Lunar Startups Welcomes 17 Companies to Cohort 6
From Top, L-R: Jasmine Sorensen, Laina Latterner, Breion Creer, Adrianna Willis, Sushmeeta Jolly Nanda, Rachel Banken, Abu Nayeem, Liza Maya Jackson, Essence Shabazz, Sabrina Rucker, Samantha (Ciaccio) Hernandez, Elinam (Lina) Adjogble, Ellen Volk Crain, Bradley Taylor, Hally Turner, Bruna Valente, and Nalini Mehta.
St. Paul, MN – Lunar Startups is proud to announce the companies selected to participate in Cohort 6, the latest group of high-growth, early-stage startups to join Lunar's Accelerator program.
Beginning in April, seventeen companies will join a community dedicated to their success, including one-on-one coaching, resources, pro-bono legal services courtesy of Fox Rothschild, LLP, access to a vast expert network, and more.
“The founders in Cohort 6 solidify our Lunar legacy,” said Danielle Steer, Founding Executive Director of Lunar Startups. “Many alumni from the first half of our existence are now the mentors supporting this up-and-coming cohort. It’s been such a privilege to watch our founders step into their expertise and elevate a new generation of community wealth-builders.”
Lunar Startups welcomes the following companies to Cohort 6:
Altheia provides intelligent prioritization to assist healthcare providers and care management organizations to better prioritize the care of their patient population by providing earlier risk identification of chronic conditions.
Chosen & Free Co. is a handmade statement jewelry company whose mission is to amplify the stories of women.
E.Bazz Beauty Supply is an innovative beauty supply shop providing a one-stop shop for beauty supplies and hair services.
FITSO offers plus-size casual wear expertly focused on fit, function, and trend; providing more access and availability to the underserved plus-size apparel market.
Homeschool Boss provides achievement testing services for homeschools, micro-schools, small schools, and other educational innovators.
Muddle and Mint offers sophisticated alcohol-free craft cocktails that invite you to slow down, sip, and savor.
Mind the Crown supports women to challenge the “superwomen” myth and embrace a soft life with their radical self-care products and accountability tribe.
PreLease SBC, Tenant-Friendly Management™, provides renter support and reputation management services to landlords and property managers.
Rankpire provides an interactive and empowering gaming community to a dedicated and rapidly expanding user base.
Route to India is a culture-centric food and beverage company inspired by the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, with a mission to create equity & pride in every bite.
Soul Grain is livening up the granola game by exploring the vibrant spices and seasonings of our diverse cultural backgrounds.
StoryForge is a publishing alternative aimed at casual writers from historically underrepresented communities.
Terrain Brazilian Botanicals promotes authentic self-care with unique potent plant oils and butter from the Brazilian Amazon Forest providing luxurious, real skin nourishment.
The ViFi is an online women's health hub with the goal of reducing the pain and confusion of navigating the US healthcare system.
The Donut Trap is the only Donut Vending Machine company in the nation with the best specialty donuts you've ever had.
Well Rooted Teas is a loose-leaf herbal tea brand crafted with locally grown + foraged botanicals that honor and celebrate the work of the farmer and Mother Nature.
Yin Botanicals creates sustainable, natural beauty products and tools curated for healing.
Cohort 6 companies were selected from a competitive applicant pool of startups led by a powerful group of emerging leaders. The addition of this cohort brings Lunar’s total portfolio to 75+ companies. To date, Lunar alumni companies have created $235 million in economic impact for the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, including supporting 614 jobs in 2022 alone.
“Cohort 6 is joining a hype squad for life!” said Danielle Steer. “More than just an accelerator program, they’re embarking on a curated experience that demystifies pathways to scale alongside an interconnected network of entrepreneurs.”
As a nonprofit dedicated to unlocking economic empowerment for all and building an unshakeable system of support for our CEOs, contributions to Lunar power the Accelerator program and speed up the rate of transformation for Cohort 6 companies and their communities. Join us by making a donation today.
Lunar Startups Cohort 6 programming runs from April 2023 through September 2023.
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About Lunar Startups
Lunar Startups is building an unshakeable system of support for founders in the Minneapolis-St. Paul who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ, women, and non-binary. The Lunar Accelerator is a six-month program supporting early-stage, high-growth companies in consumer packaged goods, tech, and healthcare. For more, visit lunarstartups.org.
Media contact: Danielle Steer, dsteer@lunarstartups.org