Apple Impact Accelerator: Supporting Black & Brown-Owned Businesses

Apple's Impact Accelerator: Supporting Minority-Owned Businesses in Sustainability

Apple has recently launched the Impact Accelerator, a program designed to identify and support minority-owned small businesses focused on sustainability and addressing climate change. This initiative, established approximately one year ago, has now selected its inaugural cohort of 15 participants.

These businesses, sourced nationwide, will participate in a three-month program with the potential to secure a contract with Apple. The Impact Accelerator represents a key component of Apple’s broader $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative.

Investing in Racial Equity and Climate Solutions

This $100 million initiative is allocated across various efforts. Funding is directed towards existing programs, venture capital firms led by people of color, and other investments deemed beneficial by the Initiative’s team. The goal is to foster positive change and promote equity.

Following the three-month virtual program – details of which have not been publicly disclosed – participants will be considered as potential suppliers for Apple’s efforts to achieve a carbon neutral supply chain.

Spotlight on Five Impact Accelerator Participants

Apple has provided profiles of all 15 participating companies. Below are five that demonstrate particularly noteworthy approaches:

• Volt Energy Utility (Co-founder: Gilbert Campbell III) — This company develops large-scale solar projects, prioritizing service to communities that have historically been underserved.
• Bench-Tek (Founder: Maria Castellon) — Specializing in the manufacture of laboratory benches, Bench-Tek emphasizes the use of environmentally friendly materials in its production processes.
• Vericool (Founder: Darrell Jobe) — Vericool is dedicated to creating sustainable alternatives to traditional packaging materials like Styrofoam. The company also prioritizes hiring individuals with prior incarceration.
• Oceti Sakowin Power Authority (Chairman: Lyle Jack) — This organization, formed by six Sioux tribes, is a non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on the development of renewable energy resources in the Midwest and on Native American reservations.
• Mosaic Global Transportation (Founder: Maurice H. Brewster) — Mosaic Global Transportation provides employee and event shuttle services, aiming to replace gasoline-powered vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs).

Lisa Jackson, Apple’s Vice President of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, stated, “The businesses we’re partnering with today are poised to become tomorrow’s diverse and innovative industry leaders, creating ripples of change to help communities everywhere adapt to the urgent challenges posed by climate change.”

This program underscores Apple’s commitment to both environmental sustainability and fostering a more equitable and inclusive business landscape.