Five innovative BIPOC-led tech startups recently completed the first-ever Syracuse Surge Accelerator, a yearlong program created by CenterState CEO to provide direct access to capital, mentorship, and the critical resources needed to grow and scale.
The program—part of the city’s broader Syracuse Surge strategy for inclusive economic growth—offered each founder a unique combination of funding, workspace, executive advising, and curated support. The goal? To eliminate the structural and cultural barriers that have historically kept BIPOC entrepreneurs out of the innovation economy.
The graduating teams—Clutch Delivery, Certainty Analytical Labs, HippoH Apparel, Sign-Speak, and Talkadot—represent industries from AI to wearables to cannabis testing. Each brought new ideas to life while helping shape the future of inclusive entrepreneurship in Central New York.
“This program helped me overcome a major challenge in scaling,” said Sign-Speak co-founder Yami Payano. “It gave me the mentorship, feedback, and confidence I needed to move forward.”
The success of these five teams is just the beginning. With a new Tech Garden facility set to open in 2025, CenterState CEO is expanding its flagship programs to support even more founders—and keep equity at the center of regional growth.
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