By Megan Kirk
Two local entrepreneurs, Javier Evelyn of Alerje and Isaac Lymon of Raxplay, are taking their businesses to the next level with the help of Google. The Black Founders Fund, presented by Google, awards grant money to Black startups to help propel their businesses forward.
As the internet conglomerate looks to create equal economic opportunities for African American communities, Google provides winners $50,000 to $100,000 dollars in capital. With barriers to accessing capital, Google is leveling the playing field for Black-led startups.
“It’s the next step in Google’s efforts to support the Black community. Racial equity is inextricably linked to economic opportunity,” Jewel Burks Solomon, head of Google for Startups in the U.S explains. “Google is uniquely positioned to support founders as they grow their businesses, and in turn, make an impact in their communities. We strongly believe when you fund Black founders, you support job creation and wealth generation for decades to come.”
Founded in 2016, Alerje, launched by CEO Javier Evelyn, targets sufferers of severe food allergies. The company is using technology to ease the fears and costs of epinephrine, the life-saving injection that counteracts severe reactions. Using a smartphone case and a paired app caregivers, parents, spouses, or others are alerted in the pin is removed from the phone case. Emergency services will also be alerted.
“I personally suffer from a number of severe food allergies; casein, the protein in milk, fish and cashews,” Evelyn shares. “I’ve had an early scare once or twice, but still wasn’t adhering.”
While the cost of the popular Epinephrine-pen, commonly referred to as an Epi-Pen, continues to rise, Evelyn is hoping to offer a more cost-effective alternative.
“Historically, Epi-Pens started at about $100 dollars and now we’re up to about $600 dollars,” Evelyn says. “The actual cost of building an Epi-Pen is $25 dollars. We want to keep the price low.”
As a part of the application process, Evelyn met with Google leaders and was able to outline the business, its importance and roadblocks.
“I initially had a virtual interview with two Google team members. We mainly discussed our long term vision at Alerje as well as the obstacles that I’ve overcome as an underestimated founder,” Evelyn says.
Awarded a $50,000 grant, Evelyn plans to use the capital towards curving certain startup costs with the device and encourage downloads for the Alerje app. Slated to submit their device to the Federal Drug Administration in 2022, the grant will help to push the stages of development.
“This exposure will help increase our mobile app downloads as well as give us the additional steam needed as we march towards regulatory submission of our upcoming flagship device,” Evelyn says. “We’re just excited to be in the forefront of this development.”
Raxplay is bringing artists and fans together through the world of virtual reality. Isaac Lymon, is the co-founder Raxplay alongside his partner, merging two worlds together.
“I met my co-founder [Norvell Robinson] in 2019. I was really focused on music and he was really focused on virtual reality. We wondered what we could do with music in virtual reality,” Lymon says.
Through the use of virtual reality headsets, users will be able to watch their favorite artists in real-time. Much like a standard show, tickets are required. However, the artist will have the ability to choose the concert venue; anywhere from the Grand Canyon to Coachella and outer space.
“Our whole thing is bringing the artists’ creative ideas to life. Fans will be able to put in a headset and watch the artist perform in real time.” Lymon explains. “There’s no physical limitation to where the artist can perform.”
Similar to holographic concerts of deceased music giants, Raxplay is creating a unique musical experience with the goal of incorporating all five senses. In addition to concerts, fans will have the ability to purchase artists’ merchandise in virtual reality and have it delivered to their real homes. Artists will also be able to meet their fans face-to-face.
“Music artists will be able to do meet and greets and we’re working on a feature where fans can take pictures with the artist through virtual reality” Lymon shares.
To use Raxplay, a headset is required. Fans can use one they already own or rent one from Raxplay with the cost included in the ticket price. Raxplay plans to go live with some artists already lined up for the 2021 concert season.
“We’re looking to develop a lineup of major artists. In total we’re looking to do 16 concerts in 2021,” Lymon says.
Also awarded $50,000 in capital, Lymon is planning to use the funds to develop a specialized studio.
“We will be using the grant to invest in our hardware needs and mocap studio to bring quality and immersive concerts to virtual reality,” he says.
Google’s commitment to growing and supporting Black founders through the pandemic and launching budding businesses continues to set them apart. Google also hopes to continue the program.
“We would love for this fund to continue if we can prove its success. The Black Founders Fund is a brand-new model and a way of supporting underrepresented founders so there will be a lot of learnings for us to look at over the next year,” Burks Solomon shares. “As with anything at Google, we’ll evaluate the progress and outcomes over time, making sure we can be most helpful to founders in the future.”
About Post Author
