The latest round of StartUp PHL “Call for Ideas” grants are helping turn Philadelphians of all ages and races into entrepreneurs.
The city just announced $104,000 worth of grants to six organizations, including the youth-focused Public Workshop, TechGirlz and Schoolyard Ventures (formerly Startup Corps) and Asociacion Puertorriquenos En Marcha, which serves the Latino community.
See the awards below, with descriptions supplied by the city:
- Asociacion Puertorriquenos En Marcha ($20,000): APM will convert a parcel of land at 6th and Susquehanna into a pop-up market place and provide entrepreneurial training to aspiring and nascent entrepreneurs, creating a gateway for entrepreneurial activity in this community.
- Corzo Center for the Creative Economy at the University of the Arts ($15,000): In January 2016, the Center — in partnership with the Philadelphia Free Library — will offer an interactive, program to those considering a business based in the creative economy. Participants will also receive two hours of one-on-one consulting and the opportunity to apply for seed grants.
- Refugee Women’s Textile Initiative ($18,548): The RWTI will empower refugee women with sewing and textile skills and manufacturing contacts to create independent businesses, develop a cooperative store, and merge traditional textiles with new art forms to overcome poverty and gain economic mobility.
- Schoolyard Ventures ($6,000): Schoolyard Ventures will create a marketplace where teens with great ideas can connect with those who wish to fund them. After helping over 800 middle school and high school aged students launch businesses providing over $70,000 in direct micro-capital to them, Schoolyard Ventures has learned that as little as $250 can help a young person launch a business, as well as build skills and improve the lives of others in the city.
- TechGirlz Charitable Foundation ($19,990): TechGirlz will provide a stipend or college credit for high school and college students who teach the TechShopz in a Box Program in workshops throughout Philadelphia. TechShopz in a Box is a TechGirlz-developed curricula for middle school girls.
- Tiny WPA ($25,000): The Building Hero Project is a design, leadership and entrepreneurship incubator for individuals ages 16 and up who want to be a part of a diverse community of civic change agents. Participants will learn how to design and build products for sale and manage an eCommerce store.
Companies:
Corzo Center / Free Library of Philadelphia / Public Workshop / Startup Corps / TechGirlz
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