BK-XL is an early-stage startup accelerator program focused on founders from historically underinvested communities that are based in Brooklyn. The 2024 BK-XL cohort consists of exceptional companies that will each receive investments of up to $500,000 and commit to building their businesses in Brooklyn. Investors who were interested in getting in touch with founders were able to participate in the Demo Day.

On July 9th, our 2024 Cohort participated in the Kickoff Event, where they got the chance to receive guidance from many of our experts and share lunch with Clara Wu Tsai, Founder of the Social Justice Fund.

BK-XL's 2024 cohort

Ambessa Play

Sara Berkai - Founder/CEO

Ambessa Play designs educational STEM kits that offer hands-on learning experiences. For every kit purchased, we donate one to a refugee child, ensuring that education knows no borders. With a mission to bridge educational gaps, Ambessa Play has reached thousands of children and continues to grow, inspiring curiosity and creativity in young minds everywhere.

Maraboo

Cheick Ouedraogo - Founder/CEO

Accessible and reliable FX solutions are crucial for UMOA's growth. Maraboo connects UMOA globally with its platform, offering affordable, real-time international transfers.

PEEPALYTICS AI

Kareem Williams - Co-Founder
Ben Donahue - Co-Founder

Peepalytics AI identifies the exact signals around why talent leaves alongside an action plan for business leaders to retain their top talent. We're able to do this by generating attrition signals from the modern employee experience with data across productivity, sentiment, and performance

Afar Foods, Inc.

Gene Zhu - Founder/CEO

Afar Foods is on a mission to spice up healthy snacking. Our debut product, the Afar bar, is a savory, crispy bar featuring globally-inspired flavors. Made with clean, vegan ingredients, each bar packs 10g protein and just 3g sugar (80% less sugar than most bars).