Rapper Lupe Fiasco & Google Exec Di-Ann Eisnor’s Neighborhood Start Fund Comes to Miami in Search of Inner City Entrepreneurs with Big Ideas

24 Aug Rapper Lupe Fiasco & Google Exec Di-Ann Eisnor’s Neighborhood Start Fund Comes to Miami in Search of Inner City Entrepreneurs with Big Ideas

MEDIA CONTACT: Isheka N. Harrison
Tel: 305-349-1204 ext. 232
Email: isheka.harrison@overtownyouth.org

Miami – (August 22, 2016) – If you’re a budding entrepreneur who lives or works in Overtown, Wynwood or Allapattah, rapper Lupe Fiasco and Google executive DiAnn Eisnor might be looking for you. Through their Neighborhood Start Fund, the duo is seeking to fund ideas that may be diamonds in the rough, but when polished be able to generate up to $100 million in revenue. Miami residents who live or work in the selected neighborhoods can submit ideas online. The deadline is September 9, 2016. A meet-up to provide more information about what makes for a great idea will be presented by the Overtown Youth Center and facilitated by Kairos CEO Brian Brackeen on September 1 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Venture Café Miami at the University of Miami Life Science and Technology Park, located at 1951 NW 7 Avenue in Miami.

Eisnor and Fiasco began the start fund after meeting at a fellowship program and noting the brilliant business ideas people in underserved communities have which have traditionally been overlooked by major investors. If an entrepreneur’s idea advances to the finals, they will compete for $5,000 to create a prototype as well as be offered free technology services and mentorship.

If the prototype is found viable, entrepreneurs could receive an additional $25,000 or more to build their businesses. There is no restriction on business ideas, except that they have the potential to generate significant revenue. Half of the profits from successful companies will be put back into the community the winners come from to spur real economic change. The fund is now in nine neighborhoods across the country. For more information about the Overtown Start Fund or to request an interview with Eisnor or OYC executive director Tina Brown, contact Isheka Harrison by calling 305-349-1204 ext. 232 or email isheka.harrison@overtownyouth.org.

About Neighborhood Start Fund: Founded by Lupe Fiasco and Di-Ann Eisnor, the Neighborhood Start Fund was created to turn ideas into start-ups. We need more diverse entrepreneurs bringing fresh ideas and new innovations to life. The neighborhoodspecific fund supports entrepreneurs and start-ups from underserved areas so the best new ideas won’t go wasted. It provides access, network, workshops, mentoring and funding. The vision is to turn every neighborhood fund into a local micro-economic engine. Proceeds from every successful idea are reinvested into other hyperlocal startups! The goal is to prove that huge businesses can come from overlooked neighborhoods. For more information, visit www.start.fund.

About the Overtown Youth Center: The mission of the Overtown Youth Center (OYC) is to inspire and empower youth and families by fostering hope through enrichment services. Co-founded by real-estate developer Martin Z. Marguiles and NBA Hallof-Famer Alonzo Mourning, OYC is a year-round youth development agency providing: in-school, after school and summer programming, a parent enrichment program and post-high school support to over 400 youth and families in the Overtown neighborhood and surrounding areas. The agency offers a full range of services including educational enrichment, recreational activities, mentoring, literacy initiatives, performing arts, prevention and life skills/training for at-risk youth. For more information, visit www.overtownyouth.org.