Seattle Nonprofit Launches to Support Black Startup Founders

A new Seattle-based nonprofit called SEA619 is creating a structured pathway for Black entrepreneurs, offering comprehensive support through each stage of the startup journey. Founded by tech industry veteran Arif Gürsel, the organization aims to address the systemic gaps that often prevent Black founders from successfully launching and scaling their businesses. The name SEA619 cleverly combines references to Seattle and Juneteenth (June 19th), the holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in America. With official applications now open and programming set to begin in October, the organization represents a significant new resource for entrepreneurs of African descent in the Pacific Northwest tech ecosystem.

Gürsel’s vision for SEA619 stems from his personal experiences navigating the tech industry as a Black professional. “Every room that I was always in, I was always the only one that reflected my culture, my upbringing, my heritage,” Gürsel explained, highlighting the isolation many professionals of color face in technology spaces. After spending over a decade at Microsoft and holding leadership roles at major companies including Zillow, Salesforce, Netflix, and Google, Gürsel recognized a pattern: many talented Black founders had brilliant ideas but lacked access to the resources, networks, and knowledge needed to develop them into successful businesses. This observation, combined with his Brooklyn upbringing where he was taught that “those of us who make it forward always have to go back and get those who didn’t,” inspired him to create a program guided by the principle “We lift as we climb.” SEA619 represents the culmination of these values and experiences, providing structured support specifically designed for the unique challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs.

The organization takes a distinctive three-stage approach to supporting founders, allowing entrepreneurs to enter at whatever phase matches their current development stage. The journey begins with a grassroots business association for early-stage ideas, progresses to an incubator for more developed concepts, and culminates in an accelerator for startups ready to scale and seek significant investment. This structure addresses a critical gap Gürsel observed while advising companies in programs like the now-defunct Seattle Techstars: many Black founders weren’t adequately prepared for accelerator programs and ended up giving away significant equity (6-10%) before they had properly established their business foundations. SEA619’s model provides free support during the first year of engagement, then takes a modest 1% equity stake that maxes out at 2% – a stark contrast to the larger stakes claimed by many traditional accelerators. This approach has already garnered praise from industry leaders like Kirby Winfield, founder of Seattle venture capital firm Ascend, who described it as “a crash course in startup building” that founders need BEFORE joining established accelerator programs.

SEA619 is part of a broader ecosystem of support created by Gürsel called the Pan African Center for Empowerment (PACE), which he launched a decade ago. This comprehensive initiative includes several complementary programs: The Union, an innovation hub and event space in downtown Seattle; Tribe called TECH (technology, entrepreneurship, culture and heritage), which hosts networking mixers in Seattle and beyond; and additional initiatives focused on engineering education and arts and media projects. One particularly innovative aspect of Gürsel’s strategy involves building partnerships with venture capitalists in African countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa who are interested in backing U.S. startups. This international connection creates unique funding pathways and global opportunities for SEA619 participants that might not be available through traditional Silicon Valley investment channels. The organization joins other local efforts supporting Black entrepreneurs, including Venture Black, which launched last year under the leadership of Evan Poncelet, CEO of the Washington State Black Angel Network.

The timing of SEA619’s launch coincides with significant political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives nationwide. The Trump administration has worked to roll back various DEI efforts across education, healthcare, and corporate America, with opponents arguing that such programs constitute reverse discrimination that undermines individual merit. However, Gürsel remains undeterred by these political headwinds, emphasizing that SEA619 is not discriminatory but rather focused on serving a specific community with unique needs. “I’m not worried about an administration that’s based in hate when the work that we’re doing is based in love and lifting people up,” Gürsel stated firmly. “So they’ll do what they do, we’ll do what we do. One thing I’m not going to do is stop serving my community. There’s nothing that they can do to make me stop.” This resolute stance reflects the mission-driven nature of the organization and Gürsel’s personal commitment to creating pathways for greater representation in the technology sector.

The creation of SEA619 represents a significant development in Seattle’s startup ecosystem, addressing historical inequities while providing practical, structured support for Black entrepreneurs. By offering a graduated pathway from idea to funded venture, the organization fills critical gaps in the traditional startup support system. The program’s emphasis on proper preparation before seeking significant investment helps founders avoid premature equity dilution while building sustainable businesses. As Seattle continues to evolve as a technology hub, initiatives like SEA619 play a vital role in ensuring that innovation and opportunity are accessible to all communities. Through his leadership of this organization, Arif Gürsel is putting into practice the values that guided his own career journey – creating space for those who have been historically underrepresented in technology and entrepreneurship. As programming begins this October, SEA619 stands poised to make a meaningful impact on both individual entrepreneurs and the broader technology landscape in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.