A new Seattle nonprofit is creating a structured pathway for Black startup founders, providing networking opportunities, mentorship, and venture capital guidance through a three-stage development programme.
SEA619 offers entrepreneurs a progression from grassroots business association to incubator to accelerator, allowing participants to enter at their appropriate readiness level. The organisation, whose name combines Seattle and Juneteenth references, launched official applications on Monday with programming beginning in October.
Arif Gürsel, a technology veteran and advocate for innovators of African descent, leads the initiative. His motivation stems from encounters with founders possessing strong ideas but lacking resources or experience to develop viable products or businesses, whilst fielding numerous requests for professional guidance.
“I was raised in Brooklyn where we were always taught, those of us who make it forward always have to go back and get those who didn’t,” Gürsel explained, citing “We lift as we climb” as a guiding principle.
Gürsel’s technology career spans leadership roles at Microsoft, Zillow, Salesforce, Netflix, and Google, alongside founding brand consultancy Vibeheavy and creative agency 8genC. His experience as an investor informs his understanding of startup funding challenges.
“Every room that I was always in, I was always the only one that reflected my culture, my upbringing, my heritage,” Gürsel said, expressing his determination to change that dynamic.
Previous experience advising companies in the now-defunct Seattle Techstars programme revealed that many Black founders weren’t prepared for accelerator participation, often surrendering 6-10 per cent equity before establishing clear business strategies.
SEA619 addresses these preparatory gaps through free support during the first year, then takes a 1 per cent equity stake with a maximum 2 per cent ownership. The self-funded nonprofit seeks grant funding to expand operations.
Kirby Winfield, founder of Seattle venture capital firm Ascend, endorsed the approach. “A lot of entrepreneurs need a crash course in startup building BEFORE they join programs like Techstars, 500 Startups, [Y Combinator] and the like,” he noted.
Winfield plans to offer office hours to SEA619 accelerator participants, recognising that founders need guidance understanding financing options and venture capital requirements. “If a founder chooses the VC path, SEA619 is equipped to help them truly understand and prepare for the positioning, pitch and vision a venture investor expects.”
SEA619 operates within Gürsel’s broader Pan African Center for Empowerment (PACE), launched a decade ago. PACE includes The Union innovation hub on 2nd Avenue, Tribe Called TECH networking events, and initiatives focused on engineering education and arts projects.
Gürsel’s strategy includes partnering with venture capitalists in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa interested in backing U.S. startups, creating international investment connections for program participants.
Seattle hosts another Black entrepreneur initiative called Venture Black, launched last year by Evan Poncelet, CEO of Washington State Black Angel Network and former Fluke and Cisco engineer.
SEA619 launches amid broader political discussions about diversity programmes, though Gürsel emphasises the organisation’s mission transcends political opposition. “I’m not worried about an administration that’s based in hate when the work that we’re doing is based in love and lifting people up,” he stated.
The initiative reflects growing recognition that traditional accelerator programmes may not adequately serve entrepreneurs who need foundational business development before pursuing institutional funding pathways.
