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SEED SPOT is in search of a new CEO as C’pher Gresham moves to advisory role

Due to an ongoing family matter, Gresham has decided to step down after seven years working with the globally recognized social impact organization.

SEED SPOT CEO C'pher Gresham presenting at a conference. (Photo via @cphergresham on Twitter)
Prominent social impact incubator SEED SPOT is in search of a new CEO.

Founded in 2012, SEED SPOT runs a six-week incubator every fall and spring, two-day launch camps for entrepreneurs working to get their ventures on the map, webinars, and other programming. Outside of the District, the social impact organization has chapters in Phoenix, Minneapolis, Boise and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Last summer, longtime SEED SPOT leader C’pher Gresham took over as CEO, but due to an ongoing family matter, he has recently stepped down, the nonprofit confirmed to Technical.ly. He joined SEED SPOT in September 2014 as director of entrepreneur initiatives before working his way up to CEO, and will continue to support SEED SPOT in a strategic advisory and CEO emeritus role moving forward.

“Over the past nearly seven years, I am incredibly proud of the impact I have helped SEED SPOT achieve by empowering diverse, impact-driven founders,” Gresham said. “Starting from Phoenix, AZ, to now serving thousands of entrepreneurs globally, SEED SPOT has set the pace for inclusively creating agents of change to help tackle pressing challenges both locally and globally.”

SEED SPOT's new CEO, C'pher Gresham.

SEED SPOT’s C’pher Gresham. (Photo by Aaron Kess of Aaron Kes Photography)

Corinn Perry took over as interim CEO of SEED SPOT in June 2020 after previously working as the organization’s chief of staff. She’s been with SEED SPOT for seven years and has been integral to growing the organization’s team and impact as a top global accelerator. (Check out Perry’s thoughts on beating work-from-home burnout during quarantine.) Perry said she is supportive of Gresham and his plans to remain committed to SEED SPOT and inclusive, impact-driven entrepreneurship in D.C. and globally.

SEED SPOT first posted its open CEO role on Oct. 20, and the organization formed a dedicated team searching for its next leader. It’s not clear yet when SEED SPOT will announce a new CEO.

“In partnership with our CEO Emeritus, C’pher Gresham, our Board of Directors and team, we are looking for a values-driven CEO to support our next stage of growth as an organization,” Perry told Technical.ly. “It has never been more important to empower entrepreneurs with the tools to take on the world’s greatest challenges and is at the forefront of all we do.”

Despite the pending leadership changes, SEED SPOT has continued to host programming virtually through the pandemic, after quickly pivoting in early March. Perry said SEED SPOT has continued to grow and has seen a massive increase in participation on virtual programs, serving more than 1,300 entrepreneurs since moving online. Recently, SEED SPOT received a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to support growth of angel investor networks. The organization’s current Impact Accelerator cohort is wrapping up this week, and included 15 entrepreneurs, seven of which hail from the DMV region.

Companies: SEED SPOT
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