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 collaborating 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 carried out superb issues” and helped her see “how we’re going to assist form the longer term.”

BLCK is a turnkey market that permits folks to search out, bid and lease absolutely furnished items 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 tons of of individuals begin companies.”

McBride is founder and CEO of Lucia, a freelancer market that brings versatile work to the journey business, 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.