Making a Social Impact

Techie and entrepreneur Barry Givens has been named managing director for the new Cox Enterprises Social Impact Accelerator powered by Techstars.

In this role, Givens will draw upon his robust entrepreneurial experience to engage innovative startups focused on addressing environmental, social and sustainability issues and help bring their ideas to market through access to mentorships and funding.

“The Social Impact Accelerator is designed to drive sustainable change,” said Givens. “Today’s social and environmental issues require passionate, creative problem-solvers from diverse backgrounds who bring new technologies and fresh perspectives to the table, and that’s exactly what this program seeks to nurture. I’m proud to work with Cox Enterprises and Techstars to lift up entrepreneurs who are committed to making their communities and the world a better place.”

Based in Atlanta, the Cox Enterprises Social Impact Accelerator powered by Techstars is set to kick off in January 2020. The three-month accelerator will provide hands-on mentoring, funding and global connections to 10 for-profit, mission-driven companies working to address social and environmental problems.

Entrepreneurs seeking to positively impact the community through their innovative ideas can apply now through Oct. 13, 2019.

Cox business leaders and experts will guide selected entrepreneurs to help them boost their early-stage businesses, grow their networks and prepare them to pitch their companies at a Demo Day presentation in April 2020. The accelerator will run each year for the next three years, creating opportunities for 30 different startups to participate in the program.

Get to Know Barry
A graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology, Givens spent his early career with John Deere as a manufacturing and design engineer and Caterpillar as a product manager. He also created a custom shoe company, Slushie Kicks, and co-authored a book titled, “Plan "B" Sucks: Work on Your Dreams, not Your Boss's.”

In 2012, Givens founded Monsieur, a cutting-edge hardware technology company that was launched at the prestigious Techcrunch Disrupt Battlefield in 2013. He won the Technology Association of Georgia Business Launch competition and ran a successful Kickstarter campaign. Givens and his team raised over $4 million in seed and Series A funding and grew the company to a successful exit in 2017. He also has been featured in notable publications such as CNN, CNN Money, Wired, TechCrunch, Entrepreneur Magazine, Huffington Post, Fast Company. 

Our Second Techstars Accelerator

The Cox Enterprises Social Impact Accelerator powered by Techstars is the second accelerator in partnership between Techstars and Cox Enterprises. Cox also funds and supports startups and entrepreneurs through other Atlanta-based partnerships, including Engage, Endeavor and Startup Runway.  

"Social responsibility is embedded in our business strategy, and the Social Impact Accelerator is a natural extension of who Cox Enterprises is as a company," said Maury Wolfe, senior director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Affairs at Cox Enterprises. "We’ve found a like-minded advocate in Barry Givens to lead this effort and further amplify our mission be a force of good in our communities.”