The Johns Hopkins Social Innovation Lab's 2020–21 Accelerator cohort might only be meeting virtually, but its members are primed to make a real-world impact in areas such as fashion sustainability, bridging the digital divide, and civic engagement.
The 10 teams in the cohort introduced themselves during a virtual kickoff event Dec. 3 that brought together SIL alumni, advisers, and supporters. Over the next five months, the teams will work together while receiving business and financial support, including funding, advising, technical assistance, and training through a rigorous customer-discovery curriculum geared toward maximizing community impact and sustainability. The teams also benefit from coaching with design strategists-in-residence and strategic consulting from the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School's Community Consulting Lab.
"I'm excited about this year's program because of the diverse strengths and expertise that the founders bring to this cohort and the SIL community," says Madison Marks, director of SIL. "This year we have ventures that are looking at impacting Baltimore, the state of Maryland, the nation and the globe. All our teams also are addressing challenges that have become even more apparent amidst the pandemic."
SIL received 63 applications this year and is open to Baltimore-area residents and Johns Hopkins University students, as well as faculty and staff members seeking support for their social venture. Nearly two-thirds of the applications were from entrepreneurs not affiliated with Johns Hopkins University.
SIL's accelerator has supported 93 ventures overall that have raised $67 million in funding. Of these ventures, 55% remain operational, with more than 73% still active in Baltimore. These active ventures provide full-time employment to more than 260 people.
In this year's cohort, 90% of the ventures are led by entrepreneurs of color, with 80% led or co-led by female founders.
Meet the cohort teams below.
Bloc by Block News
Bloc by Block News is a news media cooperative and civic-engagement organization helping people tap into what matters most locally. The co-op offers a one-stop mobile app for trustworthy information and news about Maryland towns, cities, and neighborhoods.
CovidSMS
Image caption:The team includes Hannah Chiu, Serena Wang, Oren Wei, Kriti Lalwani, Paige Vinch, Estelle Yeung, Christina Wong, and Hana Hogan
CovidSMS is a customizable mass SMS system that provides COVID-19–related information and resources to individuals without reliable access to the internet.
Dyslexia Advocation Inc.
Image caption:Winifred Winston
Dyslexia Advocation Inc. educates, empowers, and equips adults and parents of children with dyslexia with the necessary tools to advocate successfully for themselves and their children.
Elevated Soups
Image caption:Jeffrey Griffin (left) and Chef Steven Allbright
Elevated Soups creates divine soups and stews for the public while reinvesting funds into outreach programs for the homeless in Central Maryland. This social enterprise component of the Franciscan Center will diversify additional revenue streams, create workforce development opportunities, and continue to provide nutritious soups to the current homeless population. As of December, the Franciscan Center has provided more than 300,000 meals to the Baltimore community during the pandemic.
Federate Association to Innovate Rental Housing (FAIR Housing)
Image caption:(From left) Carmen Fields, Michael Salonish, Jack Tomalis, and Brian Wojcik
FAIR Housing aims to eliminate evictions in Baltimore City and restore humanity to an industry responsible for providing one of the most critically essential and fundamental human needs—housing—by utilizing innovation in thinking and leveraging technology.
Menti
Image caption:(From left) Edo Ighodaro, Meghna Kumar, and Maya Foster
Menti is a tele-therapy platform that connects women of color to women of color therapists.
Restoring Inner City Hope Inc. (RICH)
Image caption:Michael and Danielle Battle
Restoring Inner City Hope Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded in 2011 with the mission to love, inspire, and empower youth and families throughout the city of Baltimore. Through the RICH Young Leaders Program, the organization is working with youths in the Cherry Hill neighborhood to develop their leadership qualities by exposing them to experiential learning and skills-building training.
SpreadKarma
Image caption:(From left) Love Joyner, Sherman Barksdale, Kellie Brown, LeMar Moore, and (not pictured) Adrienne Coverdale
SpreadKarma is a social donation-based crowdfunding platform that provides exposure, support, and access to funding for changemakers creating positive social impact in underserved and underrepresented communities.
Taara Projects
Image caption:Shanthi Ramakrishna (pictured), Saisri Gussenhoven, Fatima Elzamzami, Castalia Vidaurri, Michelle Tu, and Keerti Soundappan
Taara Projects is a fashion-based social enterprise committed to perpetuating a transparent cycle of positive social and environmental impact through embracing sustainable and ethical practices along our supply chain, from creation to distribution.
WeGo Foundation
Image caption:Pavan Shah (left), Galen Shi, and (not pictured) Hayden Dux
The WeGo Foundation engages pediatric patients at 11 hospitals across the country with telepresence robots to provide virtual tours of attractions, allowing children and their families to seek both educational enrichment and safe "escape" from the hospital.
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