Driving innovation by removing barriers to partnership among diverse founders, investors, and providers.

Hi there,

I have some BIG news to share with you this month.

Really big.

As a subscriber, you're getting this news early - before the press release goes out next week, with social posts to follow. If you're not already following us on LinkedIn, now's the time to hit that follow button so you don't miss any updates!

Ready?

I am THRILLED (that's an understatement) to announce that we've hired Ralph H. Groce III as President & COO, alongside securing $500K in strategic financing as part of our broader fundraising efforts.

Last year, underrepresented founders received the lowest percentage of investment dollars since 2016. We are scaling up our operations to meet the urgent call to support diverse entrepreneurs and increase our impact for a more inclusive startup ecosystem.

Ralph was one of Scroobious' earliest investors, and after three years of relationship and business building, he's made the decision to transition from an exceptional corporate career to join our team full-time, underscoring our industry-shaping potential.

Ralph has decades of experience leading business transformation at top global investment firms, including Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, Everest Re, and BNY. Check out his LinkedIn and connect with him to learn more about his extensive accomplishments. Shhh - his new position isn't on there yet as we're coordinating the announcement with the press release, but consider this your VIP preview!

What I've come to greatly admire about Ralph, and what you'll soon see too, is his unwavering moral compass and a deep passion for creating a new system of equitable access to capital. Trust me when I say that we are one formidable team.

Scroobious already supports a community of over 900 founders, with dozens of strategic partnerships and more exciting announcements coming soon. With Ralph's leadership, his expertise in finance and technology, and our recent strategic funding round, we are well-positioned for significant expansion.

Keep reading to explore great upcoming events and opportunities below, and don't overlook our featured founder at the end! Thank you for reading. Thank you for supporting us. I appreciate you.

Allison Byers, Founder & CEO

Events & Updates

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ACA Women's Investor Forum: Sep 4-5, Boston. The Angel Capital Association hosts an annual gathering of its angels and aspiring angels for the Women's Investor Forum. Everyone is welcome! This year we will be at the Foley Hoag offices in Seaport West, Boston. The forum will kick off at 4pm on the 4th with a screening of the documentary Show Her the Money and a reception and conclude at 5 p.m. on the 5th after a fun filled day of great content, conversations and networking.

ConV2X 2024 Boston: Sep 10-11, Quincy, MA, Blending Platforms for Patient and Enterprise Success in Healthcare & Life Sciences. This is the leading C-Suite conference focused on platforms, AI, and decentralized technology,
bringing together global industry authorities to this 2-Day event. I'll be speaking about leveraging technology to drive diversity and inclusivity in the startup and investing industries and why it's essential to integrate advocacy into business strategies.

Virtual Workshop: Join us on Sep 17 from 2-3 pm ET where Berta from Inspiralia will discuss how to navigate the different public funding opportunities available for health and science-based startups.

Virtual Workshop: JP Morgan believes that founders who are armed with data, research, and market insights are better prepared for the dynamic world of raising venture capital.

Join us on Sep 18 from 2-3 pm ET where Christian will highlight findings from the latest JP Morgan reports on the early-stage Venture Capital space and share effective, practical strategies that founders can use to both raise money and stretch the funds they already have.

She+ Geeks Out Podcast: This was a great conversation about breaking through in entrepreneurship and funding for underrepresented founders. We covered my own journey, gender roadblocks, fundraising, Scroobious' vision, and my advocacy work in the space of equitable access to capital.

CALL FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: Do you have a service provider who you recommend to founders? Has there been a vendor instrumental in your company building journey? We want to know! We're bringing new and helpful features to the platform and are almost ready to reveal what we've built, but we need your recommendations for trusted providers! Let us know here!

#PutAWomanOnIt: Whether you’re gearing up to make it through a manel (all-male panel) or just want to add a touch of empowerment to your everyday life, we’ve got you covered. We aim to bring a smile to your face and a spark to your activism. From cozy sweatshirts to stylish tees to bold stickers, we’ve got everything you need to make a statement.

Select Opportunities

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Mogul Millennial: In honor of National Black Business Month, Mogul Millennial, Inc. has partnered with BetterHelp to offer a month of free therapy to help you navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. Limited spots are available. Applications are due 9/9.

LegalZoom Fast Break Grant Program: Legal Zoom's Fast Break for Small Business is a grant program for small business owners that aims to assist them with the tools and resources they need to start and grow their businesses. Winners receive a $10,000 small business grant and/or up to $500 in LegalZoom products and services. Applications due 9/13.

Galaxy Grants: Galaxy Grants is teaming up with Hidden Star to provide small business funding for women and minority entrepreneurs. Applications are due 9/30.

Veteran Shark Tank: The Veteran Shark Tank is hosting a national pitch competition for veteran entrepreneurs. 5 finalists will pitch their idea for the chance to win a $50k cash prize. Applications are due 10/6.

MassRobotics: Applications for the 2025 MassRobotics Accelerator are open. This program has a refined focus on hardware robotics, allowing them to deeply support their startups. This accelerator is an equity-free program. Applications are due 10/25.

Member Wins

Some of the many wins from our community this month.

Meredith Yinger, founder of She TV Media, has a feature documentary screening at the Women’s Film Festival in Philadelphia.
Jowanza Joseph, founder of Parakeet Financial, won the Pitch Mayhem pitch competition.
The Better Spot, founded by Madilynn Beck, was featured in Hypepotemus.
QuickCart Africa, co-founded by Joel Mutua, pitched at the Global Startup Grind Conference in Silicon Valley.
Laura Vitale, founder of Modality, is in the latest VHBOS cohort.
Di Ye, founder of Talent Companion, is in the latest VHBOS cohort.
Emily Man, co-founder of Venova Technologies, is in the latest VHBOS cohort.
Moxie Scrubs, founded by Alicia Tulsee, was recognized among the "30 Most Innovative Companies to Watch 2024" by SME Business Review.
RT MicroDx, founded by Nathalya Mamane, was selected to be part of the StarFinder Lab program powered by Roche and Moon Fund.
Lindsay Kuhn, founder of Wingspans, was selected as a potential speaker for SXSW EDU 2025.
Rachel Cossar, founder of Virtual Sapiens, received a US patent for their core IP.
Sip Herbals , co-founded by Orleatha Smith, was featured in a recent episode of Shark Tank.
NeuroBionics, co-founded by Nicolette Driscoll, has been awarded an NSF Phase I SBIR grant.
Nanoplex, founded by Joe Beyene, was selected as a finalist for the LabCentral Ignite Golden Ticket.
Marla Sofer, founder of Knomee, was featured in Forbes.
Sharely, founded by Soraya Depowski, was accepted into the VentureCrushFG Pod program.
Allison, founded by Brian Alvarez-Bailey, partnered with Mastercard to help smaller banks and credit unions.
EKOS.AI, founded by Melis Dural, is in the latest Blue Startups cohort.
Rahoo, founded by Matt Breen, received investment from VHS Ventures.

Featured Founder

Each newsletter features the perspective of one of our members. I encourage you to reach out to offer networking, investment interest, or expertise.

This month, we highlight Brittney Gray, Founder and CEO of KnowBra, a software solution that utilizes AI and computer vision for post-mastectomy bra fitting. Their platform automates insurance claims and offers zero-touch fittings to reduce discomfort, boost confidence, and guarantee a proper fit for the post-mastectomy experience.

KnowBra's solution is for cancer boutiques within health systems or cancer treatment centers that face challenges related to time management, staffing, insurance processing, and bra fitting accuracy, limiting their capacity to reach and serve more patients. KnowBra offers a more accurate fitting solution, insurance automation for a smoother patient transition, and the ability to scale impact through virtual options and standardized, repeatable processes.

"I founded KnowBra after experiencing firsthand the complexities and emotional challenges of navigating breast cancer recovery. As a cancer conqueror, I wanted to create something that would simplify the journey for others, helping women access personalized, compassionate care. KnowBra connects patients with trusted fitters and products, ensuring their post-mastectomy needs are met with empathy and expertise. This company is my way of giving back and making sure that no one has to face their recovery journey alone."

Do you want to be more Scroobious? Let's chat!

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