5 Things I Learned in Salesforce Accelerate
First things first — I love food. And I also want to help people, like my diabetic Dad, understand how what we eat affects our health. That’s why I created Foodspace Technology. As a member of Salesforce Accelerate Build Cohort 10, I’ve had the ability to learn and grow and build my business.
This program is different from other accelerators I’ve attended. The education and training offered in accelerator programs are always great, but this cohort is exclusively for Black entrepreneurs. Last year, many companies made commitments to improve their diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. Salesforce even wrote about their own commitment to investing $100 million through Salesforce Ventures to empower companies led by Black and underrepresented minority founders. So Cohort 10 is different.
As a Black entrepreneur, I can appreciate being in a group with other founders who share my experiences and can relate to my journey thus far in building a startup. A focus on Black-owned businesses is much deserved, and I feel incredibly privileged to have access to the Salesforce ecosystem and network to launch my venture to the next level.
What I will take away most from the program are the connections it has opened me to. But I’ve also picked up some critically important know-how. Here are five things I learned that have made my time far richer than I could have imagined.
1. How to Create a Joint Value Proposition and Solution
While I came into the program with a grasp on the value of Foodspace for our industry, I was missing how this could be integrated into Salesforce. Salesforce Accelerate paired each entrepreneur with mentors, who acted as our north star for navigating the AppExchange and Salesforce Customer 360. With guidance from my mentor, I now understand Salesforce’s unique sales cycle, how customer success teams would fit into creating a joint solution, and ultimately how Foodspace could enhance Salesforce’s offerings and account strategy.
2. Alignment to Industries
As a startup targeting the CPG industry, I wanted to be sure that I could meet with folks who could help me unpack the Salesforce ecosystem and CPG industry. I met with members of the
Consumer Goods Cloud in order for me to position how Foodspace could fill gaps within its roadmap, and create a strong business case for my proposed join solution. I was also introduced to Salesforce Industries, and learned how digital-first cloud software for specific industries are key growth areas.
3. Bringing My Data to the Cloud
Once I received a good lay of the land, I was ready to work with my Technical Advisor for the program. They guided me through how to architect data within the platform to create a successful user experience for prospective Salesforce customers.
4. How to Engage Clients through Whiteboarding
The Salesforce Accelerate program also set up weekly educational sessions hosted by Salesforce employees. In one session that will continue to stick in my memory, the speaker brought out an actual whiteboard, and by the end of the session, I was convinced my entire team needed to learn from him. Whiteboarding is a great way to engage your clients during the sales process so they become an active participant in mapping out their challenges and how it can be solved with your solution.
Here’s us all together on a zoom. We thoroughly appreciated his enthusiasm, guidance, and most importantly penmanship!
5. Fundraising as a Black Founder
Our last session was a deep dive on fundraising and where investment and guidance can often fall short. As a cohort of all Black founders, we appreciated getting to speak with a Black Venture Capitalist who understood exactly what we had faced and approached all of our questions with such detailed advice that the discussion really felt like what many of us were looking to hear. For Black founders looking to unpack more of the world of venture capital, BLCK VC has events and resources specifically for the community.
Thank Yous
I wouldn’t be able to close out my time without acknowledging the people who have been a huge help in helping me make the most out of my time. My mentor and ultimate guide Scott Jorgensen was instrumental in connecting me with leadership in the ecosystem like Sunil Rao, VP and GM of Consumer Goods Cloud along with Mark Stevens, VP of Strategy of Salesforce Industries. My Technical Advisor, Jeremy Haudraude, who helped me see what my data could look like on the platform. A big thank you to the speakers that really left me inspired Vivek Mahapatra, Senior Director of Competitive Intelligence & Competitor Strategy, Jackson Cummings, Salesforce Ventures and Co-Creator of BLCK VC and Frederik Groce, Principal, Storm Ventures and Co-founder of BLCK VC.
The world of Salesforce and the value of the Accelerate Build program wouldn’t have made it on my radar without my dear friend Jason Briggs, who introduced me to the cloud from his own journey as an entrepreneur and participation in Accelerate.
Britany Bir , Emilie Jessula, and Mike Kreaden — I appreciate you all guiding us through the program and being champions in the mission to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech world.
Salesforce Accelerate has helped me set a foundation for bigger opportunities for Foodspace, and I can appreciate the network of entrepreneurs Cohort 10 has provided me. We are also thrilled to have won the March 2 Pitch-Off event.
