It all started as an idea for a podcast between two serial entrepreneurs.
Now, that elusive "it" has evolved into a social tech incubator program for low-income, first-generation college students.
LevelUp Institute, an Austin initiative from SocialGood.us (which recently rebranded from Austin+SocialGood), launched in May this year with its first cohort of six hoping to create the next generation of social impact tech entrepreneurs.
Co-founders Koy McDermott and Ruben Cantu, two first-generation college students, previously worked at Apple together and wanted to help proactively ensure other people growing up with similar backgrounds have the same access to entrepreneurship they had.
"Why did we get the golden ticket, and our peers didn't?" said Cantu. "How do we change this? We have to roll up our sleeves and do it ourselves."
This week, the program's first cohort will share the launch of its newly-created company YOUnite.io, an interactive SaaS platform helping immigrants and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students process their applications, while providing legal and financial resources for a community of over 11 million people in the U.S.
Cantu and McDermott worked with Breakthrough Austin, a nonprofit serving first-generation college graduates, to find potential candidates. After interviewing 30 individuals, they selected six people, representing both genders, to go through LevelUp's 12-week incubator program.
The YOUnite.io team will present this Thursday on their progress following their 3-months with LevelUp. They hope to raise awareness that regardless of background, it is possible to bridge the economic, educational and social gap.
"This is not another entrepreneurial thinking program; these students are creating a company that can compete in a world class level," said McDermott in a statement.
LevelUp will begin the application process for its next cohort on Oct. 15, starting the cycle in January. This recent cohort will step in as mentors.
SocialGood.us began in 2012 under the name Austin+SocialGood and has since rolled out initiatives that influence societal impact like Work From Home Day, Mobility Week, Social Innovators Meetup, Social Innovators Accelerator, Social Innovators Fast Pitch, and Startup High School Business Pitch Competition.
