Industry: Social Platform Software

Dabble

Origin: St. Louis, MO | Grant Awarded: 2014 | Status: Active

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What is Dabble?

Founded in 2011, Dabble is a community marketplace for affordable, in-person classes in communities throughout the U.S. Dabble fosters life-long learning in a social atmosphere without breaking the bank. Through our community marketplace, Dabble makes it easy for people to list classes by facilitating the transaction and providing a market of curious learners. Class topics include cooking, woodworking, arts & crafts, knife throwing, wine tasting, whitewater rafting, yoga, business, fitness and much more! Users are encouraged to stretch their imagination in regard to the limitless possibilities for dabbling. Teachers include passionate experts and businesses, and for them, Dabble serves as a lead generation vehicle, additional income stream, and creative outlet. Dabble also offers local businesses the opportunity to host classes that are relevant to them, increasing exposure and driving incremental business. The process for submitting a class occurs online, and anyone is invited to teach.

Company Leadership

Jemal Swoboda

Founder & CEO

Jemal Swoboda is an experienced leader of high-performance mission-based teams, and committed to leveraging the power of technology to improve and foster increased human connection, empathy, curiosity, and compassion..

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Noveil

Origin: CA | Grant Awarded: 2022 | Status: Active

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What is Noveil?

Noveil is a video based dating app for Generation Z college students that uses machine learning to match users. We created Noveil because we noticed several problems in the dating industry such as superficial dating practices, lack of women’s safety, and poor success rates for actual relationships. Our platform solves these issues by allowing users to speak with one another via video chat for 3 minutes before they decide whether or not the would like to match with this person.

Company Leadership

Michael Allotey

cEO

Michael Allotey is an LA native who graduated from the University of California , Irvine in 2021 with a B.S in Computer Science and Innovation. He has experience as an engineer at Amazon as well as Investment banking with Goldman Sachs. He is passionate about technology and how it can be used to improve the quality of life.

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Kendrick Barefield

Co-founder

Kendrick Barefield grew up in Bakersfield, CA and graduated from University of California, Irvine with a Bachelors degree in Mechanical engineering in 2021. His industry experience includes Engineering design with Lucid Motors and Thermal engineering with Masten Space Systems. Kendrick has committed to giving back to the community, serving on the board of the National Society of Black Engineers and participating as a mentor in the 100 Black Men of Orange County.

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Flora

Origin: IL | Grant Awarded: 2022 | Status: Active

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What is Flora?

Flora was born from pains of horticultural hopelessness: Aabesh De, the Founder of Flora, was killing every single plant in his line of sight. The last straw was when his mother gave him a rose bush plant to babysit: The rose bush withered away in a week.

Aabesh was frustrated that there wasn’t an accessible, easier way to learn about houseplants and gardening, while connecting with other plant parents along the way. Surprised that there wasn’t a “heart monitor for your plants” in the market, started tinkering around with numerous moisture and light sensors in late 2020, and invented the Flora Pod.

He eventually developed the Flora iOS app for launch in July, 2021, which has now grown to more than 125,000 users from more than 190 countries! Flora has now grown to a talented, plant-obsessed, rock-star team of 30 individuals committed to one singular mission: To save as many plants as possible and commit to fighting the climate crisis through connecting millions of people with nature.

Company Leadership

Aabesh De

founder & cEO

A first-generation immigrant and globe-trotter, Aabesh is driven by a lifelong sense of curiosity.

He founded Flora from this applied curiosity, inventing the Flora Pod and developing the Flora iOS app from his frustrations with horticultural hopelessness. He taught himself mobile development (primarily in Swift), and found his calling in building useful, mission-driven products for thousands of people. He previously worked at Microsoft and Etsy, and is now dedicated to saving as many plants as possible and committed to fighting the climate crisis through connecting millions of people with nature.

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Mavity

Origin: N.Y. | Grant Awarded: 2021 | Status: Active

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What is Mavity?

Mavity is the end-to-end marketplace and collaboration tool that connects businesses with 11K+ creative professionals through a skill-quantification method and grouping them in highly effective, on-demand teams. We help businesses source and build teams, while helping creators with features to optimize their productivity including tax compliance, cross-border payouts, and project management tools. Mavity’s investors include Capital Innovators, Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Fund, and MassChallenge.

Company Leadership

Tomas Uribe

co-Founder & CEO

Tomas Uribe is an entrepreneur and musician, co-founder and CEO of Mavity, the end-to-end marketplace and collaboration tool for on-demand creative teams. Tomas has been featured in Entrepreneur, Forbes and INC, and an invited speaker at SXSW, MusicBiz, Music Entrepreneur Conference at Harvard University, and Colombia 4.0. Prior to Mavity, he worked as a touring musician and composer, as well as with global brands including Radeberger Gruppe, Leica Camera, and at the United Nations.

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Juan Soto

VP, Sales and Marketing

Juan Soto is VP, Sales and Marketing at Mavity, and Director at AIR Artists in Residence Accelerator and has over 7 years of experience. At Universal Music Colombia, he was involved in the positioning of all Digster playlists on digital platforms to position international artists in the Andean region market. At Kuack Media Group, he directed the creation of applications such as Lola Music, Viva Bolivia, and D Music. He holds a BS in Economics and a masters’ in Digital Marketing.

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Kristian Diaz

co-Founder & CTO

Kristian Diaz has 15 years of technology experience, with a Master’s in Computer Science, and specialized in machine learning and artificial intelligence. He has built products at Royal Caribbean and Newsela, as well as CTO at an ad-tech startup in Miami, FL.

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Olio City

Origin: MO | Grant Awarded: 2015 | Status: Acquired

What is Olio City?

Olio City was a personalized city guide application featuring the best a city has to offer.

Olio City was acquired by Gateway Blend in 2019

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Be a Part of the Movement

We champion extraordinary entrepreneurs to create positive change – for St. Louis and for the world. Join us by applying to our Global Startup Competition, becoming a financial supporter, volunteering your time or amplifying our message.

LEARN ABOUT THE COMPETITION
See How You Can Get Involved →