Starfish is a creative IP accelerator designed to scale big pop culture ideas from proven BIPOC artists, creators, and makers.

Who

We are a nonprofit social enterprise built by artists of color for artists of color supporting a rich network of entrepreneurs and cultural change strategists.

What

We give creators substantial development funding, mentorship from leaders across a multitude of disciplines and sectors to accelerate their social impact.Our focus is on the release of their MVP (minimal viable product) which leverages their relationship to the larger IP.

Why

We believe that investment in seasoned creators of color who maintain agency over the dynamic expression of their IP and big ideas is the most effective cure to the narrative deficit that significantly shortchanges our culture.

The Starfish Ecosystem

A collective of artists, entrepreneurs, cultural change strategists and dreamers.

MAHYAD TOUSI

FOUNDER

VIKRAM SINGH

COORDINATOR

LUIS CASTRO

ADVISOR

MIKHAEL TARA GARVER

CREATIVE VILLAGE

JESSICA TUCK

CREATIVE VILLAGE

MICHELLE SUGIHARA

CREATIVE VILLAGE

ALESIA WESTON

CO_DIRECTOR

REZA ASLAN

FOUNDER

ALANA MAYO

ADVISOR

SHAWN TAYLOR

CREATIVE VILLAGE

SARAH VITTI

CREATIVE VILLAGE

KEITH ADKINS

CREATIVE VILLAGE

NINA SPENSLEY

CO_DIRECTOR

KAMAL SINCLAIR

ADVISOR

KARIM AHMAD

ADVISOR

HEIDI BOISVERT

CREATIVE VILLAGE

SANAZ ASEFAR

CREATIVE VILLAGE

SIAN MORSON

STRATEGY & INVESTMENTS

ALEXIS GARCIA

ADVISOR

WAYNE SUTTON

ADVISOR

CHERYL SLEAN

CREATIVE VILLAGE

ALICIA VAN COUVERING

CREATIVE VILLAGE

MAHA CHEHLAOUI

STRATEGY

MELISSA BRADLEY

ADVISOR

JOHN JENNINGS

ADVISOR

NADIA SAAH

CREATIVE VILLAGE

JEFF YANG

CREATIVE VILLAGE

MAHYAD TOUSI

FOUNDER

ALESIA WESTON

CO_DIRECTOR

NINA SPENSLEY

CO_DIRECTOR

SIAN MORSON

STRATEGY & INVESTMENTS

MAHA CHEHLAOUI

STRATEGY

VIKRAM SINGH

COORDINATOR

REZA ASLAN

FOUNDER

KAMAL SINCLAIR

ADVISOR

ALEXIS GARCIA

ADVISOR

MELISSA BRADLEY

ADVISOR

LUIS CASTRO

ADVISOR

ALANA MAYO

ADVISOR

KARIM AHMAD

ADVISOR

WAYNE SUTTON

ADVISOR

JOHN JENNINGS

ADVISOR

MIKHAEL TARA GARVER

CREATIVE VILLAGE

SHAWN TAYLOR

CREATIVE VILLAGE

HEIDI BOISVERT

CREATIVE VILLAGE

CHERYL SLEAN

CREATIVE VILLAGE

NADIA SAAH

CREATIVE VILLAGE

JESSICA TUCK

CREATIVE VILLAGE

SARAH VITTI

CREATIVE VILLAGE

SANAZ ASEFAR

CREATIVE VILLAGE

ALICIA VAN COUVERING

CREATIVE VILLAGE

JEFF YANG

CREATIVE VILLAGE

MICHELLE SUGIHARA

CREATIVE VILLAGE

KEITH ADKINS

CREATIVE VILLAGE

In The News

Accelerator Starfish Launches Program for Diverse Talent

Each of the program’s first four awardees will receive a $50,000 stipend and support from three to four mentors, including content experts, topic experts and a fandom representative.

Watch Amir Sulaiman’s Haunting Short Film, ‘Laying Flowers.:.Setting Fires’

I first laid eyes on Amir Sulaiman’s new short film, ‘Laying Flowers.:.Setting Fires’ after being sent the link for the trailer by a close friend.

Hollywood Reporter 1/22/2020 

by Sharareh Drury

The Hub News 12/09/2020 

by Ayara Pommells

In The News

Accelerator Starfish Launches Program for Diverse Talent

Each of the program’s first four awardees will receive a $50,000 stipend and support from three to four mentors, including content experts, topic experts and a fandom representative”.

Hollywood Reporter 1/22/2020 

by Sharareh Drury

Watch Amir Sulaiman’s Haunting Short Film, ‘Laying Flowers.:.Setting Fires

I first laid eyes on Amir Sulaiman’s new short film, ‘Laying Flowers.:.Setting Fires’ after being sent the link for the trailer by a close friend.

The Hub News 12/09/2020 

by Ayara Pommells