Organization · Accelerator
HiiiWAV
HiiiWAV is a creative tech incubator based in Oakland, California, focused on empowering Black musician-entrepreneurs through mentorship and resources to build successful ventures. It supports early-stage founders in the creative industry, leveraging technology for wealth generation.
Overview
What HiiiWAV does
What HiiiWAV is
HiiiWAV is a creative tech incubator based in Oakland, California, focused on empowering Black musician-entrepreneurs through mentorship and resources to build successful ventures. It supports early-stage founders in the creative industry, leveraging technology for wealth generation.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and program host and community and event host capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Accelerator
- Founded
- Founded in 2020
- Approximate age
- About 6 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Program host · Community · Event host
- Last reviewed
- March 27, 2026
What Accelerator means
An accelerator is a structured, short-term program designed to speed up a startup's progress toward product-market fit, traction, fundraising, or scale.
Open the glossary entryOfficial channels
Find HiiiWAV elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
HiiiWAV as a funder
Investment thesis
HiiiWAV empowers artists, activists, and creators by providing them with the tools, mentorship, and community support necessary to build successful tech-enabled ventures.
Focus narrative
HiiiWAV invests in artists and creators, offering services such as business development, consulting, and incubation. The organization supports early-stage founders and artist-entrepreneurs through programs that include education in design thinking, business models, and technical assistance, fostering a community of creatives who leverage technology to enhance their ventures.
Value beyond capital
HiiiWAV provides value to portfolio companies through mentorship, access to a supportive community, and resources for business development and technical assistance, enabling artists and creators to thrive in the tech-enabled landscape.
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Accelerator · Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- North AmericaUnited States
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 220
Portfolio context
HiiiWAV has supported over 220 artists and has raised $4.15 million in integrated capital. Notable projects include Ryan Nicole, co-founder of Co-Founders The Musical; Kev Choice, co-founder of Choice Scores; Dame Drummer, a Grammy-certified producer and filmmaker; and GrandNationxl, a creative agency involved in branding and programming for HiiiWAV events.
Capability profile
HiiiWAV as a program host
Program thesis
HiiiWAV is a creative tech incubator based in Oakland, California, empowering artists, activists, and creators by providing them with the tools, mentorship, and community support necessary to build successful tech-enabled ventures.
Focus narrative
HiiiWAV invests in artists and creators, providing services that include business development, consulting, and incubation. The organization supports early-stage founders and artist-entrepreneurs through various programs, including education in design thinking, business models, and technical assistance. HiiiWAV operates primarily in Oakland and focuses on fostering a community of creatives who can leverage technology to enhance their ventures.
Value and support
HiiiWAV offers mentorship, community support, business development services, and access to a network of creatives and tech innovators.
Terms and economics
- Indicative investment
- $4,150,000
Format and cadence
- Format
- In Person
Availability
- Application state
- Not published
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- North AmericaUnited States
Alumni and track record
Alumni context
HiiiWAV has supported over 220 artists and notable projects include Ryan Nicole, an artist and co-founder of Co-Founders The Musical; Kev Choice, a musician and co-founder of Choice Scores; Dame Drummer, a Grammy-certified producer and filmmaker; and GrandNationxl, an Oakland-based creative agency.
Capability profile
HiiiWAV as a community
Community overview
HiiiWAV is a creative tech incubator based in Oakland, California, dedicated to empowering artists, activists, and creators. The organization provides essential tools, mentorship, and community support to help these individuals build successful tech-enabled ventures. HiiiWAV focuses on creating infrastructure that enables artists to generate wealth through various means, including education in AI and entrepreneurship, artist-owned real estate, festival production, and policy change.
Community focus
HiiiWAV invests in artists and creators, offering services such as business development, consulting, and incubation. The organization supports early-stage founders and artist-entrepreneurs through various programs, including education in design thinking, business models, and technical assistance. HiiiWAV aims to foster a community of creatives who leverage technology to enhance their ventures.
Member value
Members of HiiiWAV benefit from access to mentorship, community support, and resources tailored to the creative tech industry. They can participate in programs that enhance their business skills and connect with other innovators in the field.
Membership
- Recorded members
- 220
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Operators
- Benefits
- mentorship and network-access
- Program types
- accelerator and community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- United States
Community activity
Events and activity
HiiiWAV hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the annual HiiiWAV Fest, which showcases local artists and tech innovations, Demo Days for founders to present their ventures to potential investors, and regular workshops and community gatherings for creatives and tech innovators.
Notable members
HiiiWAV has supported over 220 artists, including notable figures such as Ryan Nicole, Kev Choice, and Dame Drummer, who are involved in music-tech entrepreneurship and innovative projects that merge music and storytelling.
Capability profile
HiiiWAV as an event host
Event focus
HiiiWAV is a creative tech incubator based in Oakland, California, dedicated to empowering artists, activists, and creators. The organization provides tools, mentorship, and community support necessary for building successful tech-enabled ventures. HiiiWAV focuses on creating infrastructure that enables artists to generate wealth through education in AI and entrepreneurship, artist-owned real estate, festival production, and policy change.
Format narrative
HiiiWAV offers various programs including an accelerator for early-stage founders, workshops, and community gatherings. Events such as HiiiWAV Fest and Demo Days provide platforms for artists and tech innovators to showcase their work and connect with potential investors.
Participant value
Attendees benefit from a supportive community that fosters creativity and innovation, access to mentorship, and opportunities to connect with potential investors and collaborators.
Format and cadence
- Event types
- demo-day, workshop, and meetup
- Recurrence
- annual
- Modality
- in-person
- Startups can present
- Yes
Availability
- Registration state
- Accepting
- Next event location
- Oakland, CA
Audience and fit
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Audience
- Founders · Investors
- Sectors
- Creator Economy · Music Tech
- Regions
- United States
Speakers and past editions
Speakers
Notable figures associated with HiiiWAV include Ryan Nicole, Kev Choice, Dame Drummer, and the team behind GrandNationxl, all of whom contribute to the creative and tech landscape.
Past editions
HiiiWAV has supported over 220 artists and raised $4.15 million in integrated capital, showcasing a strong portfolio of creative projects and initiatives.
Common questions
What to know about HiiiWAV
Upseed classifies HiiiWAV under the Accelerator organization type. Its current public profile includes funder, program host, community, and event host capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 27, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.