(Courtesy photo)Īnother accelerator startup is Emile, a self-improvement artificial intelligence bot that aims to gets users closer to their sleep and exercise goals. VFA doesn’t fund the accelerator startups as a rule but has a seed fund that startups could apply for and receive funding from.Įmile founders Charlie Molthrop and Nazli Danis. It’s currently looking for a lead accelerator sponsor for 2017. Last year’s accelerator was backed by the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, but the foundation only funds grantees for three years and last year was the third year it had backed VFA, said VFA’s Jackie Miller. VFA partnered with law firm Saul Ewing for mentorship, training and events, and First Round Capital for office space. “A big part of why we stayed in Philly and why our entrepreneurs continue to stay is because of the openness and support we get from the community here,” said Sergei Revzin, VFA’s Entrepreneur in Residence who took over for VFA’s Mike Tarullo in running the accelerator. The accelerator, which allows fellows to live rent-free for the summer in a West Philadelphia house and get business training and mentorship, is becoming a boon for Philly’s tech scene, akin to the way DreamIt Ventures has historically imported startups from around the country: half of the six startups from last year’s accelerator stayed in Philadelphia and are growing their teams here, including SkyMutual, Compassand LeagueSide. It’s the second summer VFA has brought its accelerator to Philadelphia - specifically, First Round Capital’s University City headquarters. (VFA places recent college grads at startups in up and coming tech cities across the country, including Philadelphia, Miami and Detroit.) After meeting as Venture for America (VFA) fellows in Miami, they’re here in Philadelphia with VFA’s accelerator, along with six other startups run by VFA fellows. The pair runs Arthur, a startup that connects users with personal stylists.
Leigh Sevin and Jinesh Shah want you to get to your next meeting in style.
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