In partnership with Impact Hub, i.e. Industry Education, and Black Ambition, the adidas Community [LAB] graduates 2024-2025 cohort of social entrepreneurs advancing equitable access to sports across five key cities: Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City, and Toronto. Each of the ten accelerator impact ventures received $75,000 in funding, a $10,000 public relations grant, and competed for additional funding in the final pitch competition.
In Houston, a city celebrated for its diversity and resilience, we’re still working to ensure equity and access are embedded across every sector. Gaps in mental health, sports access, and community infrastructure continue to affect many neighborhoods in our city. That’s why programs like adidas Community [LAB] matter: They go beyond just celebrating impact driven founders and actively invest in them.
This year, we’re proud to spotlight the Houston-based ventures who graduated from the recent 2024-2025 adidas Community [LAB] cohort: BLK Beetles and The Gifted Collective.
- BLK Beetles creates wellness experiences that center joy, healing, and belonging—particularly for communities facing chronic social isolation and underinvestment.
- The Gifted Collective empowers young athletes of color with the tools, training, and brand-building skills to navigate NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals and pursue long-term success in sports and life.
Their work advances multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From promoting physical and mental health and wellbeing (SDG 3) to reducing systemic inequalities (SDG 10) and creating new economic opportunities (SDG 8), these founders are turning their passions into impactful solutions with real-world results.
In addition to receiving $75,000 in nondilutive funding each, these founders received weekly entrepreneurship workshops, pitch support sessions, mentorship from industry leaders, special meetups, and connections to a powerful network of expert support designed to help them scale their work and deepen their impact. The eight-month Community [LAB] curriculum culminated into a pitch competition where participants presented their projects to adidas’ Senior Leadership Team, key business partners, and other community leaders.
“Impact Hub Houston has been a proud partner with the adidas North America Purpose team since 2020, first with the global Close the Gap mentorship initiative, and now through multiple iterations of the adidas Community [LAB]. We’re celebrating the recognition of Houston as a key city in the 2024-2025 program, and are grateful that the vision and impact of our local founders have been truly seen and valued.” -Michelle Avalos, adidas Community Lab Program Lead and Co-Founder of Impact Hub Houston
Get to know Houston’s adidas Community [LAB] graduates in their own words as they share the “why” behind their work, the challenges they’re tackling, and how they’re using sport and wellness to build stronger, more equitable communities.
BLK Beetles: Co-founded by Samad Hinton and Kelly Hubbell-Hinton. BLK Beetles is shaped by personal experiences of grief and healing, and by a shared commitment to creating spaces where people of color feel seen, safe, and connected.
“At BLK Beetles, we believe that human connection is one of the most powerful forces for transforming isolation into belonging. Founded in Houston, our social wellness company is reimagining how communities gather and heal through the lens of culture, nature, and care. We serve Greater Houston, with a focus on communities of color and individuals impacted by loneliness or disconnection. Through immersive, nature-based gatherings and a growing digital archive that amplifies local voices and cultural stories, we foster meaningful relationships and a deeper sense of belonging. Guided hikes, outdoor events, and storytelling experiences invite residents to engage with each other and the land in ways that support well-being and resilience. With social isolation on the rise across the South, we see Houston as a vital hub for this work. We invite local leaders, neighbors, and partners to join us in building a wellness ecosystem rooted in equity, joy, and community.”
The Gifted Collective: Founded by Andrea Brown
“The Gifted Collective was born from my time as an educator in Title I schools, where I worked closely with student-athletes who had talent, heart, and massive potential, but lacked the tools to tell their stories, build their brands, or prepare for life beyond the game. I saw firsthand how many Black and Brown athletes were generating influence without guidance on how to turn that influence into sustainable opportunity. That disconnect fueled my mission. Today, The Gifted Collective empowers student-athletes, especially those from underrepresented communities, to own their story, build their brand, and navigate the evolving world of NIL (name, image and likeness) and media with confidence. Through our digital course Fair Play, custom workshops, and strategic consulting, we’re helping young athletes understand their value, show up intentionally, and change the game, for themselves, their families, and their futures.”
We asked the founders to reflect on their time in the program. Here’s what stood out, what they learned, and how it’s shaping their future as impact-driven leaders.
“One of the most powerful turning points during the adidas Community [LAB] was realizing that social wellness isn’t just a passion, it is a viable, scalable business model. The mentorship and workshops helped us refine our operations and revenue strategy without compromising our values. What helped us most was being surrounded by other founders navigating similar questions about growth and impact. That community affirmed that our vision is both needed and possible. We’re now stepping forward with greater clarity, confidence, and a roadmap to expand our reach across the South, all while staying deeply rooted in culture and care.” – BLK Beetles
Andrea Brown of The Gifted Collective shared: “One of the biggest turning points in the program was realizing the power of positioning and clarity—learning how to speak about The Gifted Collective’s mission and offerings in a way that resonates with both partners and funders. The sessions on storytelling, pitch development, and business modeling helped me sharpen my message and articulate not just what we do, but why it matters and how we scale. I’m walking away from this experience with a clearer growth strategy, stronger confidence as a founder, and a renewed commitment to expanding our reach and impact for the athletes we serve.”
What’s next for these Houston-based ventures? Founders share their goals for the road ahead, and the support they need to bring their visions to life.
“The future of BLK Beetles is about transforming more lives, in more places, more often. We’re preparing to increase our reach in the next year through place-based programs, a stronger digital presence, and new partnerships that reflect the communities we serve. To do that, we need aligned investors, values-driven collaborators, and creative partners who see wellness as a collective effort and understand that social connection is a public health issue. If culture, nature, and care excites you, then let’s build belonging, together.” – BLK Beetles
For The Gifted Collective, here’s what next:
“On the horizon for The Gifted Collective is scalable growth and deeper impact. We’re working to bring our Fair Play training and athlete branding support to thousands more students, especially those in under-resourced schools and HBCU programs. To reach our 2030 goal of impacting 20,000 athletes and unlocking $60M+ in NIL opportunities, we’re seeking strategic partners who value equity, innovation, and athlete development. Whether through licensing, sponsorship, or collaborative programming, we’re ready to build with organizations that want to change the game.”
As these founders grow their ventures, they’re not only shaping the future of sport, they are shaping the future of Houston. Now is the time for our city to rally behind them. Houston has the talent, creativity, and grit to lead the way in reimagining wellness and equity in sports, and BLK Beetles and The Gifted Collective are shining examples of how, with investment, Houstonians can lead the change we need to see in the world. So let’s invest in them and continue helping them scale their ideas. Impact Hub Houston remains committed to advancing SDGs 3, 8, and 10 by nurturing local leaders and strengthening the infrastructure for inclusive innovation. We invite you – our community members, funders, and partners – to join us in championing these founders and fueling a more equitable future in sport. Let’s build better, together!
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Join us in congratulating the entire 2024-2025 adidas Community [LAB] cohort!
Houston, TX: Samad Hinton & Kelly Hubbell-Hinton – BLK Beetles ; Andrea Brown – The Gifted Collective
Toronto, ON: Heather Alonzo – Ball Her Way ; Jamal Burger & Rachel Hale – Kickback
Atlanta, GA: Moÿo Akinade – Atlanta Adaptive Soccer Foundation ; A.R. Cooper – Art In The Paint
New York City, NY: Rich Rodriguez – Harlem Free Fight Academy ; Vidal Quesada Guzman & Javana Mundy Quesada – La Familia Project
Los Angeles, CA: Jessa Williams – INTRSXTN Surf ; Karina Martinez – DRAFTED
