Multicultural Innovation Lab

Building a community of early stage technology and technology-enabled startups led by women and multicultural entrepreneurs, hosted within Morgan Stanley.

learn more

why the multicultural innovation lab

CURATED CURRICULUM

The Lab provides curriculum customized for each startup, including finance & sales strategy, marketing & branding, and private sessions with industry experts.

BEST IN CLASS MENTORSHIP

Morgan Stanley pairs each startup with relevant mentors who can be helpful to the business, providing advice and counsel for company growth and scale.

POWERFUL NETWORKS

Each startup is introduced to our bankers, financial advisors, technology experts and others with the power to expose each company to their vast industry networks.

2019

5 Branding Tips to Turbocharge Your Startup

Success can depend as much on branding and savvy storytelling that wins over a loyal customer audience as it does on technology, products or services.

Dynamic Acceleration & Innovation

Meet the 10 startups taking up residence in our Multicultural Innovation Lab for an intensive program aimed at moving their companies and ideas to the next level.

Start Me Up: Coding to a Different Tune

Rachel Mayer went from being a Venezuelan singer with a recording contract to starring in the male-dominated FinTech space with her startup, Trigger Finance.

Lab Companies

Five-to-Nine

2019 Cohort

Mighty Well

2019 Cohort

Jenzy

2019 Cohort

SmartGurlz

2019 Cohort

BLUEWAVE Technologies

2019 Cohort

Gappify

2019 Cohort

Looklive

2019 Cohort

Cosynd

2019 Cohort

Care Advisors

2019 Cohort

2018

Pitching Your Startup to Investors in Seven Minutes or Less

On Demo Day at the Multicultural Innovation Lab, women and multicultural entrepreneurs get the spotlight they deserve.

How Entrepreneurs Build Connections

Gaining the right introductions can make or break a fledgling business.

Innovating the Delivery of Energy

COI Energy Services is disrupting the energy market by redesigning the delivery and management of electricity.

Build Your Own App, No Coding Required

Hatch Apps’ low-cost system aims to “democratize” the process of software development.

How Entrepreneurs Build Connections

Gaining the right introductions can make or break a fledgling business.

Curating the Urban Music Scene

Shoobs is a ticketing site for discovering urban concerts and nightlife events.

An App That Makes It Easy to Say, "I'll Take It!"

How a chance meeting between strangers in the New York subway led to COSIGN, a social-retailing app that capitalizes on some of the hottest online trends.

2017

Seed Funding Tips for Multicultural and Women Founders

Seed investors don't just want to hear great data, they also need to be hooked by the personal story and the vision that’s driving your startup.

Pitch Day for Multicultural- and Women-Led Startups

Five startups finish their time inside Morgan Stanley's Multicultural Innovation Lab by pitching to a packed room of investors.

Start Me Up: Coding to a Different Tune

Rachel Mayer went from being a Venezuelan singer with a recording contract to starring in the male-dominated FinTech space with her startup, Trigger Finance.

5 Startups Set Up Shop Inside Morgan Stanley

Entrepreneur Brian Brackeen explains why his and four other multicultural and women-run startups need to move in to Morgan Stanley's offices for three months.

our program

Program Overview & Key Dates

An intensive 6 months accelerator designed to help build and scale startups, culminating in a showcase presenting each company to the investor community.

Successful applicants will be provided with:

•

Cash contribution from Morgan Stanley in exchange for equity interest

•

Workspace at Morgan Stanley's headquarters in Times Square

•

Connections to Morgan Stanley and external partner networks

•

Opportunity to pitch to the influential investor community

•

Curated content across a variety of speakers and topics

Ideal candidates will have the following characteristics:

•

Multicultural or woman founder, co-founder, Chief Technology Officer or other member of C-suite

•

A startup that is technology or technology-enabled and within the seed to Series B funding rounds

•

Has successfully raised Friends and Family, Angel or Seed Rounds

•

Launched product with demonstrated revenues that provide initial validation of business model and market opportunity

•

A commitment to be based full-time at our headquarters for the duration of the program

KEY DATES

Applications Closed: 1/4/2019

FAQs

•

What stage of companies are you looking for at the Multicultural Innovation Lab?

The Multicultural Innovation Lab targets early stage technology and technology-enabled startups with a woman or multicultural founder, co-founder, Chief Technology Officer or other member of C-suite. We consider early stage to be within seed to Series B funding rounds.

•

What do I get for being part of the Multicultural Innovation Lab?

As part of the Lab, Morgan Stanley provides a cash contribution, workspace at our New York headquarters, dedicated programming & support and the opportunity to pitch to the influential investor community.

•

What is the form of the contribution?

Morgan Stanley will provide cash contribution of $200,000 and receive between 3-5% of equity interest.

•

Do I have to work out of the Morgan Stanley office for the entire period?

Yes. We require you to be primarily based in the Morgan Stanley office for the duration of the program. Our location is fully equipped and we believe there is value in the entire cohort interacting with each other as well as the larger Morgan Stanley community.

•

Do I have to be a FinTech company in order to apply?

No. We look for technology or technology-enabled startups across a variety of sectors.

•

I’ve applied to the Multicultural Innovation Lab before, can I apply again?

We absolutely welcome repeat applications and keeping in touch with us between cohorts.

•

When will I hear back about my application?

Applications close 1/4/2019. We aim to target contacting applicants with next steps within 1 month after applications close.

Additional Questions:

Please contact us at mcil@morganstanley.com if your questions were not answered here and we’ll get back to you shortly!