Village Capital announced that Dollarito, Enabled Health, ISeeChange, and Pear Suite were peer-selected to receive equity-free grant funding as a part of “ADAPT: Social Innovation for a More Resilient Future in the United States.” ADAPT, which was launched with support from MetLife Foundation and received additional support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is an accelerator program operating in the U.S. and Latin America.
Washington, D.C., (December 12, 2022) – Village Capital announced that Dollarito, Enabled Health, ISeeChange, and Pear Suite were peer-selected to receive equity-free grant funding as a part of “ADAPT: Social Innovation for a More Resilient Future in the United States.” ADAPT, which was launched with support from MetLife Foundation and received additional support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is an accelerator program operating in the U.S. and Latin America.
Over 130 startups from 28 states applied to be a part of the new accelerator. The final cohort was composed of 19 startups from 10 states, with 42% of the cohort headquartered outside of U.S. tech hubs (NY, CA, and MA), 58% led by a female founder or have a female C-suite member, and 74% led by a BIPOC founder. Specifically, 37% of the cohort companies have an active founder that is Asian or Pacific Islander, 16% are Black or African American, and 21% are Hispanic or Latino.
“It has been inspiring to support impact-driven startups building equity, democratizing access, and improving social resilience in the face of climate change, inequality, and other challenges to individual and community wellbeing,” said Kelly Bryan, US Regional Director at Village Capital. “When we support innovative solutions at the intersection of climate change, healthcare, wellness, and economic mobility we are providing communities and individuals with the tools they need to grow and thrive.”
Dollarito, Enabled Health, ISeeChange, and Pear Suite were selected for grant funding by a group of peer entrepreneurs on the final day of “ADAPT: Social Innovation for a More Resilient Future in the United States,” a three-month venture development program. The 19 participant startups evaluated each other through an investor lens, using eight specific investment criteria that leverage Village Capital’s venture investment levels. Dollarito, Enabled Health, ISeeChange, and Pear Suite were ranked “most investment ready” and will receive USD 50K in grant funding from MetLife Foundation.
The four companies focus on the following:
For more information, reach out to Sofía Cándano at Village Capital (sofia.candano@vilcap.com).
About Village Capital
Village Capital is reinventing the system to back the entrepreneurs of the future. Known for its groundbreaking approaches to supporting founders who are building solutions to emergent social, economic, and environmental challenges, VilCap unlocks critical social and financial capital for early-stage companies to maximize business and impact growth.
Since 2009, Village Capital has supported over 1,400 startups that have raised over $5 billion in investment capital. It has made more than 150 investments through its various affiliated funds, including Vilcap Investments, which has invested in 110 peer-selected companies. Over 20,000 entrepreneurs have improved their investment readiness through its network of entrepreneur support organizations and its platform, Abaca. Learn more at www.vilcap.com and follow @villagecapital.
About MetLife Foundation
At MetLife Foundation, we are committed to driving inclusive economic mobility for underserved and underrepresented communities around the world. We collaborate with nonprofit organizations and provide grants aligned to three strategic focus areas – economic inclusion, financial health and resilient communities – while engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help drive impact. MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLife’s long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since 1976, MetLife Foundation has contributed over $900 million to strengthen communities where MetLife has a presence. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit www.MetLife.org.
