alumni and volunteers​

 

 

MEET THE FELLOWS

Click each fellow's names to learn more

Afiya Williams

Wild Fiya​

Alterell Mills

Project P.R.I.S.M​

Ashley Ellis

The B.R.E.A.T.H.E Collective, Inc.​​

Ariana Abramson

Girls Can Build​

Brie Colston

Brown Girl Recovery​

Kylah Bruno

Brown Girl Recovery

Chaele Davis

Femme Focus Events​

Dimple Patel

Sarvasya Yoga

Franklyn Mena

Universe City NYC

Anika Carter

ROOTED LLC​

Kaniya Samm

ROOTED LLC

Tendo Sekiwala

Labor of Love

 

 

MEET THE MENTORS

 

Eunice Nyandat​

Eunice Nyandat is the Founder at MBM [MyBizMarketer] based in Nairobi, Kenya. Her first taste of entrepreneurship was as a product manager of Managed Cyber Security; while in that position, she co-founded a lifestyle management company in Atlanta, GA. Three years later, she pivoted and founded a Digital Marketing, Advertising, and Analytics firm for Tech startups. In 2014, she started to venture into the Kenyan market and fully transition to Nairobi in 2016. In her short time in Kenya, she has worked with the following industries: technology, telecom, cosmetics, e-commerce, education, agriculture, and healthcare. 

Rachel Wyley ​

Rachel Wyley currently serves as the Bay Area Executive Director for Peer Health Exchange. She has worked in service of students and communities in the nonprofit sector for over 15 years, primarily in the Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Francisco Bay Area communities. Her professional career has taken her from parks to middle schools to performance venues and beyond. 

Cynthia Hellen ​

Cynthia is the founder and CEO of New York based design lab SMPLCT, pronounced simplicity, which creates  sustainable products, services and experiences for both people and our planet, by improving life and  building communities while also protecting the environment. Cynthia is the co-founder of Winning  Women Series, a community for women who celebrate the small wins that create change & impact in  the world and Oh Hello Liver, a podcast dedicated to the prevention & early detection of liver disease  while providing emotional guidance & support to those affected death, loss & grief.

Cynthia Shephard​

Cynthia Shephard is currently the General Manager at both Corazón de Mexico Restaurant & Bar and La Adelita de Woodside. She studied at Monroe College, majoring in Hospitality Management. Through both administrative and culinary experience, Cynthia provides Mexican cuisine, drinks, and catering services with the goal of inspiring others. She champions women and minorities through organizations like FoodtoEat and The Floating Hospital and also works to support victims of domestic abuse.

Emilie Hsieh​

Emilie is on a mission to help companies build inclusive culture. She is the founder and CEO of Allie, a SaaS platform to measure and improve diversity and inclusion. Emilie started her career as a management consultant to Fortune 500 companies where she saw firsthand the impact of team dynamics and working styles on culture, inclusion, and belonging. She holds a BSE from Northwestern University and lives in the East Village.

Phaon Spurlock​

Phaon Spurlock is a marketing professional, serial entrepreneur, speaker, NYU adjunct instructor and Forbes featured lifestyle writer. He is the owner of BKLYN LEAGUE, LuxuriousPROTOTYPE, and Boheme Home Basics. His 15 years of experience in marketing has led him to work across several different industries, including finance, non-profit and entertainment/media. His passion for marketing inspired him to start Prototype MKTG, a creative agency that focuses on digital, experiential and multicultural. Through his speaking engagements, courses and consulting, he has had the opportunity to teach digital marketing to various people across different career backgrounds. 

Raz Petric

Raz Petric started his consulting career with Deloitte, advising public financial services firms. After working at large companies he transitioned to overseeing a family office comprising of multiple start-ups and middle-market businesses

Alain Leroy

Alain Leroy is the co-founder and COO of The Gentlemen’s Factory (GF), a growing community of like-minded men of color that are invested in each other’s success. Since 2014, GF has been providing members a safe space to experience a strong culture of Collaboration, Unity, and Accountability that maximizes Growth.

Resham Parikh

Resham is a communications consultant for technology and science companies. She is currently acting as the interim Head of Comms for Modern Ventures, a venture studio with a portfolio of health startups in autism care, mental health, hospice care, and more. Before she started consulting for Modern Ventures, she worked with PR agencies and a variety of technology startups for nearly 10 years, including SWORD Health, AI SpaceFactory and Grace Hopper Academy.

 

MEET THE COACHES

Eva Turner

Eva is a spirituality education consultant, doula, LMSW, Metta meditation teacher, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner in training and certified Vinyasa yoga instructor deeply interested in radical connection and authenticity.

Jonathan Miller

Jonathan is the co-founder of Level 7 Leadership - a leadership development group working with social-impact founders to develop their leadership skills and build better businesses so that they can scale their impact (minus the burnout).  A certified professional coach, he believes that the most important tool a leader has is their ability to communicate. He has done extensive training in several modalities including Nonviolent Communication, the Harvard Negotiation Project, NLP, Landmark Worldwide, and more.

Nakia James-Jenkins

Nakia has spent her career in leadership positions at organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, driving the development of their people and cultures. At On-Ramps, Nakia works with social sector organizations focused on changing the world, leading searches and advising leaders on best practices in recruitment and hiring. In addition to her work with clients, Nakia supports On-Ramps’ internal talent work, as well as its work on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Unlike anything I've experienced. It's been invaluable. We still use those lessons to measure our success, today.”

— Karen, Co-Founder
Clinicians of the Diaspora
Spring 18'

I got to set aside the way that I would normally approach my business and be in a community that allowed me to learn and fail."

— Donte, Founder
We ROCC Intl
Spring 20'