IDEAfuel 2023: RIZE

The founder highlighted in this blog forms part of the 2023 IDEAfuel cohort .

Founded in 2020 by Sofia Viscuso, RIZE is a startup that addresses the challenges faced by many college students in finding paid career-related work opportunities. Additionally, RIZE serves as a platform connecting growing businesses with enthusiastic young professionals seeking project-based work. In other words, RIZE aims to revolutionize the student work experience by offering paid, remote, short-term projects.

Sofia, being an alumni herself at Tulane University, recognized the difficulties faced by students who were torn between gaining work experience and providing financial support to their families. While unpaid internships may work for some, it is not a viable option for everyone. Sofia understood that and felt compelled to solve for this through RIZE.

"I always believed that unpaid internships were unfair, but it was the beginning of the pandemic that truly ignited my determination. The college students who had to stay home to take care of their family members or work delivery jobs to support their families would always be at a disadvantage because they missed out on that one summer internship opportunity. It was shocking to witness how an entire system could change so rapidly, and it was long overdue for a transformation," shared Sofia.

To date, 1500 students across the Gulf have used this platform. As a result, these students collectively received $130,000 in income. RIZE's ultimate vision is to empower students, instilling confidence in their ability to secure jobs, succeed, become leaders in their respective positions, and earn compensation while doing so.

About IDEAfuel

Launched in 2022, IDEAfuel is an accelerator program designed specifically for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) who are building startups in the Gulf South region. Presented by Regions Foundation, this program offers founders across SaaS and CPG industries the opportunity to connect with mentors, learn from their cohort members, and receive non-dilutive funding to support their growth. The aim is to prepare them to build for scale and be ready to raise a seed round of investment capital.

This year, we proudly announced at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) 2023 that four founders have been accepted into the program, doubling the cohort size compared to last year! Under the leadership of Rhentia Brade the selected companies, RIZE, KMboobies, Port Lookout, and bEHR Health Systems, were chosen from a highly competitive pool of applicants. Each company will be paired with a dedicated mentor throughout the 12-week program and granted $15,000.