Lonna Hardin, founder of VoiceBlocks, is a dynamic force in education and technology, passionately committed to community upliftment and equitable education. A singer and serial author, she has worked with special needs and diverse learners in education for over a decade. She founded Live Your Song, an acclaimed afterschool program focused on literacy, leadership development, and social-emotional learning.

At VoiceBlocks, Lonna empowers students with disabilities to help them unlock their voices and unleash their potential. As a thought leader and mentor, she is dedicated to fostering resilience and sparking change in underserved and marginalized communities. Her work is focused on improving academic and behavioral outcomes for diverse learners.

Venture | Voiceblocks

Voiceblocks is a proprietary workflow automation tool that provides equitable access to education for K-12 special needs students and their families. Our software helps families of students with disabilities Navigate the IEP process.

Morgan Bevell, the president and founder of Bevell's Advocate, has been dedicated to the special education field for over a decade and believes that individuals with disabilities are entitled to more fulfilling opportunities.

From a very early age, Morgan recognized the overwhelm faced by these families as she watched her mom try to navigate the experience of having a child on an IEP. Moved by this experience, she started Bevell's Advocate, a support service for the families of individuals with disabilities.

Morgan's academic journey has equipped her with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's in special education for high-incidence disabilities. She currently resides in Orem, Utah.

Venture | Bevell’s Advocate

Bevell’s Advocate connects families of individuals with disabilities to all educational, financial, medical, and social support through one-on-one consultations and advocacy.

After spending a decade in the corporate retrofit and solar industry, Dion Richardson saw how low—to moderate-income individuals and families had challenges accessing energy-efficient products and programs. As a result, he founded Community Dreams Foundation and Dreamlime AI, organizations that aims to help owners and residents in underserved communities access affordable and reliable energy solutions.

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Dion studied International Affairs at Florida State University.

Venture | Dreamline AI

Dreamline AI helps homeowners and residents secure energy-efficient and clean-energy building upgrades through a platform that assesses needs, identifies products and incentives, and end-to-end project management.

Julia DeNey is working towards making the world more inclusive for neurodivergent children. In 2020, during the lockdown, Julia graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor's degree in Fashion Design and began teaching special education to autistic students. While teaching, she saw her students struggle with learning and peer inclusion due to the available methods and unique challenges around sensory regulation. As a result, Julia decided to use her expertise in design to create a line of adaptive clothing to help them and started Sense-ational You, a clothing brand for autistic children.

Julia was selected as a finalist for CNMI's Sustainable Fashion Awards for this work during Milan Fashion Week in 2023 and was selected as a fellow in the StartUp Leadership Program in 2024. She currently resides in New Canaan, CT.

Venture | Sense-ational You

Sense-ational You makes adaptive apparel for autistic and ADHD children who need help with sensory regulation to succeed and be included.

Mike Michel has a Health Science degree specializing in pre-physical therapy from Florida A&M University and has spent over 12 years in the healthcare industry. Driven by the pressing needs of families attempting to effectively manage the needs of loved ones in care facilities or at home, which he witnessed first-hand, Mike launched CaringPort in 2022, a venture close to his heart.

Mike currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida.

Venture | CaringPort

Care Port provides care quality assessments and checks by Registered Nurses and LPNs for individuals who are homebound or living in a care facility.