Crowdfunding platform REUNION is forming a cohort of underrepresented Philly founders

Entrepreneurship for Black and brown founders can often involve unique challenges. Crowdfunding platform REUNION wants to provide them with a resource boost, and is looking to Philadelphia for its new fundraising and storytelling campaign.

The platform seeks to empower founders color by providing them with funding, mentorship and other resources. REUNION is managed by D.C.-based firm Generation Titans, and locally, Comcast donated $20,000 to the project.

Generation Titans will work with Comcast to develop a thematic concept to align four founders as part of one cohort, Generation Titans cofounder Max Skolnick told Technical.ly. That cohort will crowdfund for their businesses via REUNION, and any funding raised will be distributed equally to the founders once the campaign is over. (Check out the Louisville, Kentucky REUNION for an example of what the campaign could look like.)

Comcast will connect about 30 of its employees to advise the founders in overcoming business obstacles via virtual one-on-one and small group sessions. The employees will also provide founders with feedback on content challenges.

To be considered for participation in the first cohort, business must be based in Philadelphia and be in an early stage of growth. There’s a “preference for business ideas that use technology in new ways to scale and build generational wealth,” as well as those that offer solutions to community issues. Founders must identify as Black, Latinx or Indigenous, while women founders, LGBTQ+ founders and founders with disabilities will also be considered.

REUNION applications will be accepted until April 9, with a cohort launch expected for later this month.

Michael Butler is a 2020-2022 corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The Groundtruth Project that pairs young journalists with local newsrooms. This position is supported by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism.