XRC Labs Announces Inaugural ELEVATE Fellows

Led by founders of color, companies gain access to accelerator classes, working sessions, mentorship and world-class ecosystem

New York, NY – March 2, 2021 – Today XRC Labs, an NYC-based accelerator and venture fund focused on the retail technology and consumer goods sectors, announces its inaugural XRC ELEVATE fellowship winners.

Launched in January of 2021, the XRC ELEVATE fellowship program is designed to bring resources and tools to underestimated startup founders of color. Offered twice a year, the program gives fellows access to select accelerator classes, in-depth working sessions with the XRC Labs Growth team, hand-selected mentor matches, and exposure to the accelerator’s highly coveted network which includes executives from Accenture, Estée Lauder, GS1, CVS, Mastercard and others. Fellows also receive a $5K grant to help with expenses during the program.

Companies were evaluated on a variety of metrics, including but not limited to founder pitch/presence, market opportunity, product ingenuity and alignment with the XRC Labs pipeline. XRC Labs is thrilled to bring the following winning companies and founders into its ecosystem:

● Private Packs offers a modern line of holistic feminine pain relief solutions, led by Founder and CEO Suzanne Sinatra.

● Torqlub is a peer-to-peer marketplace for the world's finest automobiles, led by Co-Founders Maurice Gramata-Jones and Alex Littaua.

● Viledge is an e-commerce platform that helps conscious shoppers discover and purchase Black-owned products, led by Founder Zuley Clarke.

“We originally planned to offer one ELEVATE fellowship, however after interviewing so many impressive founders who applied, we decided to expand the program to three companies,” says Kelly Chen, XRC Labs Chief Operating Officer. “Each awarded company went above and beyond to showcase their unique value for customers, their respective industries and the XRC community. We’re proud to support these founders as they continue to gain traction and inspire other founders of color to pursue their entrepreneurial passions.”

XRC Labs received over 100 ELEVATE applications and recognizes the following runner-up finalists:

● Aztro Marketplace aims to connect the best design-driven brands the world has to offer, with the most authentic retail stores, interior designers and individuals, through a curated multichannel marketplace.

● Curastory allows anyone to shoot and edit high-quality video, monetize shows and distribute to all of their video channels, 100% free.

● Departmynt offers an AI driven personal shopping experience that is size and style inclusive for every woman who completes the style quiz on its app.

● Heros Footwear creates eco-friendly footwear for everyday heroes and will manufacture organic shoes in the U.S. in the near future.

● inCare pioneers the future of fashion with smart wearables and techwear that keeps you safe.

● SNKRHUD is building the only full service sneaker ecosystem that empowers its residents to build their own community by inviting friends, peers, teammates and classmates while setting the formats, group sizes and topics around the styles that matter most.

● theBOM is a dynamic online and in-store pop-up market experience that provides access to all of your favorite Black-Owned brands under the same roof.

● The Mercer Club is an online rental marketplace that allows men to rent from top luxury and streetwear brands. They also allow resellers to generate income by renting out their luxury garments.

Additionally, XRC Labs offers pro-bono office hours to help support founders of color in the startup community. During these sessions, XRC executives and partners advise founders on various topics, including investor decks, fundraising and growth. Interested founders can sign up for office hours here.

About XRC Labs

XRC Labs is a startup accelerator and venture fund dedicated to fostering the next generation of disruptors in the retail tech and consumer goods sectors. The NYC-based company launched in 2015 with founding sponsors Parsons School of Design at The New School and Kurt Salmon, a part of Accenture Strategy. With more than 80 accelerated startups in its portfolio, eight corporate sponsors, including Mastercard, The Estée Lauder Companies and CVS, and more than 250 business mentors, the team at XRC Labs has built a world-class ecosystem. For more information on XRC Labs or its portfolio companies, please visit xrclabs.com. To follow, visit @XRCLabs on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Amanda Hodge

XRC Labs Associate Director of Public Relations

Email: amanda@xrclabs.com 

Phone: 214-208-9895