RALEIGH – Which Black- and women-led startups made the recently published “Tweener” list? Here’s the breakdown.

Black-led startups accounted for four – or roughly 1.6% – of the total 251 “growth-stage” startups in the Triangle for 2021, WRAL TechWire counted, even though Blacks make up 21% percent of North Carolina’s population.

Analysis: Startups led by Blacks, women are scant minority in Triangle’s high-profile investor list

Women-led startups fared better with 18 startups, or 7.1%. Latino founders accounted for three, or 1.1%.:

Women-led startups on 2021 Tweener List:

  • Dede Houston, Myxx
  • Sophia Lopez, Kaleido
  • Leigh-Kathryn Bonner, Bee Downtown
  • Melissa Phillippi, WorkDove
  • Kristen Judd, 3 Birds Marketing
  • Jennifer Aspell, BirghtView Technologies
  • Brooks Bell, Brooks Bell Interactive
  • Cara Borenstein, bytebase.io
  • Amie Thompson, Creative Allies
  • Alison Wood, Davinci/LCMS Plus
  • Kimberly Labow
  • Ursula Mead, InHerSight
  • Xiaohui (Helen) Gu, InsightFinder
  • Nancy Young, Needlepoint.com
  • Melisse Shaban, Virtue Labs
  • Elaine Rideout, Wiser Systems
  • Ricci Wolman, Written Word Media
  • Susan Cook, Zaloni

Total: 18

Black-led startups on Tweener List:

  • Bill Spruill, Global Data Consortium
  • Bernard Worthy, LoanWell
  • Amie Thompson, Creative Allies
  • DeShawn Brown, Coworks

Total: 4

Note: WRAL TechWire is committed to tracking the demographics of the “Tweeners List” and beyond. If there is a minority-led startup that has been missed and should be on this list, please contact Chantal Allam at cabitbol@gmail.com

On the record: Triangle entrepreneurial leaders react to Tweener list analysis, lack of minority led firms