Our Story

When our Co-Founder and CEO, Cortney Woodruff, embarked on his career in Silicon Valley, he brought with him valuable life lessons from his upbringing in Mississippi, formal business training from IESE Business School in Europe, and a dream. Despite not knowing anyone in California, he made the bold decision to move to San Francisco and pursue his first tech venture. However, he soon realized that finding a mentor who could relate to his African American background and passion for technology was a considerable challenge.

Undeterred, he continued his quest for support and eventually found it in Asia. After relentless determination and refusing to give up on his dreams, he finally discovered the guidance and nurturing he had longed for. A decade later, he decided to address this issue by turning to two individuals he had always admired.This was his childhood friend and now Co-founder and first angel investor, Avrell Stokes, and Music Mogul Cortez Bryant, who shared Mississippi roots and whom he had always wanted to collaborate with.

Together, they are dedicated to accelerating the dreams of individuals from underrepresented communities. Their mission is to ensure that these passionate and hardworking individuals do not lose out on opportunities simply because they lack access to mentors who share their backgrounds, can inspire them, and can help propel their careers forward.