Hey there!

Just 2 weeks ago, we hosted the finale of our very first pitch competition, and I have to say that our community never fails to amaze me! The energy and preparation that each startup put into crafting their pitches and responding to Q&A was truly remarkable to watch. Three teams came out with cash prizes, but our entire community won the night.

Our grand prize of $7,000 was awarded to Evan Leaphart of Kiddie Kredit. Next, our $2,000 prize was awarded to Tenlie Mourning of Dendwell. Finally, our $1,000 prize was awarded to Abu Kamara & Hope Vega of GetPotluck. Congratulations to each of you!

If you missed the live event, you can check out the recording here or listen on our podcast.

In reality, when it comes to building a more equitable future, and investing more into underrepresented founders, pitch competitions aren’t enough. So we’re full speed ahead in our mission to contribute to a startup ecosystem where everyone has the resources necessary to thrive.

In doing so, we’ve got a bunch of great things to share in upcoming communications, but we’ll start with this one: First Founders is now part of the Segment Startup Program! This means that for startups in our community with up to $5M in total funding that are less than 2 years old:

• Segment is now free: $50,000 in Segment credits for one year + an additional year of credits if they still qualify, then 50% off any business tier plan for a year, followed by a 25% discount for a year.

• Over $1M in software discounts: Segment's founders have negotiated exclusive deals so that founders never pay full price again.

• Segment helps startups get analytics right: Access to office hours, priority support, courses, and more.

So, if you’d like to take advantage of these new perks, just fill out this form and tell them First Founders sent you. ;)

More exciting updates to share in the weeks ahead, so stay tuned! As always, feel free to drop a line to let us know if you’re in search of support or collaboration.

Thanks for reading!
Garry Johnson III
Founder & Executive Director

Free Resources & Upcoming Opportunities

• Black, Latinx, and Indigenous businesses have long struggled against an economy designed to deny them access. In response, a new enterprise and crowdfunding platform - REUNION - was launched where supporters can help close the early-stage capital gap for the next generation of diverse founders

  This spring, REUNION and a team of national and local partners are spotlighting Black, Latinx, and Indigenous entrepreneurs. We're excited to invite local businesses to participate in this campaign and secure professional advising, story boosting, and financial support. 

  To learn more about REUNION visit: http://www.joinreunion.com/ and here to apply: https://tinyurl.com/joinreunion.

• Join our First Founders Community Sessions happening weekly on Wednesdays from 7pm-9pm ET. This is simply a time to get your startup questions answered, practice your pitch, and connect with the entire community. Each session is free & open to all who want to join in. Register Here!

• Have a question about First Founders or entrepreneurship in general? Don’t be afraid, ask us!

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