At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we believe some of the most transformative solutions to our region’s biggest challenges begin with local innovators—change-makers who see a need and create a better path forward. 

That’s why we’re excited to introduce the 2027 Social Innovation Accelerator cohort: a group of visionary social entrepreneurs working to improve outcomes in education, income and health across North Texas. Through innovative ideas, deep community connections and an unwavering commitment to impact, these leaders are creating opportunities for individuals and families to thrive. 

Meet This Year’s Accelerator Fellows 

Learn a bit about this year’s fellows, their ventures and what they hope to gain from their Accelerator experience: 

Kalvin Bridgewater, Founder of Daddy Stroller Social Club 

Daddy Stroller Social Club exists to bring awareness, support and a culture of compassion to a deeply overlooked issue: postpartum depression in fathers. While maternal mental health has rightfully gained more attention, many fathers silently struggle with emotional, psychological and identity challenges during the postpartum and early-childhood periods, often without the language, support or safe space to express it. Daddy Stroller Social Club de-stigmatizes paternal postpartum depression through community-building, advocacy, outreach and storytelling.  

“Through the mentorship offered by the Social Innovation Accelerator, Daddy Stroller Social Club hopes to create a sustainable operating model that includes a robust customer relationship management system, allowing us to reach deeper into our community and further tackle the challenges of fatherhood postpartum depression.” 

Kimberly Brown, Founder & CEO of Snugs and Kisses

Snugs and Kisses is a parental wellness company supporting working families across North Texas through pregnancy, postpartum and the return to work. For seven years, they have delivered in-home and virtual doula care, lactation consulting, sleep coaching and parental education. Now, Snugs and Kisses is expanding into backup childcare, a childcare membership model and an employer-sponsored benefit model, bringing care directly into workplaces across North Texas, so no family has to navigate pregnancy through return-to-work alone. 

“United Way picks ventures they truly believe can make a difference. Being chosen for this program is the platform I need to continue showing why parental support like this matters, in the home, in the workplace and in the community. Working alongside mentors whose guidance sharpens the path forward, and fellows whose accountability keeps the momentum going, means I’ve found my people, partners who turn something I built alone into something built to last.” 

Dominique Johnson, Founder of A Mindful Resource Inc.

A Mindful Resource Inc. improves mental health outcomes for Black men through Bro Chill™, a culturally responsive wellness initiative that builds trust, reduces stigma and connects men to support before a crisis occurs. Bro Chill combines peer-led wellness circles, mental health education, digital engagement and community partnerships to normalize conversations about mental health and make help-seeking easier. Through the broader Care Before Crisis™ ecosystem, participants can also access screenings, resource navigation, training and culturally aligned care. Dominique is a recent participant of our Social Innovation Incubator.  

“As a former firefighter/paramedic and emergency department nurse, I’ve seen what happens when support comes too late. Bro Chill™ was created to change that by giving Black men a trusted space to connect before a crisis. The Social Innovation Accelerator is helping us build the partnerships and infrastructure needed to grow this model and create lasting change in our communities.”  

Von Minor, Founder & Executive Director of South Dallas Driving Academy

The South Dallas Driving Academy (SDDA) is a nonprofit created to help students and adults overcome economic barriers that deny access to driver’s and commercial licenses. Through its Accelerated Driver’s License and Commercial Driver’s License programs, SDDA provides affordable, accessible training that equips participants with credentials for employment and living-wage careers. Through strong community and employer partnerships, SDDA transforms driver’s license access from a barrier into a pathway to sustainable employment and economic mobility. 

“I am participating in the Social Innovation Accelerator to strategically scale South Dallas Driving Academy’s driver and commercial licensing programs across North Texas. Through mentorship and peer collaboration, we hope to refine our growth strategy, expand institutional partnerships and secure sustainable funding to break economic barriers for more individuals.” 

Shelby Patrice, Founder & CEO of Budget University

Budget University is an accredited learning management system (LMS) that teaches financial literacy to learners of all backgrounds. The platform delivers structured, self-paced instruction through modules and quizzes covering topics such as 401(k), basic banking, credit, investing, student loans, life insurance and real estate. The goal with these topics is to build practical money-management skills, reaching users where they are.  

“I am beyond excited to be participating in the Social Innovation Accelerator, because Budget University now has the minds, ears and eyes to expand a platform built to be a positive disruption for communities, schools and individuals. Our mission is to break cycles and create generational wealth, which is exactly the kind of change United Way works to make every day.” 

Brian Reynolds, Founder & CEO of First Team

First Team is a workforce development nonprofit helping college athletes translate the discipline, resilience, leadership and teamwork developed through sports into meaningful careers. Through career preparation, individualized coaching and employer partnerships, First Team creates pathways to internships, employment and long-term career success. Building on a successful university pilot, where 75-80% of participants secured full-time employment within six months, First Team is launching in North Texas with a vision to scale its model to serve athletes everywhere. Brian is our first Accelerator fellow to return to the program with a new venture. He previously participated as a co-founder of Trey Athletes. 

“Returning to the Social Innovation Accelerator feels especially meaningful—like a homecoming. I’m excited to work alongside United Way and the Social Innovation Accelerator community to strengthen First Team, build the partnerships that will make our work successful, and lay the foundation in North Texas to serve college athletes everywhere.” 

David Stenson, Founder of EETZ

EETZ Technologies is an on-demand surplus food logistics platform that identifies excess food at its source and connects it with nearby organizations and people who need it. Approximately 35% of food produced for human consumption goes to waste across the food lifecycle, from farming and transportation to processing, manufacturing and retail. EETZ uses mobile technology and real-time notifications to quickly identify available surplus and coordinate its redistribution to food-insecure families and veterans. David is a recent participant of our Social Innovation Incubator. 

“Participating in the Social Innovation Accelerator will allow me to learn from experienced mentors, strengthen EETZ Rescue’s business model and build relationships with other purpose-driven entrepreneurs. I hope to gain the strategic insights, partnerships and resources needed to scale our technology and accelerate our mission of ensuring surplus food feeds people, fuels energy or composts—instead of filling landfills.” 

Kristen Wells-Collins, Founder & CEO, Black to the Lab

Black to the Lab is transforming how girls experience STEM by using cosmetic chemistry as a gateway into science to counter the decline in STEM interest that often begins at a young age. Through hands-on product formulation experiences, girls create products like lip gloss, body scrubs and bath bombs while learning the science behind them. Their mission is to increase STEM confidence, engagement and career awareness among girls—particularly those traditionally underrepresented in STEM—through culturally relevant learning experiences, educational products and technology-enabled curriculum. Kristen is a recent participant of our Social Innovation Incubator. 

“I’m participating in the Social Innovation Accelerator to strengthen Black to the Lab’s impact and expand Hey Labmates into a scalable platform that helps more girls see themselves in STEM. I hope to gain the strategy, connections and resources needed to grow sustainably while building stronger systems to measure and communicate our impact.” 

What’s Next for the 2027 Cohort 

The fellows are beginning an intensive six-week Boot Camp designed to strengthen their venture models, sharpen strategic clarity and focus their efforts on the priorities that will drive their ventures forward.  

After that will come the Milestone Accelerator phase of the program, where fellows will turn those priorities into action, working closely with dedicated teams of mentors to achieve key milestones and prepare their ventures for the next stage of growth.  

Then, all eight fellows will have the opportunity to participate in United Way’s Showcase, where they’ll introduce their ventures to a broad audience of community leaders, prospective customers, funders, partners and supporters across North Texas. The Showcase will give every member of the cohort a platform to build visibility, make valuable connections and open doors to new opportunities.  

And finally, five fellows will be selected to compete at The Pitch, United Way’s annual social innovation competition. There, they’ll present their ventures for the opportunity to receive additional seed funding and accelerate their impact even further. 

We’re excited to follow their journeys and share their progress throughout the year. Stay tuned to see how these innovative leaders continue creating change across North Texas. 

The Social Innovation Accelerator Drives Progress Toward Our Goals 

Embracing innovation and collaboration allows us to stay nimble as we lead a movement to improve education, income and health in North Texas.  

Through our social innovation programs, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas partners with mission-driven entrepreneurs and organizations that are developing creative, scalable solutions to challenges affecting education, income and health in our communities.  

Since we founded the program in 2013, the  Social Innovation Accelerator has supported promising nonprofit and for-profit social ventures with funding, mentorship and connections that help them strengthen their organizations and scale their impact. In the years since, the Accelerator has helped drive our growing impact across North Texas: 

• 113 local social entrepreneurs have completed the Accelerator 

• 579,000+ neighbors have been served by Accelerator alumni 

• $83.2 million has been raised by Accelerator alumni 

• $545,000 in seed funding invested through the Accelerator and The Pitch annually 

• 15,000 hours of mentoring and coaching provided to Accelerator fellows each year 

Support Local Social Entrepreneurs 

Innovative grassroots ideas are one key to solving the challenges facing our communities. Supporters like you can help power the next successful startup that will have a profound impact on North Texas. Make a donation to United Way and help grow our movement of people and organizations that are creating real change in education, income and health.