Hundreds of innovators.
50+ companies.
Thousands in funding for students.
One powerful ecosystem.
The HBCUniverse Summit brought founders, students, corporate leaders, and community builders under one roof to create real opportunity — partnerships formed, talent pipelines activated, and funding pathways opened.
To our attendees, volunteers, Founder Expo participants, speakers, sponsors, corporate partners, vendors, and career fair partners — thank you for building this with us.
This isn’t just an event.
It’s infrastructure for the future of HBCU innovation. 🚀
🎥: @ptqiv4 🔥
#HBCUniverse #HBCUInnovation #LaunchpadToLegacy #EcosystemBuilding
@Morganstateu grads are carrying the legacy forward. 🎓
They launched Venture for T.H.E.M. (@venture4them ) in 2024 to support HBCU founders and students with mentorship, workshops, and non-dilutive funding, already backing 20+ entrepreneurs. Then they created Fund.FWD (@fund.fwd ), an AI-powered app that connects HBCU students and alumni to grants, scholarships, and investor opportunities.
It’s available now on iOS and Google Play. This is what it looks like to invest in your own. 👏🏾
🔗 Read the full story in the bio. #AFROTECH
Given the systemic funding gap for Black innovators and thinkers, a group of HBCU alums seeks to be the difference.
Hailing from Morgan State University, the innovative group has launched Fund.FWD. The AI-powered app serves as a new way for HBCU entrepreneurs and creatives to connect with industry leaders and bring their ideas to life.
Available now on the app store, Fund.FWD allows users to source funding opportunities, business coaching, and educational resources all within its database. It aims to connect these change-makers with current leaders in their fields, thus closing the accessibility gap.
Source: Black Enterprise / @fund.fwd / @venture4them
Video: @jeffreyscruggs50 / @whyyallworking
We’re 22 Days Away from the City of Dreams! 🗽
On Saturday, June 6th, join us for
the first-ever HBCU Pitch Competition in Times Square - Times Square Takeover: HBCU Pitch at Activate LIVE!
A special thank you to our Pitch Prize Sponsors -
Bowie State University - Entrepreneurship Innovation Center (EIC)! This moment would not be possible without you all!
Don’t forget to RSVP here (+ link in Bio): /e/activate-live
This is high-impact. High-visibility. A defining moment to showcase the power, creativity, and innovation coming out of HBCUs on one of the world’s biggest stages. Taking place during #NYTechWeek, this moment puts HBCU founders at the center of one of the most important innovation ecosystems in the world.
If you would like to support this major moment as a Pitch Sponsor, please contact our team or email [email protected]
These last few weeks have been on the go, filled with entering unforgettable rooms with some pretty amazing people!
MD: We kicked things off at Bowie State’s 9th Annual Bulldog Pitch, serving as a judge for the future innovators! Congratulations to all of the student entrepreneurs and a special congrats to mentee Carolyn Alston taking home the Grand Prize for the Revenue Track!
ATL: A few days later, we had the honor of collaborating with Mastercard x AUC Data Science Challenge, curating impactful programming on “Data to Dollars”, “Capital in Color”, and “You Got the Job - Now What?” Congratulations to the HBCU scholars that walked away with $50k+ in funding!
LAX: We had the honor of attending Milken Institute’s Global Conference #MIGlobal, supporting the HBCU Fellows Program - presenting a workshop on “Competitive Landscape” for future investors & founders, & networking with global movers & shakers!
Next Up? Times Square HBCU Pitch on Saturday, June 6th! ✈️ (Link in Bio)
We’re 22 Days Away from the City of Dreams! 🗽
On Saturday, June 6th, join us for
the first-ever HBCU Pitch Competition in Times Square - Times Square Takeover: HBCU Pitch at Activate LIVE!
A special thank you to our Media Partners - WEAA 88.9 FM and Morgan State University’s School of Global Journalism & Communications (SGJC). If you would like to support this major moment as a Media Partner, please contact our team or email [email protected].
Don’t forget to RSVP here (+ link in Bio): /e/activate-live
This is high-impact. High-visibility. A defining moment to showcase the power, creativity, and innovation coming out of HBCUs on one of the world’s biggest stages. Taking place during #NYTechWeek, this moment puts HBCU founders at the center of one of the most important innovation ecosystems in the world.
#HBCU #TimesSquare #ActivateLIVE #VentureforTHEM
If you’ll be in town for #NYTechWeek on Saturday, June 6th - join us for the first-ever HBCU Pitch Competition in Times Square! 🗽
Times Square Takeover: HBCU Pitch at Activate LIVE! RSVP here (+ link in Bio): /e/activate-live
Introducing our All-Stars Judges consisting of CEOs, Investors, Innovators, & Leaders from across the nation!
💫 Luis Spencer Freitas - Senior Director, Digital Route to Consumer & Marketing Capabilities at Moët Hennessy
💫 Teniel Jones, MS - President & CEO at Base 11
💫 Blair Carl Smith - Senior Director at Milken Institute
💫 Johnetta Hardy - Executive Director, Founder, Entrepreneurship Innovation Center Bowie State University
💫 Genisha Metcalf, MSW - Head of Partnerships at National Basketball Association (NBA) Foundation
This is high-impact. High-visibility. A defining moment to showcase the power, creativity, and innovation coming out of HBCUs on one of the world’s biggest stages. Taking place during #NYTechWeek, this moment puts HBCU founders at the center of one of the most important innovation ecosystems in the world.
It’s an honor to partner with Tasemere Gathers & The DM Firm on this initiative, in partnership with Times Square Alliance. A special thank you to our sponsors Bowie State University Entrepreneurship Innovation Center & Venture for T.H.E.M.!
#TimesSquareTakeover #VentureforTHEM #ActivateLIVE
From the quiet kid in the room… to speaking in rooms across the country. 💡
Recently I was invited to Philadelphia to speak at the Technical.ly Builders Conference on alternative funding strategies for startups and represent Venture For THEM alongside some incredible founders and ecosystem builders.
It’s honestly surreal sometimes. As a kid I was extremely shy and introverted, so being able to now stand in front of crowds, share my knowledge, and pour into other entrepreneurs is something I never take for granted.
One of my favorite parts of this journey is realizing that your voice grows the more you use it. And every room I step into reminds me there’s still so much more ahead.
Also got to reconnect with people from our ecosystem, make new connections, and continue building bridges through tech, community, and storytelling.
The mission continues. 🌍✨
#TechnicallyBuilders #Philadelphia #StartupEcosystem #VentureForTHEM #FounderJourney
Over 300,000 people move through Times Square on any given weekend. On Saturday, June 6th… they won’t just pass through — they’ll witness history.
Introducing the first-ever HBCU Pitch Competition in Times Square — Times Square Takeover: HBCU Pitch at Activate LIVE!
RSVP Here (Link in Bio) ✅: /e/activate-live
This is high-impact. High-visibility. A defining moment to showcase the creativity and innovation coming out of HBCUs on one of the world’s biggest stages. Taking place during #NYTechWeek, this moment puts HBCU founders at the center of one of the most important innovation ecosystems in the world.
Introducing our HBCU All-Stars 💫 consisting of previous winners and finalists of our pitch competitions across the Mid-Atlantic & beyond:
💫Angel Hobbs - Krave, Hampton University
💫Peter Iwuh - Tykoon AI , Morgan State University
💫Daryl Riley, Jr. - Tendaji, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
💫Taylor A. Davis - Troodie, Howard University
💫Carolyn Alston - Communic8 It! , Bowie State University
Hosted by The DM Firm - Tasemere Gathers and Venture for T.H.E.M. , in partnership with Times Square Alliance, and sponsored by Venture for THEM & Bowie State University Entrepreneurship Innovation Center .
#TimesSquareTakeover #HBCUInnovation #ActivateLIVE #BuildInPublic
We’ll see you tomorrow Atlanta! ✈️
ATL showed us so much love last year! So we’re heading back on Saturday, May 2nd, and this time, we’re partnering with Mastercard X AUC Data Science Challenge!
RSVP using the link in our bio! ✅
Join us for Brunch, plus a series of powerful workshops and panels, impactful networking, & an Awards Ceremony for HBCU Innovators! See you there on Saturday, May 2nd at the Kimpton Overland Hotel!
#HBCU #HBCUniverse #Atlanta #AUC #DataScience
We’ll see you tomorrow Atlanta! ✈️
ATL showed us so much love last year! So we’re heading back on Saturday, May 2nd, and this time, we’re partnering with Mastercard X AUC Data Science Challenge!
RSVP using the link in our bio! ✅
Join us for Brunch, plus a series of powerful workshops and panels, impactful networking, & an Awards Ceremony for HBCU Innovators! See you there on Saturday, May 2nd at the Kimpton Overland Hotel!
#HBCU #HBCUniverse #Atlanta #AUC #DataScience
We’ll see you tomorrow Atlanta! ✈️
ATL showed us so much love last year! So we’re heading back on Saturday, May 2nd, and this time, we’re partnering with Mastercard X AUC Data Science Challenge!
RSVP using the link in our bio! ✅
Join us for Brunch, plus a series of powerful workshops and panels, impactful networking, & an Awards Ceremony for HBCU Innovators! See you there on Saturday, May 2nd at the Kimpton Overland Hotel!
#HBCU #HBCUniverse #Atlanta #AUC #DataScience
