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Key people at digitalundivided.
digitalundivided is a nonprofit organization that provides data-driven research, startup accelerators, and advocacy programs to support Black and Latinx women entrepreneurs across the startup ecosystem. The entity produces industry reports, such as Project Diane, which analyzes venture capital access disparities, and operates cohort-based accelerator programs like START and BIG to provide resources and alternative financing pathways. It funds its operations through grants and corporate sponsorships, maintaining strategic partnerships with financial institutions including JPMorgan Chase to deliver regional initiatives like Small Business Forward and BREAKTHROUGH New York. The organization's programs serve early-stage tech founders and have supported participating companies such as Mystery on Main Street, Racky, and Easie. Additionally, the nonprofit receives guidance from board members like Larry Wilson to help women of color secure capital and catalyze economic growth. digitalundivided was founded in 2012 by Kathryn Finney.
Key people at digitalundivided.
digitalundivided (DID) is a non-profit organization founded to empower Black and Latina women entrepreneurs by providing data-driven research, training programs, mentorship, and community support to overcome systemic barriers in the startup ecosystem.[1][2][3][4] Through initiatives like the flagship START pre-revenue program, BIG incubator, and accelerator, DID helps early-stage founders develop business models, secure funding, and scale ventures, reporting 85% of participants achieving business growth and over $30 million in capital connections.[2][4][5] Its mission centers on fostering economic equity and inclusive innovation, primarily in the U.S., with a focus on tech and broader entrepreneurship for women of color.[1][7]
digitalundivided was founded in 2012 (with some sources noting 2013) by Kathryn Finney, a venture capitalist and advocate motivated by the underrepresentation of Black and Latinx women in tech and business.[1][3][5][7] Finney launched DID to provide economic security through the "startup pipeline," starting from idea validation to funding access, inspired by stark disparities highlighted in early research like Project Diane.[3][5][7] Key early milestones include groundbreaking studies on Black women founders, expansion into programs like the BIG incubator (now in its fourth cohort by around 2015-2016), and building an all-women leadership team focused on research, training, and community.[1][5] The organization evolved from data advocacy to hands-on incubation, with headquarters in Newark, NJ, to embed in diverse entrepreneurial hubs.[1]
digitalundivided rides the wave of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) trends in tech, spotlighting how Black and Latina founders receive less than 1% of venture capital amid rising demands for equitable ecosystems.[5][7] Its timing aligns with post-2020 momentum for systemic change, using data from Project Diane to quantify barriers like funding disparities, influencing policy, investors, and accelerators.[1][7] Market forces favoring impact investing and corporate DEI budgets amplify DID's work, as it connects founders to capital and networks, transforming local communities and challenging tech's homogeneity.[1][4] By scaling alumnae successes and advocating for "women of color owning their work," DID shapes a more inclusive innovation landscape, inspiring global replication despite U.S.-focus.[1][2]
digitalundivided is poised to expand its virtual and hybrid programs like START and New C-Suite, potentially deepening global research influence while prioritizing U.S. scaling amid economic shifts.[2][6][7] Trends like AI-driven entrepreneurship tools, rising Latino wealth-building focus, and sustained DEI scrutiny will shape its path, with opportunities in corporate partnerships and policy advocacy.[1][6] Its influence may evolve toward broader founder inclusivity, amplifying $1M+ "C-Suite" leaders to bridge wealth gaps, solidifying DID as a cornerstone for equitable economic growth from idea to impact.[4][6] This builds on its decade-plus legacy of turning systemic challenges into founder triumphs.
