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Key people at Hillman Accelerator.
Hillman Accelerator is the Midwest's first tech accelerator dedicated to supporting venture-backable tech startups founded by women and people of color, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The organization provides a 16-week curriculum offering mentorship, resources, and networking to bridge gaps in venture capital distribution for underrepresented entrepreneurs. Its first cohort of three companies, including Solo Funds and Aleras, collectively raised $3 million, created 22 jobs, and projected $3 million in revenue from signed contracts. A precursor, the Black Founders Network, previously facilitated $45 million in funding for its members' companies over three years. Key early funders included CincyTech, Cintrifuse, and The Brandery, supporting its mission to foster diverse tech innovation. Hillman Accelerator was founded in 2016 by Candice Matthews, Ebow Vroom, and former NFL player Dhani Jones.
# Hillman Accelerator: High-Level Overview
Hillman Accelerator is an inclusive entrepreneurship education program and business accelerator based in Cincinnati, Ohio, dedicated to supporting venture-backable tech startups founded by women and ethnic minorities.[2] The accelerator provides mentorship, specialized curriculum, partnerships, and capital investments to help underrepresented founders scale their companies.[4]
The organization operates as both an accelerator and a mentorship hub, offering resources that extend beyond traditional startup funding. Its mission centers on ensuring that founders from underrepresented backgrounds receive the support, guidance, and connections necessary to build successful tech companies in an ecosystem that has historically excluded them.[1][4]
# Origin Story
Hillman Accelerator emerged from the Black Founders Network, a community organization founded by Candice Matthews in 2015 to host monthly events for African-American startup founders.[2] Members of this network recognized that while their local community was well-connected and funded, founders in other cities lacked similar support systems. This insight led to the creation of Hillman Accelerator as a solution to democratize access to accelerator resources across the Midwest.
The accelerator officially launched in 2017 with its inaugural cohort of five startups, operating from June through October.[2] Candice Matthews serves as executive director, working alongside program director John Guydon (a Techstars graduate) and venture professional Adriana Perez.[2] The accelerator is housed on the fourth floor of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in downtown Cincinnati, a location that reflects its commitment to equity and community.[2]
# Core Differentiators
# Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
Hillman Accelerator addresses a critical gap in the venture ecosystem: the underrepresentation of women and ethnic minorities in tech entrepreneurship and venture capital. By creating a dedicated accelerator focused on these founders, Hillman challenges the traditional gatekeeping mechanisms that have historically limited capital and mentorship access to underrepresented groups.
The accelerator's emergence in 2017 coincided with growing awareness of diversity and inclusion challenges in tech. Its model—combining capital, curriculum, mentorship, and institutional partnerships—demonstrates a systemic approach to ecosystem building rather than isolated grant-making. By anchoring itself in Cincinnati and positioning itself as a Midwest resource, Hillman also contributes to geographic diversification of startup support, reducing the concentration of accelerator resources in coastal tech hubs.
# Quick Take & Future Outlook
Hillman Accelerator represents a deliberate effort to reshape who gets access to venture capital and entrepreneurial support. As the startup ecosystem increasingly recognizes that diversity drives innovation and financial returns, accelerators like Hillman serve as both moral imperative and market opportunity.
The organization's trajectory will likely depend on demonstrating strong portfolio outcomes—whether its founders achieve meaningful exits and scale. Success here would validate the model and potentially inspire similar accelerators in other regions. Looking ahead, Hillman's influence may extend beyond direct investments to shaping how other accelerators and venture firms approach diversity and inclusion in their own programs.
Key people at Hillman Accelerator.
