In a celebration of innovation and diversity, Silicon Valley Bank and StartupOS hosted a pitch event on February 27th at the SVB Experience Center in San Francisco. “Empowerment Through Innovation: Black History Month Pitch Event” was spearheaded by SVB Catalyst 2045 – SVB’s innovation diversity initiative – and aimed to recognize and amplify the efforts of minority founders who are driving scalable, innovative businesses. Through a partnership with StartupOS, this event provided a platform for underrepresented groups, including Women, Black, and Latinx entrepreneurs, to showcase their groundbreaking ideas and vie for valuable prizes and investor opportunities.
Paul Pluschkell, founder and CEO of StartupOS, highlighted the significance of SVB’s role in catalyzing startup success, stating, “SVB catalyzes startup success – their events ignite potential, and our StartupOS AI accelerator unlocks it. We provide intensive mentorship and resources for rapid growth. It’s like having a personal growth strategist in your pocket.”
Tosh Ernest, Head of SVB Catalyst 2045, reflected on the inspiring founders showcased at the event, particularly emphasizing their dedication to infusing compassion into health services. Ernest stated, “SVB’s Life Sciences and Healthcare practice sees many inspiring founders. But what inspired me most about these founders in our pitch competition was their dedication to infusing compassion into health services — putting the care back into healthcare.”
First place was awarded to Anita Gardyne, president and CEO of Onēva. Onēva is a wellness benefit app that helps employees find trusted in-home elder and adult care, childcare, mental healthcare, financial services and more. Gardyne expressed the significance of the event, not only in terms of the resources it provided but also in its role as a platform for showcasing Black and Brown excellence. She emphasized, “Almost as important, the event was an opportunity to showcase Black and Brown excellence and show we exist as highly qualified and competent founders with disruptive businesses ready to change the world. Role models are a human necessity.”
Second place was awarded to Dr. Mason Orme, founder of Wiggl Health, which prevents workplace injuries and short-term disability claims related to workplace ergonomics in the hybrid work environment. Orme highlighted the event’s role in fostering a supportive community for diverse founders, saying “Attending this event with top innovators and VCs was an inspiring experience. It reinforces my belief that a strong community exists to support diverse founders, strengthening my hope for greater representation in the tech industry.”
Third place winner, Dr. David Charlot, CEO, and co-founder of AuraSense, underscored the importance of platforms like StartupOS in amplifying the efforts of minority founders. Charlot stated, “The pitch event was far more than just an opportunity to present our company; it served as a powerful affirmation of the critical need for platforms that recognize and amplify the efforts of minority founders who are creating scalable, innovative businesses.” AuraSense provides gamified neurological treatment exercises inspired by Charlot’s child, who has a rare neurological condition, and co-founder Amber Ivey, a lawyer with multiple sclerosis.
Reflecting on their experience working with StartupOS and SVB, all winners praised the invaluable support and guidance they received throughout the competition. Gardyne emphasized the exceptional job of StartupOS in guiding her pitch, while Orme described his experience as “amazing” and highly recommended both companies to other founders.
As SVB and StartupOS continue to champion diversity and innovation, they are gearing up for their next pitch event in honor of Women’s History Month. Scheduled for March 21st with applications due March 8th, this event aims to celebrate women’s contributions to innovation and provide a platform for empowering female founders. With a commitment to fostering inclusivity and providing opportunities for underrepresented groups, SVB and StartupOS are paving the way for a more diverse and equitable innovation ecosystem.
For more information about upcoming events and initiatives, visit StartupOS at startupos.com and SVB at svb.com.
Follow me on LinkedIn or check out my other columns here.
