DivInc, Austin’s premier startup accelerator for people of color and women entrepreneurs, is proud to announce the launch of its second Social Justice Innovation Accelerator, made possible through support from title sponsor Ascension Texas.

DivInc’s Social Justice Innovation Accelerator, powered by Ascension Texas, will support startup companies addressing racial inequities in healthcare, education, housing, mobility, criminal justice, or voting. This issue-specific program is 100% focused on finding and equipping the most innovative startup companies that are addressing inequities and disparities caused by institutionalized bias and racism with the resources they need to succeed.

“With all eight of our fall 2020 Social Justice Innovation Accelerator participants thriving, we look forward to welcoming our second cohort this February,” says Preston James, CEO at DivInc. He added, “Our ecosystem of expertise is designed to help entrepreneurs grow their companies. Through the Social Justice Innovation Accelerator we are marrying innovative products, community, tech, and activism to not just build startups but also create systemic change.”

Through the 12-week program, DivInc provides each cohort of startup founders with world-class curriculum, comprehensive programming, access to an extensive network of mentors and investors, and the critical resources they need to turn the right idea into a high-growth, investable company.

Ascension Texas, title sponsor for the program, is a leading healthcare provider in Central Texas and is dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. DivInc’s mission of addressing inequities and disparities caused by institutionalized bias and racism aligns with Ascension’s ABIDE (Appreciation, Belongingness, Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity) framework, which seeks to address systemic injustice.

“Alongside our focus on Texas’ health needs and serving its most vulnerable populations, we stand by our deep commitment to social justice, compassionate action and advocacy for all,” said Andy Davis, President and CEO of Ascension Texas. “Like DivInc, we at Ascension Texas are engaged in addressing inequality – whether in education, housing or mobility – since each is inextricably linked to access to healthcare, opportunity and quality of life. We look forward to working with DivInc to bring about meaningful change through enabling innovation.”

Title sponsor Ascension Texas will provide funding and also will collaborate with DivInc in acceleration programming and thought leadership initiatives for startup founders.

The DivInc Social Justice Innovation Accelerator program is also supported by sponsors Visible, Verizon, and Bank of America.