DivInc launches Houston accelerator to boost diverse entrepreneurs
By Chris Tomlinson, Staff writer
Ashley DeWalt is a serial entrepreneur, start-up adviser, business plan judge and university lecturer, which means he is accustomed to being the only Black man in the room.
He aims to change that with his new venture.
DeWalt will lead the Houston office of DivInc, a no-cost, start-up accelerator focused on diversity, equity and inclusion by fostering underrepresented company founders. He starts taking applications Monday for the first class of 2021.
“People have talked about how Houston is the most diverse city in the country, and it’s true,” DeWalt, a native of Missouri City and University of Houston graduate, told me. “But living here, there are still some challenges when we talk about equitable opportunity when it comes to leadership and venture capital. It’s not diverse in Houston.”