A Seattle-based initiative named SEA619 has launched to create new opportunities for Black entrepreneurs through a comprehensive support system that includes networking, mentorship, and venture capital guidance. The nonprofit organization offers a three-tiered approach, beginning with a business association, followed by an incubator program, and culminating in an accelerator phase.

The organization, whose name combines Seattle and a reference to Juneteenth, is led by tech industry veteran Arif Gürsel. Drawing from his extensive experience at companies like Microsoft, Zillow, Salesforce, Netflix, and Google, Gürsel developed SEA619 after noticing many promising Black entrepreneurs lacked the resources and connections needed to transform their ideas into successful
businesses.

The program began accepting official applications this week, with programming set to commence in October. SEA619’s structure allows entrepreneurs to enter at whatever stage best matches their current development, providing targeted support for their specific needs.

After providing free support during the first year, SEA619 takes a modest equity stake of 1-2% in participating companies. This approach contrasts with some traditional accelerators that require larger equity percentages before founders have fully developed their business models.

Kirby Winfield, founder of Seattle venture capital firm Ascend, has endorsed the initiative, noting that many entrepreneurs benefit from foundational startup education before entering established accelerator programs. Winfield plans to offer office hours to accelerator participants and maintain involvement with the ecosystem.

SEA619 operates under the larger umbrella of the Pan African Center for Empowerment (PACE), also founded by Gürsel. PACE encompasses several other initiatives, including The Union innovation hub and Tribe Called TECH, which coordinates networking events. The
organization has established connections with venture capitalists in African nations including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa who are interested in U.S. startup investments.

The launch comes amid broader national discussions about diversity initiatives, with some opposition from the current administration. Gürsel maintains that SEA619’s mission focuses on community support rather than discrimination, emphasizing that the program will continue serving its target audience regardless of political headwinds.

The initiative joins other local efforts supporting Black
entrepreneurs, including Venture Black, launched in 2024 under the leadership of Evan Poncelet, CEO of the Washington State Black Angel Network. Together, these programs aim to address historical
disparities in startup funding and support while creating new pathways for Black founders in the Pacific Northwest’s technology ecosystem.

SEA619’s approach reflects Gürsel’s Brooklyn upbringing and his commitment to community advancement, embodied in the organization’s motto “We lift as we climb.” The program represents a structured solution to challenges he observed throughout his career, where he often found himself the sole representative of his cultural background in professional settings.