Five years in: Braze welcomes new Tech for an Equitable Future cohort

In September 2024, Braze launched applications for its fifth cohort of Tech for an Equitable Future, a product grant program helping underrepresented founders accelerate growth and build vibrant customer communities. Selected startups receive 12 months of free access to the Braze platform, allowing them to grow their customer base and improve their chances of building successful, sustainable businesses, underscoring our continued commitment to advancing equity in tech.

This year’s call for applications received over 990 inquiries across APAC, EMEA, and North America. Selections were made based on overall product fit, understanding of how Braze can advance business goals, and capacity for timely implementation. With this newest cohort of 10 companies, the Tech for an Equitable Future program now supports 30 early-stage startups, including 18 women-founded businesses, totaling $936,000 in Annualized Product Value donated in FY’26 (as of June 5, 2025).

Behind the scenes, Braze continues to invest in strengthening the program experience to help participating companies grow. In addition to a year of free platform access, dedicated Braze customer success managers, and free Braze certifications, companies will now also benefit from technical success manager support and an extended onboarding period—expanding from six to twelve weeks—to better accommodate smaller teams. We’re grateful to our partners at Covalent and CLEARGOALS for volunteering their partner-led onboarding services, and we’re continuing our collaboration with BET+ to offer select cohort members 1:1 strategic mentorship to advance their customer engagement strategies through Braze.

“Supporting these incredible founders through the Tech for an Equitable Future program is one of the most rewarding parts of my role. It’s inspiring to see how our hands-on guidance and the Braze platform’s powerful capabilities can help them solve customer growth challenges, build stronger connections with their customers, and accelerate their success.”
—Caitlyn Grundy, Senior Customer Success Manager, Braze

With that, we’re proud to announce the 10 startups selected for our 2025 cohort. Please join me in congratulating our newest Tech for an Equitable Future class:

• Ahavaplan (Delaware): Ahavaplan is a wedding planning platform that simplifies the process with integrated tools, secure escrow payments, and AI-powered matchmaking between couples and vendors. Founded by Christine Imoukhuede.
• Astopia (İstanbul, Türkiye): Astopia is an astrology app that guides users on a journey of self-discovery through personalized birth chart analysis, daily horoscopes, and wellness recommendations. Founded by Ceyla Yurtseven.
• Elroi (Durham, NC): Elroi is rebuilding the data ecosystem by giving people full ownership and control of their personal data while enabling ethical data exchange with companies. Founded by Rachel Cash.
• Fetching (London, UK): Fetching is a secure digital safeguarding platform for after-school pickups, helping schools to verify identities and assisting families as they coordinate trusted pickup arrangements. Founded by Rachel Beech.
• Hiki (New York, NY): Hiki is a social app dedicated to solving loneliness for the neurodivergent community. Founded by Jamil Karriem.
• Limpiar (Dallas, TX): Limpiar connects homeowners, property managers, and facility managers with sustainable, eco-friendly cleaning services, powered by innovative technology. Founded by Demilade Oloyede.
• Out Of Office (Chicago, IL): Out Of Office enhances the way people travel by offering personalized recommendations from trusted sources. Founded by Coabi Kastan and Janine Seale.
• Pridefit (New York, NY): Pridefit provides sustainable health resources to the LGBTQIA+ community, empowering members to feel confident and supported on their wellness journeys. Founded by Sam Leicht.
• Scribble (Norfolk, Virginia): Scribble is a creative platform that connects the world’s creative minds to share knowledge and expand opportunities. Founded by Torrey C Butler.
• Tiny Organics (New York, NY): Tiny Organics helps children cultivate a love for vegetables and healthy foods through organic, plant-based baby and toddler meals. Founded by Betsy Fore and Sofia Laurell.

Interested in learning more about the program? Visit the Tech for an Equitable Future program page for more information.