Lightship Foundation
Lightship Foundation is a Cincinnati-based nonprofit (Hillman Accelerator LLC) that runs free entrepreneurship programs, including Lightship Bootcamp, Black Tech Week, and Founder Gym, for diverse and minority founders across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersCincinnati, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Lightship Foundation does
Lightship Foundation, operating as Hillman Accelerator LLC, is a private, impact-driven nonprofit organization headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, founded in 2017 and employing 11-50 people. It runs a portfolio of free, equity-free entrepreneurship programs for diverse and minority founders across the United States, anchored by three core offerings: Lightship Bootcamp (a two-day intensive scaling program for founders, originally the NewME Accelerator), Black Tech Week (a three-day culture-driven tech ecosystem festival acquired from Miami in 2022 and relocated to Cincinnati), and Founder Gym (a four-week remote fundraising training program acquired in March 2025). The organization's proprietary assets are its curriculum frameworks (Golden Circle, Lean Canvas, pricing-at-value methodology), event IP, and accumulated alumni network, rather than a software product platform.
The organization's revenue model is nonprofit-grant and sponsorship-driven: there is no paid product pricing. Confirmed inflows include a $500,000 grant from the T.D. Jakes Foundation (April 2025), additional funding from Surdna Foundation, JobsOhio, and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and corporate sponsorship from P&G, Kroger, Fifth Third Bank, Cooley, SVB, and others. The organization also accepts donations through Stripe. Distribution is via direct website applications, regional bootcamp tours (a 2025 Ohio tour visits seven cities in partnership with JobsOhio), and flagship field events including Black Tech Week and reactivated activations in North Miami and Tulsa.
Lightship's go-to-market is community- and event-led, partnering with state and municipal economic development organizations (JobsOhio, Hamilton County, Ohio Third Frontier, City of Cincinnati, Build In Tulsa, North Miami, REDI Cincinnati) to embed programming in regional ecosystems. A venture capital arm (Lightship Capital, led by GP Brian Brackeen) overlays capital access onto the educational programming, with leadership under CEO Candice Matthews Brackeen. The business has no disclosed AI/ML products, no software platform, and shows $0M raised and $0 average annual revenue on its public homepage, leaving financial scale largely undisclosed.
Lightship Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lightship Foundation
- Legal name
- Hillman Accelerator LLC
- Website
- https://lightship.foundation
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lightship Foundation is a Cincinnati-based nonprofit (Hillman Accelerator LLC) that runs free entrepreneurship programs, including Lightship Bootcamp, Black Tech Week, and Founder Gym, for diverse and minority founders across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lightship Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Accelerator Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD), Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC), Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)
Keywords
Where Lightship Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cincinnati
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lightship Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Corporate Partnerships: Lightship Foundation generates revenue through corporate partnerships with companies such as P&G, Kroger, 5/3 Bank, and Cooley. These partnerships support programming, events, and the broader mission of supporting diverse entrepreneurs.
- Foundation Grants and Funding: The organization receives funding from foundations including Surdna Foundation, T.D. Jakes Foundation, and JobsOhio to support entrepreneurship programming, ecosystem development, and regional initiatives.
- Donations: Lightship Foundation accepts donations to support programming and entrepreneur services. A donation link is provided on the Impact page (via Stripe).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Lightship Bootcamp - Free intensive program for scaling founders |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Founder Gym - Free four-week cohort program for early-stage founders |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
Lightship Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lightship Foundation delivers free, equity-free entrepreneurship programming to founders through three core programs: Lightship Bootcamp (an intensive two-day scaling program), Black Tech Week (a three-day culture-driven tech ecosystem festival), and Founder Gym (a four-week remote training program for early-stage founders). The organization operates as an impact-driven nonprofit (Hillman Accelerator LLC) funded by corporate partnerships, foundation grants, and donations, providing founders with mentorship, structured curriculum, networking, and capital access.
Product overview
Lightship Foundation is an impact-driven organization operating as a platform offering multiple distinct programs: Lightship Bootcamp (a free, intensive two-day scaling program for founders, previously NewME Accelerator), Black Tech Week (an award-winning three-day culture-driven tech ecosystem festival connecting investors, entrepreneurs, and talent), and Founder Gym (a 4-week equity-free training program for early-stage founders). The organization also acquired NewME Accelerator which was reimagined as Lightship Bootcamp, and Founder Gym which expanded their portfolio. These programs are designed to support entrepreneurs at every stage from idea validation through scaling, delivered through expert mentorship, corporate partnerships, and strategic capital.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Lightship Bootcamp: A free, intensive program built for founders who want to scale. In two days, founders refine their product, sharpen their pitch, and access partners who can help their business scale faster.
- Black Tech Week
- Founder Gym
Products and services
- Lightship Bootcamp A free, intensive two-day program for founders who want to scale, enabling them to refine their product, sharpen their pitch, and access partners who can help their business scale faster. The program travels to regions including Ohio cities (Dayton, Athens, Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Youngstown) and other markets.
- Founder Gym A four-week equity-free program equipping early-stage founders with tools, training, and community support to validate ideas, build momentum, and grow with confidence. Combines expert-led training, proven frameworks (Golden Circle, Lean Canvas, pricing-at-value), and hands-on mentorship, delivered remotely.
- Black Tech Week An award-winning, culture-driven three-day experience connecting investors, entrepreneurs, tech professionals, and creatives through curated content, networking, and programming. Supported by community and corporate collaboration.
Quantifiable outcome
- K+ innovators served across all programs
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Lightship Foundation
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Lightship Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Lightship Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Founder GymcoreLightship Foundation acquired Founder Gym in March 2025. Founder Gym is a premier training program designed to equip founders with skills to successfully fundraise for their business. Founder Gym joins Lightship's portfolio alongside Lightship Bootcamp and Black Tech Week. Mandela SH Dixon founded Founder Gym, and the acquisition extends Lightship's reach nationwide with equity-free programming.
- JobsOhiocoreLightship Foundation and JobsOhio deepened their collaboration in December 2024 to champion innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth across Ohio. The partnership provides curated programming, funding opportunities, and mentorship to diverse founders, and supports regional bootcamp events in seven Ohio regions in 2025. JobsOhio is a private nonprofit economic development corporation driving job creation and new capital investment in Ohio.
- Hamilton County, OhiocoreHamilton County, Ohio is listed as a current partner on the Lightship Foundation Partners page, supporting the organization's regional programming and entrepreneurial ecosystem development in the Cincinnati area.
- Ohio Third FrontiercoreOhio Third Frontier is listed as a current partner supporting Lightship Foundation's programming and innovation initiatives across Ohio's tech ecosystem.
- City of CincinnaticoreThe City of Cincinnati is listed as a current partner supporting Lightship Foundation's regional operations and the relocation of Black Tech Week to Cincinnati.
- Black Tech WeekcoreLightship Foundation acquired Black Tech Week from Miami and relocated it to Cincinnati, Ohio in 2022. Black Tech Week is a minority tech ecosystem-building festival originally based in Miami that promotes minority entrepreneurship, creates connections, and provides educational programming for Black tech founders and talent throughout the Midwest.
- NoMi TechminorLightship Foundation partnered with NoMi Tech for a Black Tech Week activation returning to North Miami on April 30, 2026. The event at Black Box Media Miami features fireside conversations, panels, workshops, and a local business expo. The activation builds on a successful 2024 collaboration that introduced Lightship Bootcamp to North Miami founders. Plans include continued bootcamps, Black Tech Weekends, and potential micro-grants for early-stage entrepreneurs.
- North Miami, FloridaminorNorth Miami, Florida is listed as a current sponsor on the Impact page, supporting Lightship Foundation's programming in the South Florida market.
- Build In TulsaminorBuild In Tulsa is listed as a current sponsor supporting Lightship Foundation's programming and regional expansion in the Tulsa market.
- REDI CincinnatiminorREDI Cincinnati is listed as a current sponsor on the Impact page, supporting regional entrepreneurship initiatives in the Cincinnati area.
- P&G (Procter & Gamble)minorP&G is listed as a current sponsor on the Impact page. As a corporate partner, P&G likely supports Lightship's mission to promote diversity and inclusive entrepreneurship through sponsorship of events and programming.
- KrogerminorKroger is listed as a current sponsor on the Impact page, supporting Lightship Foundation's regional programming and entrepreneurship ecosystem development.
- Cooley LLPminorCooley LLP is listed as a current sponsor on the Impact page, supporting Lightship Foundation's events and programming.
- CVG (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport)minorCVG is listed as a current sponsor on the Impact page, supporting regional infrastructure and connectivity for Lightship programming in the Cincinnati region.
- Visit CincyminorVisit Cincy is listed as a current sponsor on the Impact page, supporting tourism and hospitality components of Lightship Foundation's regional events in Cincinnati.
- OHLQminorOHLQ is listed as a current sponsor on the Impact page, supporting Lightship Foundation's programming in Ohio.
- FBT GibbonsminorFBT Gibbons is listed as a current sponsor on the Impact page, supporting Lightship Foundation's legal and business programming needs.
- NewME AcceleratorcoreLightship Foundation acquired NewME Accelerator, which was reimagined as Lightship Bootcamp. This acquisition demonstrates Lightship's strategy of building an entrepreneurial ecosystem through strategic investments in transformative programs.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lightship Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Seed Spot: Seed Spot is a Phoenix-based nonprofit accelerator supporting social-impact and underrepresented founders through cohort programs and venture support. Closely aligned with Lightship's mission, nonprofit structure, and equity-free programming model.
- Village Capital: Village Capital runs peer-driven, cohort-based accelerator programs focused on impact-oriented and underrepresented founders globally. Closely matches Lightship's cohort-based accelerator model and mission-aligned founder development approach.
- gener8tor: gener8tor operates accelerator programs across multiple US cities with a national and Midwest presence, including partnerships with state-level economic development organizations. Comparable to Lightship's field-based regional bootcamp model in Ohio.
- DivInc: DivInc is a nonprofit accelerator specifically focused on Black and Latinx tech founders, providing cohort programming, mentorship, and corporate partner access. Direct mission overlap with Lightship's diverse founder focus and equity-free cohort model.
- Camelback Ventures: Camelback Ventures is a New Orleans-based accelerator specifically focused on Black and Latinx entrepreneurs, offering cohort-based programming, mentorship, and fellowship-style capital. Directly comparable to Lightship's mission to support diverse and minority founders through equity-free programs.
Broad incumbents
- Techstars: Techstars is a global accelerator network running equity-backed accelerator programs and founder development curricula. Directly comparable to Lightship as an accelerator/incubator serving early-stage founders, with deeper capital and broader geographic reach.
- Y Combinator: Y Combinator is the world's largest startup accelerator, running biannual cohorts and offering standardized founder education, demo days, and investor access. Comparable to Lightship Bootcamp and Founder Gym as a structured founder accelerator, though it targets a broader, less diversity-segmented applicant pool.
- 500 Global (500 Startups): 500 Global is a venture firm and accelerator operating global programs for early-stage founders. Comparable to Lightship as an investor-operated accelerator providing curriculum, mentorship, and capital access to diverse geographies of founders.
Others
- Techstars Rising Exits / Founder Gym (original): Founder Gym (now owned by Lightship) is a 4-week equity-free training program equipping early-stage founders with fundraising skills. Listed here as the asset-level comparable that Lightship itself acquired in March 2025, illustrating direct curricular and stage overlap with the broader founder-education category.
Emerging players
- BLCK VC: BLCK VC is a community-driven organization supporting Black venture capitalists and the broader Black innovation ecosystem through events and programming. Adjacent peer to Lightship in the Black tech ecosystem space, with overlap through events like Black Tech Week.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lightship Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceLightship Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lightship Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Lightship Foundation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Lightship Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lightship Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lightship Foundation
What does Lightship Foundation do?
Lightship Foundation delivers free, equity-free entrepreneurship programming to founders through three core programs: Lightship Bootcamp (an intensive two-day scaling program), Black Tech Week (a three-day culture-driven tech ecosystem festival), and Founder Gym (a four-week remote training program for early-stage founders). The organization operates as an impact-driven nonprofit (Hillman Accelerator LLC) funded by corporate partnerships, foundation grants, and donations, providing founders with mentorship, structured curriculum, networking, and capital access.
Is Lightship Foundation a public or private company?
Lightship Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Lightship Foundation founded?
Lightship Foundation was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lightship Foundation based?
Lightship Foundation is headquartered in Cincinnati, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lightship Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Corporate Partnerships are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants and Funding and donations.
Who are Lightship Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Seed Spot, Village Capital, gener8tor, DivInc and Camelback Ventures. Broad incumbents are Techstars, Y Combinator and 500 Global (500 Startups). Techstars Rising Exits / Founder Gym (original) is listed as an others. BLCK VC is listed as an emerging player.
Does Lightship Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lightship Foundation.
What industry is Lightship Foundation in?
Lightship Foundation's product category is Startup Accelerator Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated), with a secondary code of FSANAHAD, Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8742.