Freelance Platform, Fiverr, Awards $24K To Black-Owned Start-Ups

Fiverr — an Israeli online freelancer platform —has awarded five Black start-up firms $24K through its Future Collective Fellowship Program to help expand their business.

The business accelerator is a fellowship for Black entrepreneurs, and five businesses were selected for the program’s inaugural class, and each will receive $24,000.

The program is also backed up by 1863 Ventures, a Black-led and D.C.-based nonprofit organization, and Maestra, a women of color-owned business strategy firm, according to Afrotech.

“Fiverr’s purpose is to provide anyone, no matter their race, religion, background or beliefs, the opportunity to build their business, brand, or dreams. The U.S. is our largest market, and therefore it’s incumbent upon us to use our platform and resources to help our community there however we can,” said Fiverr CMO Gali Arnon.

The Future Collective Fellowship Program fellows are listed below:

Appdrop (Adrian Abrams) — a platform to build mobile apps without code

Budget Collector (Ebonique Boyd & Anya Ellis) — an AI-based mobile app for art collectors

De L’Or Cakery (Kayisha Thompson) — a Caribbean infused artisan cake catering company

Hey Girl Hey (Seanice & Sharina Clarke) — a card game designed for Black women to build connections

Keeyahri (Keya Martin) — a unique luxury women’s shoe brand

Along with the funding, the fellows will have access to mentorship, guidance, and coaching sessions from Fiverr’s senior management team, Zenger reports.