Dallas Startups Deposits.com and DUKE.AI Land Google As New Backer
Summary
They join several other North Texas companies that received earlier grants from the fund.Two North Texas startups can now count one of the largest tech firms in the countryGoogleas their newest backer.The Alphabet-owned company has awarded Dallas companies Deposits.com and DUKE.AI $100,000 each in new funding via its Google for Startups Black Founders Fund. Fresh off of a $5 million seed funding round it raised last month that was led by ATX Venture Partners, the startup offers plug-and-play banking features for community banks, credit unions, and other financial brands. It does this via what it calls kitsthematic financial experiences built around common financial services customers are looking for, like money management, mobile payments, business banking, and payroll.Also formed in 2019, DUKE.AI is an automated bookkeeping and accounting software platform designed for the trucking industry. Led by founder Marcus Cooksey, the company landed early funding through Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smiths Minority Entrepreneurship Institute Capital Fund.In a LinkedIn post, Cooksey said the company has already seen tremendous benefit from Googles support team.Google for Startups Black Founders Fund has backed other North TexansThe Google for Startups Black Founders Fund is part of a $175 million investment commitment by Google to back the Black business community in the wake of protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. In the first batch of startups it funded were DEI platform Kanarys, fintech Zirtue, concierge health care company CourMed, and barbershop space rental platform ShearShare, which has since relocated to Buffalo, N.Y. Those companies were joined last September by F\xeatefully, Safer Management, XR Sports Group and CustomerX.i.We know that hands-on support and connections are necessary elements to any founders success, Google wrote when it announced funding companies in 2021.