Rico Grant is a serial entrepreneur and startup mentor. His ten years of Big Co. experience combined with his mentality of startup grit brings a unique perspective to the growth and potential of early stage companies. A founder of himself Rico approaches the startup world with a founders first perspective, a key component to the structure of the SoCap Accelerate program.

A Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky native Rico is passionate about the growth of the region as it pertains to entrepreneurship. Rico is the founder of Paloozanoire a three day lifestyle conference with a focus on entrepreneurship held annually in Cincinnati attracting over 3000 attendees.

“I can’t think of anything that excites me more than innovation. Combine that level of excitement with the ability to identify and work with founders who are building the coolest of things to make the world a healthier place, its unexplainable.

Kara Willis is the Operations and Marketing Manager for SoCap Accelerate. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor’s in Communications and a Minor in Psychology. After graduation, in 2016, Kara has been involved in Cincinnati’s growing Startup scene having worked at two Cincinnati-based startups holding titles of Executive Assistant, Office Manager, and HR Coordinator.

Kara enjoys volunteering her time holding a board seat with the Cincinnati Young Black Professionals (CYBP) as Internal Chair. She also spends time at the Mercantile Library in downtown Cincinnati and is a founding member of their resident Haiku Club, The Peregrine Haiku Society.

Kara is very excited to be apart of the SoCap Accelerate. She is inspired by SoCap Accelerate’s goal to rally the community to enhance not only startup companies, but, the region, nation, and world with the newest innovations in healthcare.

Rico Grant is a serial entrepreneur and startup mentor. His ten years of Big Co. experience combined with his mentality of startup grit brings a unique perspective to the growth and potential of early stage companies. A founder of himself Rico approaches the startup world with a founders first perspective, a key component to the structure of the SoCap Accelerate program.

A Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky native Rico is passionate about the growth of the region as it pertains to entrepreneurship. Rico is the founder of Paloozanoire a three day lifestyle conference with a focus on entrepreneurship held annually in Cincinnati attracting over 3000 attendees.

“I can’t think of anything that excites me more than innovation. Combine that level of excitement with the ability to identify and work with founders who are building the coolest of things to make the world a healthier place, its unexplainable.