On November 3, 2020, The Hidden Genius Project launched its inaugural Alumni Venture Seed Fund — a dynamic $150,000 program designed to support the advancement of our young entrepreneurs through the five phases of startup development, while intentionally supporting a deeper understanding of the space and application.
Over the next 5 months, five Hidden Genius Alumni will participate in this rigorous program to receive coaching, training, and early-stage funding to empower them with the resources, networks, and capital needed to support their entrepreneurial ambitions. Program participants will partake in a series of workshops and exercises focused on these core phases; Business Ideation and Validation, Legal, Technology, Marketing, and Venture Capital.
On April 22, 2021, The Hidden Genius Project hosted its first-ever Genius Founders Showcase event, highlighting the young entrepreneurs in their inaugural Alumni Venture Seed Fund Program. Click HERE to watch the five young founders share their inspirational business pitches and experiences in this program.
MEET OUR GENIUS FOUNDERS
Honorebel Walker, OAK3 Hidden Genius Alum
As an Oakland native, Honorebel Walker cultivated his skills as a strong leader through his experience as a varsity sports captain and resident assistant at his boarding school. His goals are to have ownership of his ideas, creativity, and designs that will help improve the conditions of Black men and women all over the world.
Honorebel Walker is currently studying Design Engineering with a minor in architecture at the University of San Diego and is expected to graduate in 2023. When he graduates, Honorebel will continue to scale his company Divine, a personalized errand service, and open his own sustainable design company as a creative entrepreneur.
Connect with Honorebel on Linkedin HERE.
James Green, OAK4 Hidden Genius Alum
James Green, Co-Founder of Fixmykix, an online marketplace for shoe restoration and customization. James is from Oakland, CA, and has had a passion for entrepreneurship ever since he joined The Hidden Genius Project’s Intensive Immersion Program in 2016.
He is now on a mission to launch Fixmykix into the App Store and continues to find innovative solutions to empower others in his community.
Connect with James on Linkedin HERE.
Perry Irving, OAK3 Hidden Genius Alum
Perry Irving, a 20-year-old technologist and skateboard enthusiast from Oakland, CA is the Founder of iCreateSkateboards. He developed iCreateSkateboards to help skaters design and create their own customizable skateboard using a mobile device.
Perry is currently majoring in Computer Science at San Francisco State University and plans on using his degree to become a Software Engineer.
Connect with Perry on Linkedin HERE.
Ronald Bolden III, RICH1 Hidden Genius Alum
Born and raised in Pinole, CA, Ronald Bolden III is an 18-year-old sophomore at San Diego State University. He is currently studying Business Management with a focus in entrepreneurship and minoring in political science. After undergrad, Ronald plans on becoming a lawyer, with the ultimate goal of becoming a judge one day.
During his time in the Intensive Immersion Program, Ronald blended his passion for technology, entrepreneurship, and law to create his tech project called Fix Ya Ticket, which aims to help people who receive traffic violations and educate them on ways to fight common infractions.
Connect with Ronald on Linkedin HERE.
Malik Poole, OAK3 Hidden Genius Alum
Malik Poole is a sophomore at Morehouse College majoring in Software Engineering. During his time in our Intensive Immersion Program, Malik created an app called H.I.R.E (Helping Inmates Reach Employment) to help formerly incarcerated people find job opportunities and fight recidivism.
Now as a Youth Educator and avid social justice activist, Malik has inspired numerous young people to leverage technology to empower their communities through speaking engagements at Brothers Code, Fall Regional Conference for Region VI of NSBE, Know Your Rights Camp in Miami, the Remembrance Day Rally against Police Brutality and Community Violence, the Black Student’s Awards Night at Deer Valley High School, and several protests.
Connect with Malik on Linkedin HERE.
FOUNDING PROGRAM ARCHITECTS
Jackson Cummings
Investor, Salesforce Ventures
Jackson Georges Jr.
Vice President, Capital G
Zach Singleton
Sr. Product Manager, Marketplace Trust & Privacy Engineering, Uber
Joey Flores
Chief Marketing Officer, Chefling Inc.
STARTUP PHASE COACHES
Andrew Overton
Co-Founder & CTO, Saga
Darian Chornodolsky
VP Platform Growth, Wirewax
Lisa Love
Co-Founder & CMO, Tanoshi
Tracy “Ty” Moore II
Executive Coach & Co-Founder, VeraVis
Jeremy Evans-Smith
Founder & CEO, Ascending
Shani Fox
Software Developer, Zippity, Inc.
Paul Navarro
Counsel, Perkins Coie LLP
Scott Hanselman
Partner Program Manager, Microsoft
Amhed Herrera
Software Engineering Lead, Dropbox
Eli Taylor
Sr. Software Engineering, Cypher LLC.
Glen Jarvis
Sr. Systems Engineer, Technology Solutions Group, SiriusXM Radio/Pandora
Adarius Bell
Designer, Jordan Brand Global, Nike
Alphonso Sensley II
VP – iOS Software Engineer II, Bank of America
Matthew Dedon
Attorney, Start Art Legal
Marisa Richardson
Director, Strategy Program Integration, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Benjamin Webley
Chief Marketing Officer, Scopely
Ted Paff
Founder, Bootstrap Thinking
Erik Moore
Managing Director, Base Ventures
Baris Akis
Co-Founder & President, Human Capital
Armaan Ali
Co-Founder & CEO, Human Capital
Kelly Littlepage
Founder & CEO, OneChronos
Suzeth Campos
University Recruiter, GoDaddy
Allison Caragan
Administrative Business Partner, Capital G
Daniel Jhin Yoo
Founder, Goalbook
SPONSORS
PARTNERS
Since 2012, more than 7,000 students have revealed their genius through our
Intensive Immersion and Catalyst Programs, and so many more are waiting to shine.
HELP NEW GENIUSES STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT.
Click HERE to make a donation to The Hidden Genius Project.