What to know about Cohort 4 from Lunar Startups:
- 15 high-growth, early-stage startups have been accepted into the fourth Lunar Startups cohort
- The program will begin on April 19, runs for six months, and provides participants with a range of benefits including pro-bono legal services, access to an expert network, and more
- Applications for Cohort 5 will open in early 2022
The Quote: Danielle Steer, Managing Director of Lunar Startups
“Our ambition at Lunar is to create an unshakeable system of support for BIPOC, LGBTQ, women, and non-binary entrepreneurs with a massive gravitational pull for capital, talent, and jobs to our region. This next cohort joins an interconnected network of entrepreneurs that are committed to a better future and we can’t wait to see what they achieve.”
Here’s the lineup for Cohort 4 (provided by Lunar Startups):
- Black Tech Talent is increasing the representation of Black technologists in both corporate careers and entrepreneurship by curating a pipeline of job opportunities, education, community, and culturally specific content.
- BLCK Press creates a community for independent journalists and provides diverse news to the public.
- Cake Plus-Size Resale provides sustainable, affordable, plus-size fashion and body-positive community for plus-size shoppers who have often been left out of the fun of thrifting.
- Larissa Loden Inc. is a jewelry company that cares and swears.
- Lip Esteem a plant-based, gluten, and cruelty-free lipstick and lip care line that is changing the world, one tube at a time.
- Moody’s Ice Cream makes the world’s most feel-good food, helping you feel better for real with adaptogens, herbalist flavors, and functional ingredients that turn up your body’s superpowers.
- Mx Apparel Design produces bold gender-neutral clothing made in sizes S-3X.
- Silk Road Wellness makes Halal-friendly natural skincare and wellness products.
- Shotcaller is a social gaming company that delivers real-time, interactive content to fans watching sports.
- Sole Safe provides real-time, intelligent appraisal and insurance specifically designed for sneakers.
- Sweet Troo Vi creates deliciously kind, authentic Liege waffles and luxury sweetness.
- Taking Stock Foods produces certified organic chicken bone broth for home consumers that’s so tasty that it’s good enough to drink!
- Teqnizan Inc. is revolutionizing smart jewelry with Bluetooth audio earrings.
- TAKA LLC is a high-intensity soccer training app that donates a portion of its profits to underserved communities around the world who use soccer for good.
- Quebracho Empanadas is a St. Paul-based empanada manufacturing company that brings authentic, healthy, and easy-to-prepare meals to grocery store freezers.
For more information about Lunar Startups and Cohort 4, read the full release below.
St. Paul, MN., April 8th, 2021 – Lunar Startups is proud to announce the companies selected to participate in Cohort 4, the latest group of high-growth, early-stage startups to join Lunar’s accelerator program. Beginning April 19th, fifteen companies will join a community dedicated to their success, including coaching, resources, pro-bono legal services, a vast expert network, and more.
“This cohort includes a mix of tech-enabled companies and our largest group of retail products to date,” said Danielle Steer, managing director of Lunar Startups. “We were blown away by the quality of application we saw this year.”
Lunar Startups welcomes the following companies to Cohort 4:
- Black Tech Talent is increasing the representation of Black technologists in both corporate careers and entrepreneurship by curating a pipeline of job opportunities, education, community, and culturally specific content.
- BLCK Press creates a community for independent journalists and provides diverse news to the public.
- Cake Plus-Size Resale provides sustainable, affordable, plus-size fashion and body-positive community for plus-size shoppers who have often been left out of the fun of thrifting.
- Larissa Loden Inc. is a jewelry company that cares and swears.
- Lip Esteem a plant-based, gluten, and cruelty-free lipstick and lip care line that is changing the world, one tube at a time.
- Moody’s Ice Cream makes the world’s most feel-good food, helping you feel better for real with adaptogens, herbalist flavors, and functional ingredients that turn up your body’s superpowers.
- Mx Apparel Design produces bold gender-neutral clothing made in sizes S-3X.
- Silk Road Wellness makes Halal-friendly natural skincare and wellness products.
- Shotcaller is a social gaming company that delivers real-time, interactive content to fans watching sports.
- Sole Safe provides real-time, intelligent appraisal and insurance specifically designed for sneakers.
- Sweet Troo Vi creates deliciously kind, authentic Liege waffles and luxury sweetness.
- Taking Stock Foods produces certified organic chicken bone broth for home consumers that’s so tasty that it’s good enough to drink!
- Teqnizan Inc. is revolutionizing smart jewelry with Bluetooth audio earrings.
- TAKA LLC is a high-intensity soccer training app that donates a portion of its profits to underserved communities around the world who use soccer for good.
- Quebracho Empanadas is a St. Paul-based empanada manufacturing company that brings authentic, healthy, and easy-to-prepare meals to grocery store freezers.
Cohort 4 companies were selected from a competitive applicant pool of 90 startups led by an innovative group of emerging leaders. The addition of this cohort brings Lunar’s total portfolio to 45 companies. To date, Lunar’s companies have created 89 new jobs, earned nearly 10 million dollars in revenue, and raised three million dollars in capital.
“Our ambition at Lunar is to create an unshakeable system of support for BIPOC, LGBTQ, women, and non-binary entrepreneurs with a massive gravitational pull for capital, talent, and jobs to our region. This next cohort joins an interconnected network of entrepreneurs that are committed to a better future and we can’t wait to see what they achieve,” Danielle adds.
Lunar Startups Cohort 4 programming runs from April 2021 through September 2021.
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About Lunar Startups
Lunar Startups is creating equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems by providing education, support, and connectivity to leaders who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQ, women, and non-binary. The Lunar Accelerator is a six-month program supporting early-stage, high-growth companies ranging from consumer packaged goods to tech-enabled solutions. For more, visit lunarstartups.org.
