In August 2024, nine entrepreneurs kicked off their six-month journey in the 2024 mPOWER Black Founders program, which is designed to support startups building physical products that impact the Black community. By providing access to mHUB’s ecosystem and a structured hands-on program, founders are given the tools and access to take their products through proof-of-concept.
During their six months at mHUB, these founders will build community, work through customer discovery and market validation, define their value proposition and product design concept, assess the viability of their business, and so much more. mPOWER programming is supplemental to mHUB's shared workspace membership, combining group learning and targeted resources to build on mHUB's existing world-class resources. This includes group workshops and a speaker series, product design support and training, dedicated Experts in Residence, access to non-dilutive capital, and a lifetime membership with program partner NSBE Chicago.
Meet these nine founders and learn how you can connect with them as they progress through their startup journey at mHUB.
Deborah Agoye
Deborah is a business technology consultant specializing in enhancing digital experiences and optimizing workflows across various industries, including music streaming, footwear, energy, and aerospace. Her expertise in data management and digital strategy enables her to create innovative solutions that streamline operations and drive meaningful change.
With a lifelong passion for diverse interests—from fashion design to web development—Deborah has always embraced the challenge of solving complex problems through functional and aesthetically pleasing solutions. She understands the importance of creating accessible, flexible designs that cater to the diverse needs of people in their everyday lives.
As someone who is constantly on the move, Deborah values products that are not only practical and compact but also beautiful and adaptable to a wide range of situations. This is what inspired her to launch Kabri, a lifestyle and fashion brand focused on creating multifunctional, aesthetically pleasing products designed to meet the needs of individuals with varied interests, hobbies, and busy lifestyles.
Deborah’s work lies at the intersection of technology, design, and fashion, where she is committed to helping people be their best selves through innovative product design. A self-taught learner with a passion for hands-on creation, she has mastered various skills, showcasing her dedication to transforming ideas into tangible, impactful solutions.
Casey Bogin
Casey Bogin, Vice President of Sales at Cast21, is a seasoned entrepreneur with a proven track record of driving growth and innovation. With a career spanning leadership roles in sales and business development, she combines her expertise in driving strategic initiatives with a passion for social impact and advancing diversity in the tech industry.
Holding a degree in Strategic Digital Marketing and Communications from Loyola University Chicago, Casey leverages her academic background to integrate cutting-edge marketing strategies with impactful business practices. Her leadership has led to significant revenue growth and successful partnerships in her roles, underscoring her ability to deliver results.
In addition to her leadership in sales and entrepreneurship, Casey is a creative visionary with a deep commitment to empowering others. She has extensive experience speaking to and mentoring young people, STEM students, and budding entrepreneurs, inspiring the next generation of innovators. She has served as a mentor in mHUB’s mPower Women Founders Program and is currently participating in the mPower Black Founders Program, where she is developing a hard tech accessory aimed at enhancing the functionality and user experience of wireless headphones.
Casey is proud to be a black woman innovating in the tech industry and believes that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving meaningful change. Her participation in the mPower Black Founders Program reflects her dedication to empowering others and her vision of fostering innovation that makes a difference.
Aaron Guice
Aaron Guice is a rising social advocate whose work focuses on community wellness, STEM learning, and technology justice. Born and raised in Chicago, Guice earned a bachelor's degree in Audio Arts and Acoustics from Columbia College Chicago. Early in his professional journey, he worked as an on-set recording engineer, later establishing himself as a prominent Los Angeles commercial sound designer. Following a 15-year career with cutting-edge directors and groundbreaking advertising agencies, his return to Chicago marked his shift into the world of modular synthesis.
Aaron's vision for STEM education is a composite style that bridges the gap between communities of color and opportunities for equity in the tech industry. Through this unique lens, modular synthesis becomes more than just sound, music, or technology—it’s a space for new ideas and dialogue, a platform where students can reimagine solutions for tomorrow’s needs. His creative process is tailored to each project’s content, community, or space, producing truly unique and innovative experiences.
He has held masterclasses and frequently lectures on modular synthesis performance, technology, and their relationships to activism. The continuously evolving practice strives for civic empowerment and investment to increase access. Aaron not only provides talented young students with the means to approach modular synthesis, but also creates cultural products that link art with social, spatial, and sonic realms—shaping community narratives into creative productions.
Emma Jackson
Emma is a Product Design and Development Engineer and recent graduate of Northwestern University. Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, she moved to Evanston to complete her undergraduate studies at Northwestern where she co-founded CALYX, a startup creating an inclusive bike helmet system for riders with thick and curly hair, alongside 4 brilliant teammates for their senior capstone. CALYX aims to bring safety and comfort to a historically overlooked community by creating tailored bike helmet solutions designed for afro and voluminous hairstyles.
Her passion for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion led her to serve as the programs chair for the National Society of Black Engineers, where she received the NSBE Outstanding Member of the Year award, and to initiate the formation of a DEI role on the Northwestern Sailing Team to increase diversity in the predominantly white sport. In her free time, she volunteered as a mentor to middle school students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM and worked in the university prototyping shop assisting students with their projects.
She is currently devoting her time to developing CALYX and avidly reading as many novels as she can.
Jasmine Johnson
Jasmine Johnson, featured in this Forbes article, grew up in the Englewood neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. Although she initially pursued a career as an Electrical Engineer at the University of Chicago, her path shifted after starting a family and becoming a stay-at-home parent. During her 20 years as a homemaker, Jasmine discovered a passion for creating products that simplify daily life for parents.
She leveraged her foundational skills by completing several business courses and entrepreneurial training programs, graduating with strong business acumen. Now, as the founder and CEO of ParentCo, Jasmine is dedicated to bringing innovative solutions to life. Her flagship product, the Outlet Plug Plate, addresses longstanding safety concerns and offers a practical solution for parents. Jasmine's journey reflects her commitment to making a tangible difference in child safety through thoughtful and convenient products.
Emmanuel Mayani
Emmanuel Mayani, born in Tanzania and raised in Rwanda, is committed to eradicating energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, where over 40% of the population lacks electricity and more than 80% rely on traditional cooking fuels like firewood and charcoal. With a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rwanda, Emmanuel gained practical experience in developing rural electrification and clean cooking technologies to address the region's unique energy challenges.
Emmanuel is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of Chicago, where he focuses on designing policies to improve energy access, affordability, and sustainability. Driven by the health and environmental challenges of traditional cooking methods in sub-Saharan Africa, he co-founded EcoBriqs, a social venture producing eco-friendly biomass briquettes. These briquettes provide a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable alternative to charcoal and firewood, aiming to enhance the health and quality of life for vulnerable communities in Rwanda and beyond.
Amran Nur
Amran Nur is a researcher and public policy strategist from Minneapolis, MN, with a relentless drive to create sustainable change on a global scale. She holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor’s in Biology and Physiology from the University of Minnesota, equipping her with a unique blend of expertise in science and policy.
As the Co-Founder of EcoBriqs, Amran is leading a transformative social venture that tackles pressing health and environmental challenges in Rwanda. EcoBriqs produces and distributes eco-friendly biomass briquettes to rural households, providing a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable alternative to traditional fuels like charcoal and firewood. Through this initiative, Amran is not only reducing environmental impact but also significantly improving the health and well-being of vulnerable communities.
Dr. Victor Nwankwo, M.D.
Dr. Nwankwo can be described as a modern renaissance person - a personality who authentically blends science, art and technology within his nuanced career. As Deputy Agency Medical Director at the Illinois Office of Health Services, he spearheads the creation of the State’s first Electronic Medical Record for the incarcerated and steers healthcare policy using data science. This role marries his background in medicine and biomedical informatics towards data-driven leadership.
Beyond his medical career, Victor has a rich and storied background in arts and entertainment. He is an alumnus of the Red Bull Music Academy, Flavorpill/Bustle, Frank151 Magazine, Astralwerks/DFA and Grand Royal Records (to name a few), typically providing digital services and arts production, spanning the moving image, art installation, and immersive experience. His projects have been featured in exhibitions, campaigns and activations globally for the likes of Frieze, L.A., the Gorillaz and HBO (to name a few more).
Victor’s landing at mHUB marks a moment where he shifts toward melding his experiences as a data scientist and multimedia artist. By fusing these two worlds, he aims to take his career in a new and uncharted direction of business ownership and personal agency with the goal of enriching communities by sharing tools and technology. As a part of mPOWER, he works toward the delivery of a culture focused “Big Data” software solution with foundations in hardtech, guided by the expansive expertise that mHUB provides.
Eric Roberson
Eric is a Chicago native with a Master's in Social Entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California, and has spent his career focused on after-school program development and education marketing. One of Eric's lifelong hobbies is playing basketball where he saw first-hand the need for a more mobile and cost-effective solution for training. This passion for the game led him to join the mHUB mPOWER Program, where he is excited to develop a product that can elevate basketball training for players everywhere.
"Since childhood, I've been driven by the dream of creating something that would be widely used and make a lasting impact. With over 300 ideas in my notepad, I’m thrilled to share that I recently received a patent for a mobile, portable, rebounding and passing basketball training machine! I’m currently in the development phase, working toward a manufacturable prototype." Roberson just raised $7,500 for prototyping expenses through Kiva, a 0% interest, crowd-sourced lending platform that provides loans to entrepreneurs.
Eager to join an entrepreneurial community committed to the growth and success of underrepresented founders? Learn more about mHUB membership and the Catalyze initiative.
