Builders + Backers
Industry Focus
Geographic Focus
Builders + Backers is the first AI-powered venture studio built to help anyone turn their ideas into thriving businesses. Founded in 2020 by Donna Harris, the organization combines human insight with cutting-edge AI technology to democratize entrepreneurship. Unlike traditional startup support designed for the well-connected elite, Builders + Backers has reimagined entrepreneurship for everyone—no college degrees, tech skills, or the 'right' connections required. The organization operates through multiple entities including a distributed venture studio, the Idea Accelerator program, Pebble Fund (philanthropic funding), Cornerstone Fund (venture capital), and the newly launched Builders + Backers Foundation (501c3 nonprofit). Their AI-powered platform is trained on thousands of hours of real-world, founder-to-founder mentorship rather than generic templates. The organization's mission is to expand economic opportunity by equipping people everywhere to build new ventures through AI, education, mentorship, and early capital, believing that human creativity is the most underutilized resource in the economy.
2020
10 Companies
4
3X Higher