Seattle Has A New Black Business Incubator And Accelerator – peopleofcolorintech

Arif Gursel, founder and CEO of Pan-African Center for Empowerment (PACE), has launched SEA619, a program created to support Black entrepreneurs in the Seattle area. Gursel is launching multiple programs within SEA619, taking an individual approach for each business. The organization’s name is a combination of the Seattle-Tacoma airport code, SEA, and 619 to honor Juneteenth.

“I believe people come into things at varying needs, skill sets, and understandings, and when you try to put something on a rail, some of those carts go faster. Some of those carts go slower. It’s hard to move it in sync,” Gursel told Puget Sound Business Journal.

SEA619 supporting Black entrepreneurs in the Seattle area

The program will consist of three programs: a business association, an incubator, and an accelerator. Brick-and-mortar businesses, such as restaurants, salons, and food trucks, will receive mentorship through the business association.

The incubator is focused on young tech startups, but Gursel also wants the program to support artists and content creators. His career includes working at major companies such as Microsoft, Salesforce, Netflix, and Google.

What is PACE?

PACE is a nonprofit focused on organizing and advocacy, which will power SEA619. Gursel’s work with PACE included mentoring Black founders informally for years; SEA619 allows Gursel to continue his mentorship. The Union, a coworking and media production space in the plaza of the 1201 Third building downtown, will act as its headquarters. He hopes that Black founders will move to Seattle to participate.

SEA619 will not be taking equity this year, but as it grows, Gursel said the organization could take a 2% stake in the startups it accepts, which he said is much lower than the traditional 6% or so that many programs take. But SEA619 will cap it at 2%.

The program might take grants and donations from other firms, but is still figuring out its ultimate business model.

Image: Brandon Hill

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