Startups Lucia and BLCK forge forward with scholarship backing

Samella Watson and Grace McBride stopped by the PhocusWire studio at The Phocuswright Conference to debate how taking part within the Philip C. Wolf Memorial Scholarship program helps them form their startups.

The scholarship offered Watson and McBride with tickets and lodging for convention in addition to acceptance right into a mentorship program of their selection on the occasion and membership to the Travel Tech Executive Fellowship.

Watson, founder and CEO of BLCK, says the convention gave them “entry to superb individuals who’ve already accomplished superb issues” and helped her see “how we’re going to assist form the long run.”

BLCK is a turnkey market that allows individuals to seek out, bid and lease absolutely furnished models to allow them to generate passive earnings within the short-term rental sector.

The corporate is launching within the new 12 months, when Watson hopes to “see a whole bunch of individuals begin companies.”

McBride is founder and CEO of Lucia, a freelancer market that brings versatile work to the journey trade, which McBride says will assist with labor shortages. Lucia launched within the third quarter of 2022.

The convention empowers the founders to “push the boundaries of journey tech” and encourages trailblazers to problem the standing quote, McBride says.

Watch the video under for the scholarship recipients’ dialog with PhocusWire senior reporter Kathryn Walson.

Govt Interview: Philip C. Wolf Memorial Scholarship recipients