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Comcast RISE Grant (App Open: March 1 – 14, 2021 Program: April 5-May 10, 2021)

Venture Catalysts and our local partners BUILD Institute, Tech Town Detroit and Grand Innovation are proud to be local partners helping the Comcast RISE Investment Fund identify 100 Detroit companies for the $10,000 monetary grant. #DETROITRISE

The Investment Fund is the latest extension of Comcast RISE (Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment) launched in 2020 to provide BIPOC-owned, small businesses the opportunity to apply for marketing and technology services from Comcast Business and Effectv.

GRANT DETAILS

Comcast will award 500 grants totaling $5 million as follows:

• 100 small businesses will be awarded in each city

• Each business will receive a $10,000 monetary grant

• Application period is March 1-14, 2021

• Grants willl be announced at the end of April 2021

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Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs Accelerator (App Deadline: May 12; Program Start: August 16 ) The LIFT Labs team couldn’t be more excited to announce that applications are open for the fourth class of the LIFT Labs Accelerator powered by Techstars. The 13-week program is an incredible opportunity to make once-in-a-lifetime connections, work with experienced mentors, and refine your pitches to clients and investors.

The results speak for themselves: Since its launch, 32 companies have completed the accelerator program, and 75% have secured pilots or agreements with a division or business unit of Comcast NBCUniversal.

This year, we are seeking startups from around the world that are developing innovations surrounding Connected Living, Next Gen Entertainment, Future of Work, and Personalized Experiences. Applications are open now through May 12, 2021. The program begins in August 2021.

The accelerator is part of Comcast NBCUniversal’s LIFT Labs, a comprehensive program that helps elevate startups through programming, mentorship from Comcast NBCUniversal leaders and partners, and educational resources designed to help entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. The LIFT Labs Accelerator specifically focuses on helping founders sharpen business models, understand product and market fit, and learn keys to growth tactics and fundraising strategies. In the 2020 class, 80% of the companies had at least one founder who identifies as a Person of Color, and 45% of the companies had at least one founder who identifies as female.

“With the fourth class of the Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs Accelerator, we will continue our company’s long-standing tradition of supporting startups on their journeys. Employees from across Comcast, NBCUniversal, and Sky work directly with founders to provide mentorship and advice, and in turn we have the opportunity to learn from this next generation of innovators and problem solvers,” said Emily Waldorf, SVP, Growth Development, Comcast Cable. “The Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs Accelerator has helped many startups build and grow successful businesses, while benefitting Comcast through collaboration and partnerships. We are excited to see what this next class will do.”

Applicants selected by Comcast NBCUniversal and Techstars will participate in a 13-week program followed by a Demo Day scheduled for November 2021. The startups will work directly with mentors and product experts from across Comcast NBCUniversal’s businesses, including the XFINITY teams; NBC and Telemundo owned local broadcast stations; NBCUniversal cable networks; Sky; Universal Studios; Universal Theme Parks; DreamWorks Animation; Illumination; Comcast Business; Comcast Strategic Development; Comcast Spectacor; and LIFT Labs, as well as mentors from Techstars’ expansive network.

warded in May 2021

• Applications will be available online at www.ComcastRISE.com