Builders and Backers

Huge congratulations to alumni Builder Misti Staley of .tube.feeding.assistant, who was just announced the winner of the $100K Power Play Grant from for FreeArm, being selected out of over 10,000 applicants!

FreeArm -the feeding tube assistant that’s helping families and hospitals safely tube feed around the world - was built from her love for her son Freeman and her lived experience navigating the NICU, PICU, and everything that came with caring for a tube-fed child. She saw a need and created a solution that’s now serving thousands.

We’ve always believed in Misti and the things she could accomplish building FreeArm, and we can’t wait to see how she continues to go all-in!

Congratulations on this hugely deserved grant - we’re excited to see what’s next for FreeArm! 💪

talking all things angel investing with students this morning!

From portfolio construction to how to test ideas before going all in, students were eager to get real insights from a successful investor in the real world.

Even at the university level, these students were asking the right questions, getting into the real mechanics of early-stage investing, and the funding side of entrepreneurship.

Real traction isn't about followers or page views. It's about proof someone cares enough to act. Use this validation ladder to test your idea before you spend months building.

Read the full Builders Field Guide here: https://buildersfieldguide.substack.com/p/how-real-builders-get-early-traction

Today, we honor all veterans for their courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to serving something greater than themselves. Thank you for your service.

We’re proud to support our Veteran Sponsors and Veteran Builders who bring those same values to their work, solving real problems and building solutions within their communities, and continuing to serve after Service.

Builders + Backers is excited to highlight an opportunity for early-stage mobility startups: Applications for the 2026 Capital One Mobility Accelerator are now open!

If you’re building a solution in the mobility industry or related services, this program offers a powerful path to refine your business plan, sharpen your pitch deck, and build the professional connections that lead to future funding.

As a Capital One partner organization, we know firsthand the value of accelerator programs that help founders get capital-ready. Applications close January 31st, with the program launching in late March.

Learn more and apply today at the 🔗 in bio.

Declaration Day is in the books! 📊

Our Fall 2025 cohort has officially moved into the experimentation phase, and this week our builders declared the testing they’ll be running to validate their assumptions.

We broke down the numbers and here’s what we found: Over a third of builders are leading with landing pages and digital validation, while nearly half are building prototypes or testing with real people in pop-ups and events.

From U-turn signals to spacecraft networks and DIY garages to regenerative farms—our builders are combining digital-first thinking with hands-on, community-centered testing. This is what lean experimentation looks like in action.

Let’s see what the data reveals. 🧪

That’s a wrap! 🎉 The inaugural Tulsa Tech Week is complete ✨

Truly a grassroots and ground-up effort by founder, , and the many founders, innovators, and tech enthusiasts who hosted sessions, opened doors, and collaborated on 100+ events. Tech and innovation can sometimes feel like it’s happening behind the curtain. That’s why events like TTW are so important to pull that curtain back and unlocked even more creative thinkers and doers.

Big congrats to Tai - you did it!

Plus, a big shoutout to the B+B Alumni who hosted awesome sessions throughout the week:

Tai Nehisi, Ashley Smith, Wesley Stevens, Marvina Larry, Andy Sajnani, Nyla Pollard, Rene Bramlett, Elena Haskins, Kate Sullivan, B Donald Harris, Brittany Harlow, Latoya Smith, Misha Shah

We love alumni cross-overs! 🚀

Next trip loading! 

On Monday, is headed back to her hometown to speak at the International Economic Development Conference 2025 in ! 🎯

She’ll join “Philanthropy & Entrepreneurship: Catalysts for Inclusive Growth”, a panel focusing on actionable strategies for harnessing philanthropy and entrepreneurship to drive equitable economic development—core to our work at Builders + Backers supporting entrepreneurs who tackle the world’s biggest challenges.

Joining alongside Donna are Detroit leaders and industry makers including: Tonya Allen (President, McKnight Foundation), Mike Duggan (Mayor, City of Detroit), Jonathan Ortmans (Founder & President, GEN), Dave Egner (President and CEO, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation), Mary Culler (President, Ford Philanthropy), Derieth Sutton (Vice President, Niagara Bottling), La June Montgomery Tabron, (President and CEO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation), Philip Gaskin (Founder and Principal, The Gaskin Group) and Julia Kraeger (COO, IEDC).

Detroit Builders, will we see you there? Drop a comment if you’ll be attending!

Day one at .com_official conference full of networking opportunities, learning moments, and hundreds of entrepreneurs pitching on a global stage!

What makes it even better? A quick rendezvous with some of our alumni builders in attendance, including Shaniqua Jones-Williams of and Isaac Toche of

Check out some of our favorite shots of the event so far 👆

Great coverage from on Auto’s inaugural “Ideas Drive Mobility for All” event - bringing together industry leaders to tackle mobility barriers that keep economic opportunity out of reach.

Important conversations about supporting founders who are building diverse solutions to expand mobility access nationwide. 🚗

To read the full feature, click here or @ the 🔗 in our bio: https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2025/08/27/mobility-capital-one-fuels-economic-opportunity.html