MetaBronx

What MetaBronx does

MetaBronx is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit startup accelerator headquartered at 381 Canal Place, Suite 208 in The Bronx, New York, with a secondary office in Pleasantville, NY. Founded in 2015 through a collaboration between four Bronx-based corporations (Mass Ideation, scenyc, The Knowledge House, and Mainland Media) by Philip M Shearer, Miguel Sanchez, Chanez Baali, Jerelyn Rodriguez, and Andrew Kingsley, the organization operates a dual-track model. The first track is a 6-month part-time Startup Cohort Program that supports minority and women-owned startups and technology inventors, providing each accepted company with approximately $50,000 in services and taking no equity. The second track is a Youth Cohort Program that places Bronx high school students in apprenticeship roles spanning software development, hardware, media production, marketing, and writing. Both tracks feed into a flagship Diversity Demo Day event where startups pitch to investors, peers, and the community.

The program is delivered in person at the scenyc-provided 4,500 sq ft complex in Mott Haven and uses Village Capital's abaca investment-readiness assessment methodology as its core curriculum framework. Since 2019 MetaBronx has been a VilCap Community, providing founders access to a network of 53 global VilCap Communities, 150+ industry mentors, and a 50+ member Advisory Board drawn from NYC venture capital, law (including Lowenstein Sandler), and education. The business model is sponsorship- and donation-based: MetaBronx raises funds from corporate sponsors (Travelers, NYC DOE, NYC DYCD, Riverdale Country School), educational institutions (BASE, CIHS, Comp Sci High, The Knowledge House), ecosystem partners (Black Innovation Alliance, BOC Network, Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative, MIT CoLab), and tax-deductible individual donations. The program is offered free to selected startups, and alumni outcomes include the first venture-backed Bronx tech startup (Access Bazaar / Bazaar, $1M seed in 2016) and cumulative $15.4M in post-program fundraising across the portfolio, averaging approximately $850K per startup.

Name

MetaBronx

Legal name

The Concourse Group Inc

Website

https://metabronx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MetaBronx is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit startup accelerator in The Bronx, NYC, running equity-free 6-month cohorts for underestimated founders and a parallel high school apprenticeship program, serving 100+ entrepreneurs and dozens of Bronx youth annually since 2015.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator Services

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF), Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

Keywords

• Startup accelerator services
• Entrepreneurship education programs
• Youth apprenticeship training
• Nonprofit community development
• Venture incubation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bronx

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Sponsor and Donation Funding: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, MetaBronx raises funds through sponsorships and tax-deductible donations from corporate sponsors, education partners, and community supporters.
2. Cohort Program Services: Each startup accepted into the program receives $50K worth of work and services from MetaBronx and its partners, with MetaBronx taking no equity. The value is delivered through mentoring, workspace, curriculum, and partner services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MetaBronx operates a dual-track nonprofit accelerator: a 6-month part-time Startup Cohort Program for minority and women-owned technology startups, providing $50K worth of services (workspace, daily mentoring, advisory board access) with no equity taken, and a Youth Cohort Program that places Bronx high school students in apprenticeship teams covering software development, hardware, media production, marketing, and writing. Both tracks run simultaneously to build a community-driven innovation ecosystem in The Bronx, culminating in the Diversity Demo Day showcase.

Product overview

MetaBronx operates as a dual-track accelerator organization offering two interconnected programs: a Startup Cohort Program (accelerator for minority and women-owned startups solving large-scale problems) and a Youth Cohort Program (apprenticeship for Bronx high school students). Both tracks are designed to build a community-driven innovation ecosystem by supporting current entrepreneurs (startup founders) and future entrepreneurs (youth). The organization also hosts Diversity Demo Day as a showcase event and participates in the VilCap Community network. MetaBronx takes no equity from startups and provides $50K worth of services per accepted startup.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Startup Cohort Program A 6-month part-time accelerator program that supports minority and women-owned startups and entrepreneurs inventing technology solutions to large-scale problems. Each accepted startup receives $50K worth of work and services, with no equity taken by MetaBronx. The program includes workspace, daily mentoring, access to a 50+ Advisory Board, 150+ industry mentors, and a structured curriculum built on Village Capital's abaca investment readiness methodology, concluding with a Diversity Demo Day pitch event.
• Youth Cohort Program A workforce development and apprenticeship program that places high school students from Bronx schools (including Bronx Academy for Software Engineering, Crotona International High School, and Comp Sci High) in an innovation environment. Apprentices work on functional teams covering software development, hardware, media production, marketing, and writing, and contribute to the broader MetaBronx innovation ecosystem. The program runs in partnership with NYC DOE and NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, including Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) connections.

Quantifiable outcome

• Alumni have raised $15.4M in funding post-program (~$850K per startup)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Village CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVillage Capital is the creator of the most innovative and inclusive investment model in the world. MetaBronx has been a VilCap Community since 2019, providing access to their global network of 53 VilCap Communities and the abaca startup assessment methodology.
• Black Innovation AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack Innovation Alliance is a key partner in the ecosystem, with joint initiatives like the Resource II Cohort focused on backing ecosystem leaders who back diverse founders.
• New York City Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest school system in the USA, providing access to students for youth apprenticeship programs and supporting workforce development initiatives.
• Crotona International High School (CIHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia-intensive CTE education institution that provides students for MetaBronx Youth Cohorts, with students participating in startup advisory roundtables and presenting at events like CS Fair NYC.
• Lowenstein SandlercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm with 350 lawyers specializing in technology, life sciences, and fund formation. Hosts advisory roundtables and provides pro bono legal support for the accelerator program.
• Riverdale Country SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent college preparatory school that sponsors MetaBronx programs and provides mentorship opportunities through media production collaborations.
• DREAMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization that provides youth with opportunities to play, learn, and grow, supporting youth development aspects of the ecosystem.
• BOC NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImproves economic prospects of community business owners through ecosystem support.
• DreamYardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding pathways to equity and opportunity through the arts, supporting youth development.
• The Knowledge HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding a pipeline of talented and capable tech workers. Trains young Bronxites in software development and digital media, with some students launching their own startups.
• New York City Department of Youth and Community DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports workforce development initiatives and Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) connections.
• NY Tech MeetupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaple events for the NYC tech ecosystem since 2004. MetaBronx presents cohorts at their events.
• Bronx Academy for Software Engineering (BASE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChallenge-based learning school providing students for MetaBronx Youth Cohorts. BASE alumni continue as long-term apprentices.
• Comp Sci HighminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducators empowering Bronx students to access limitless opportunity in tech.
• MIT CoLabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports communities working on equitable and sustainable development.
• Bronx Cooperative Development InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding the future economy of The Bronx through cooperative development.
• U.S. Department of StateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShape an international environment in which all Americans can thrive, supporting global youth initiatives.
• Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnables the full economic potential of the region's citizens through entrepreneurship support.
• Emory Goizueta Business SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness school partnership supporting entrepreneurship education and ecosystem development.
• Olin College of EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExploring innovative approaches to engineering education, supporting tech talent development.
• Partnership Fund for New York CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeveraging top business minds for the good of New York, supporting NYC innovation ecosystem.
• scenyccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe digital workflow company and first tech startup in The Bronx (2005). Provides 4,500 sq ft complex of media and technology studios as workspace for MetaBronx in Mott Haven.
• Mass IdeationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst MWBE tech startup in The Bronx. Co-founded by Miguel Sanchez, founding partner of MetaBronx. Provides startup support and ecosystem building.
• F6SminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConnects founders and startups to funding-related resources. Platform used for MetaBronx cohort applications.
• abacacoreTechnology or IntegrationVillage Capital's startup growth app tool that enables entrepreneurs to continually assess their investment readiness level. Used as MetaBronx's core curriculum assessment methodology.
• Global Accelerator Learning InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExplore and answer key questions about enterprise acceleration, providing research and data support.
• Entrepreneurship Database ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerData-driven insights helping accelerators track their impact on the entrepreneurs they support.
• GarysGuideminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe #1 resource for discovering technology and startups in NYC, promoting accelerator and ecosystem events.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lunar Startups: The final 2020 VilCap Community fellow alongside MetaBronx, Lunar Startups runs a cohort accelerator targeting underrepresented founders with similar structure and demo-day graduation events.
• reSET: reSET is the sixth 2020 VilCap Community fellow accelerator, focused on social enterprise and diverse founders in Connecticut; same accelerator cohort type, slightly different geography.
• Village Capital: Village Capital runs the VilCap Communities network of which MetaBronx is a member; it provides the curriculum/assessment backbone (abaca) that MetaBronx uses and is the closest comparable in mission and structure.
• The Knowledge House: Listed as a core MetaBronx partner, The Knowledge House is a Bronx-based workforce development nonprofit training young adults in software development — directly comparable in youth workforce focus and geography.
• Goodie Nation: Goodie Nation is one of the other six VilCap Communities selected alongside MetaBronx in 2020 and runs a comparable accelerator for diverse founders, making it a direct peer in cohort design, no-equity-style support, and diversity focus.
• Black Girl Ventures: Black Girl Ventures is the fourth fellow 2020 VilCap Community and similarly targets underrepresented founders with cohort-based programming and investor demo days — directly comparable in mission and structure to MetaBronx.
• WEPOWER: WEPOWER is another 2020 VilCap Community accelerator, running cohort programs for diverse/underestimated founders with similar community-led GTM and demo day events — a directly comparable early-stage diversity accelerator peer.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Techstars is the broad global incumbent in startup accelerators, running 50+ programs worldwide with significant mentorship infrastructure — MetaBronx is differentiated by its diversity focus and no-equity model but competes for similar underdog founder mindshare.
• Y Combinator: Y Combinator is the largest global accelerator and competes for the same pool of early-stage startup founders that MetaBronx targets, although MetaBronx differentiates sharply via no-equity model and Bronx community focus.

Emerging players

• DreamYard: DreamYard is a Bronx-based youth development organization and MetaBronx partner that runs arts/tech programming for high schoolers — partially overlapping in youth workforce/apprenticeship mission but focused on arts rather than business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MetaBronx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metabronx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MetaBronx