(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A group of five Black and Latino entrepreneurs got some good news Tuesday at Google's local headquarters: They're each getting a $150,000 cash award for their Chicago-based startups.
Among them was Nico Aguilar, the 33-year-old CEO of Speeko, an app that gives users feedback about how they speak and how they might improve.
“We are being like a grammar checker you use when you're typing, and we're being that for your voice,” he said.
Another winner is 37-year-old Nick Freeman, co-founder of Innovare, whose software helps educators make good use of data.
"The continued growth and relationship with Google is allowing us to build this product to support more and scale our impacts,” Freeman said.
Aguilar said he didn’t know when he showed up Tuesday that he’d be walking out with the grant.
"You all came here today as finalists, but I am proud to tell you that you are leaving today as winners,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “Because Google is awarding $150,000 grants to help you continue to build your businesses.”
The five grants from Google total $750,000.
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