IDEAfuel
IDEAfuel, supported by the Regions Foundation, is a venture accelerator designed to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion within the region’s startup ecosystem by addressing known gaps in early-stage capital access for Black founders and founders of color.
The program provides a select number of competitively chosen startups with $15,000 in non-dilutive funding, along with 1:1 mentorship and structured workshops to support venture development and growth.
IDEAfuel is designed to help close systemic access gaps in early-stage entrepreneurship by providing capital, guidance, and targeted support to founders at a critical stage of company building.
IDEAfuel is open to alumni of IDEAinstitute or to founders who commit to completing IDEAinstitute upon acceptance into the program.
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION BY JULY 6, 2026.
THE GOAL
IDEAfuel is designed to help address the persistent and well-documented gap in access to capital and structured support for startups founded by Black founders and founders of color. Findings published in the Harvard Business Review show that less than 1% of venture capital funding is allocated to Black founders annually, underscoring a structural imbalance in access to early-stage investment. Through non-dilutive funding and mentorship, IDEAfuel provides selected founders with critical support during one of the most resource-constrained stages of startup growth by strengthening venture readiness and accelerating execution.
IDEAfuel PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Each IDEAfuel company receives $15,000 in non-dilutive funding during the cohort. Admission to IDEAfuel is highly competitive and open to founders who identify as Black or founders of color. Applicants must have completed IDEAinstitute or commit to completing IDEAinstitute if selected for IDEAfuel.
Selection is based on a structured, multi-stage evaluation process designed to assess venture readiness and long-term potential:
Application Review
Submission of core venture materials, including Use of Funds, Product Roadmap, and Financial Projections.Founder Interview
A structured interview with a member of The Idea Village team to assess vision, readiness, and alignment with program outcomes.Investment Committee Pitch
A private, VC-style pitch presentation to the IDEAfuel selection committee for final evaluation and selection.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The Idea Village selects startups based on Product, Team, Traction, and Market. IDEAfuel adds an additional lens for Black founders and founders of color, evaluating Product Vision, Founder Experience, Execution Capacity, Market Opportunity, and Coachability. All selected founders demonstrate exceptional strength across these criteria.
Product Vision
Does the founder or founding team demonstrate a clear and compelling vision for a differentiated product or service? Is there a well-articulated understanding of what is being built, how it will be developed, and why it is meaningfully distinct from existing solutions in the market?
Founder Background, Experience, and Market Fit
To what extent does the founder or founding team bring relevant lived experience, domain knowledge, or proximity to the problem being addressed? Do they possess the insight, relationships, or resources necessary to effectively navigate the space and bring the solution to market?
Execution Capacity
Is there clear evidence that the founder or founding team can execute? This includes demonstrated ability through prior experience, disciplined follow-through, responsiveness, and the capacity to translate vision into action.
Market Opportunity
Is the problem clearly defined, urgent, and supported by a viable market opportunity? Does the opportunity represent sufficient scale to matter, while remaining focused enough to execute against effectively? Is there clear evidence of meaningful customer pain or demand for a solution?
Coachability
Does the founder or founding team demonstrate openness to feedback, adaptability, and a willingness to engage in a structured, collaborative accelerator environment? Are they positioned to meaningfully benefit from mentorship, guidance, and support?
IDEAfuel Alumni Spotlight
IDEAfuel alumni represent the next generation of high-growth founders building solutions at the intersection of lived experience, systems change, and scalable innovation.
Ashley Nicole Grosse | Tahda Baby
IDEAfuel 2024 FOUNDER
Tahda Baby, founded by Ashley-Nicole Grosse, is a culturally conscious maternal and infant health platform connecting families with a trusted network of doulas, midwives, OB-GYNs, lactation consultants, and wellness providers. Built to address persistent disparities in maternal healthcare—particularly for Black mothers—the platform centers culturally competent, community-rooted care.
Beyond her work building Tahda Baby, Ashley-Nicole Grosse is also the author of Birthing Bare: Homebirth, published by Hallmark Mahogany. The book has reached a broad readership and contributed to ongoing dialogue around birth options, informed decision-making, and maternal agency. Through her storytelling, she brings greater visibility to a range of birthing experiences while encouraging deeper reflection on how care systems can better support women throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
Tahda Baby has participated in leading convenings including the Black Maternal Health Conference, further strengthening its role in advancing maternal health advocacy and education. Through expanded access to practitioners, educational content, and community support, the platform is helping reshape how families experience reproductive and postpartum care.
Shay Claiborne | Milestone Mate
IDEAfuel 2024 FOUNDER
Milestone Mate, founded by Shay Claiborne, is a child development technology platform designed to help parents and caregivers track early childhood milestones with clarity and confidence.
The app translates developmental screenings into accessible, real-time insights across key areas of child development while guiding families toward appropriate next steps, referrals, and resources when needed. Built at the intersection of professional expertise in child and family studies and lived experience as a parent, Milestone Mate is focused on making early developmental support more visible, timely, and actionable for families and providers.
Since participating in IDEAfuel, Milestone Mate has gained early recognition across several accelerator and innovation programs, including the 2025 Intuit Ideas Program and Camelback Ventures.
The company also placed third in the Nexus Louisiana Technology Cup as the only New Orleans-based tech startup to place in the statewide competition, underscoring both its product strength and the broader relevance of its solution beyond the local market.
These milestones reflect growing validation of the platform’s approach to improving early intervention pathways and reducing friction in how families access developmental support.
IDEAfuel Partners
We’re grateful to our IDEAfuel partners for making this work possible. Their support advances IDEAfuel founders as they grow innovative, scalable companies.
