Press & Media

Google for Startups selected 20 incredible AI-powered startups founded by visionary Black and Latino leaders.

These Black and Latino-led companies will receive equity-free funding and Google support to continue creating change and economic opportunity with AI.

Forging high-value CEO-to-CEO connections is the name of the game. The shape of things to come. Palm Springs, California November 9-12, 2023

Host Debbie Goodman sits down with Manny Smith, the Founder and CEO of EdVisorly. From serving in the U.S. Air Force to creating an AI-enabled platform that simplifies the transfer process for community college students aiming for four-year universities, this conversation covers a lot of relevant topics.

The Google for Startups Black Founders Fund: United States provides cash awards — without giving up equity in return — and hands-on support to help Black-led startups in the U.S. build and grow their businesses.

🌟 Monday Movers & Shakers: Manny Smith — Revolutionizing Education with EdVisorly 🌟

In 2020, Google launched its Google for Startups Founders Funds, providing equity-free cash awards to Black and Latino entrepreneurs. In 2024, all 20 recipients of the funds are connected to the hottest technology of the moment -- artificial intelligence (AI).

What landed a company on this list? 1) They’re building something cool and needed in this world. 2) Their founders are legitttttt. 3) They’ve raised money from esteemed venture capital firms. 4) They care about building a workplace where humans thrive and do great work together. 5) We keep hearing about them!

The seven finalists, including EdVisorly, pitched their ventures to a live judging panel as well as an audience of investors, researchers, and practitioners. The final competition was a keystone event of EDTECH WEEK 2023

A Black- and female-founded business that has developed a community college-to-university platform, empowering community college students to connect with a university and achieve a bachelor’s degree.

EdVisorly is building a nationwide community college-to-university transfer platform, empowering aspiring community college students to connect with universities to boost enrollment success.

Manny, Hanna, and Lizzie are committed to ensuring that freshmen and sophomores in community college are afforded an equitable opportunity to become juniors, seniors, and graduates at universities and colleges across the United States.