FastFWD: accelerator is looking for public safety-focused companies

FastFWD, the social entrepreneurship accelerator backed by a $1 million Bloomberg Philanthropies grant, is looking for its second class of companies. This will be the final class of FastFWD that is backed by the initial Bloomberg grant.

The first class, which marked its graduation by a demo day for investors last week, was focused on companies looking to improve public safety. The second class will broaden that focus to what FastFWD is calling “community stability.” That includes issues like “substance abuse, housing stability and youth and gang violence,” according to the FastFWD website, but interpret as you will: the previous class featured a company building pop-up buildings for vacant lots, a crowdsourced map of street harassment and a research database for lawyers.

FastFWD is run by public and private partners that include GoodCompany Group, the Wharton Social Impact Initiative and the City of Philadelphia. The 12-week program offers chosen companies $10,000, mentorship and training and an opportunity to pilot its product in Philadelphia. It requires companies to relocate to Philadelphia for the duration of the program.