Plug In Ventures Selected by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation for 2026
Early-stage capital is shifting from simply funding startups to building the infrastructure founders need to become investment-ready and create enduring companies.
Plug In Ventures Marks 10 Years of Innovation and Impact in South Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES — Nov. 20, 2025 — This year, Plug In Ventures is celebrating a decade of accelerating innovation, empowering diverse founders, and driving economic growth in South Los Angeles. Founded in 2015, the venture accelerator has become a leading force in expanding access to entrepreneurship and venture capital for Black, Latinx, and underrepresented founders. […]
Innovation Isn’t Just About Technology — It’s About Who Gets the Chance to Create It
Why underestimated entrepreneurs are critical to America’s competitiveness Ten years ago, Plug In Ventures began with a simple but urgent belief: innovation cannot thrive if entire communities are locked out of the process. At the time, venture capital funding was already inequitable — with less than 2% of dollars reaching Black and Latinx founders — and today, that number […]
Unicorn Pitch Deck Examples
Uber This is when they were still called “UberCab.” And it’s very early in the life of the company, so the product and market are focused. You won’t find data about the company’s performance, since it’s so early. Reference: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/uber-pitch-deck-87832684/87832684 Dropbox Dropbox changed how the world stores and shares files, and its pitch deck […]
FAQ for AI Apps Pre-Seed Accelerator
FAQ for AI Apps Pre-Seed Accelerator Program Overview Q: What is the AI Apps Pre-Seed Accelerator? A: The AI Apps Pre-Seed Accelerator is a self-paced, virtual program for early-stage founders. The program blends learning modules with moderated sessions over a two-month period, designed to help founders gain foundational business knowledge. Participants receive priority consideration for […]
Plug In Ventures & ForbesBLK Summit Recap
Plug In Ventures CEO, Derek Smith, represented the Plug In Community at the ForbesBLK Summit in Atlanta from June 23rd to June 25th. He spoke on a panel titled “Show Me The Money: Get The Attention Of Investors To Raise Capital” alongside incredible venture leaders such as Bukie Adebo Umeano of Anthemis and Michael Proman […]
Plug In Announces 2024 Tech Accelerator Cohort 5
Black & Brown Tech Accelerator Announces 2024 Cohort Program Doubled its Submissions from Last Year;Founders Span Healthcare Tech, Digital Health, Fintech, Climate, and Gaming LOS ANGELES, May 10, 2024 – Today, Plug In Ventures, a growing tech community in South Los Angeles, announced Cohort 5 of its Accelerator Program, tailored specifically for early-stage startups led […]
Empowering Founders: A Showcase of Innovation in South Los Angeles
At Plug In Ventures, we believe in the power of collaboration and community to drive innovation. That’s why we were thrilled to partner with ChargerHelp! to host a special event that brought together 25 executives from Fortune 1000 and 500 Innovation Groups. The goal? To shine a spotlight on the incredible work being done by […]
Plug In Ventures Featured in TechCrunch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 4, 2024 – Los Angeles, CA – Derek Smith, founder of Plug In South LA, now Plug In Ventures, established a startup incubator in 2015 to support Black and brown entrepreneurs in economically disadvantaged areas. Recognizing funding disparities, the 12-week program provides workshops and industry-specific advice, with success stories like ChargerHelp, […]
Keith Chaney, Founder of Peadbo, Set to Pitch at the Official SXSW Pitch Competition 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Keith Chaney, Visionary Founder of Peadbo, Selected as a Finalist for SXSW Pitch Competition 2024 February 28, 2024 – Los Angeles, CA – Keith Chaney, the trailblazing founder of Peadbo, is set to showcase his groundbreaking vision at the prestigious SXSW Pitch Competition 2024. Peadbo, short for Personal Advisory Board, is on […]