Conscious Venture Lab opens applications for 5th cohort

Conscious Venture Lab opened applications for the fifth cohort of its accelerator program helping mission-driven startups build a business.

The West Baltimore-based program is seeking startups working on new models focused on cities, whether on resilience or on “smart” technology to make cities more livable and equitable.

The next cohort of the four-month program runs this August to November. Up to 10 companies will join, and startups that participate can receive $100,000 in convertible note investment.

Initially launched in Howard County, Conscious Venture Lab moved to space at Baltimore City Community College in 2017 in partnership with Innovation Village. CEO Jeff Cherry and Joe Mechlinski also partnered that year to form investment firm Shift Ventures, which supports the program.

“Our thesis that smart, innovative and driven entrepreneurs are everywhere, but opportunity is not, is proving to be a powerful differentiator for us,” said Cherry in a statement.

Past cohorts — the most recent of which closed out in January with a demo day at the Parkway Theatre in Station North — attracted startups from out of state, as well as a diverse group of founders. Most of the 2018 group had a majority of founders who were women and people of color.

Mentors for the next cohort include Ed Freeman of the Institute for Business in Society at the University of Virginia, author and professor Raj Sisodia, Motley Fool CEO Tom Gardner, former Shinola Detroit president Jacques Panis and SmartLogic CEO Yair Flicker.