Oakwood University News August 18, 2022 The HBCU Founders Initiative<https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3604502-1&h=1502883674&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbcufi.org%2F&a=HBCU+Founders+Initiative> (HBCUFI), a nonprofit organization that supports HBCU students and alumni along their entrepreneurial journey, and UNCF TechVentures<https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3604502-1&h=290400705&u=https%3A%2F%2Funcf.org%2F&a=UNCF+TechVentures>, a tech-entrepreneurial education and training program for African American students participating in UNCF STEM programs, have announced a partnership to establish the HBCU Pre-Accelerator program. The initiative will scale entrepreneurial education and training across HBCU campuses and provide dedicated support to on-campus pre-accelerator programs that support entrepreneurship and the launch of student-led ventures. The inaugural cohort of the HBCU Pre-Accelerator Program will include the following seven HBCUs: * Bowie State University<https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3604502-1&h=3488805567&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bowiestate.edu%2F&a=Bowie+State+University> * Elizabeth City State University<https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3604502-1&h=2711473505&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecsu.edu%2F&a=Elizabeth+City+State+University> * Morgan State University<https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3604502-1&h=2271623902&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.morgan.edu%2F&a=Morgan+State+University> * North Carolina A&T University<https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3604502-1&h=3014686067&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncat.edu%2F&a=North+Carolina+A%26T+University> * Oakwood University<https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3604502-1&h=3855948053&u=https%3A%2F%2Foakwood.edu%2F&a=Oakwood+University> * Prairie View A&M<https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3604502-1&h=983805765&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pvamu.edu%2F&a=Prairie+View+A%26M> * Spelman College<https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3604502-1&h=1119566988&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.spelman.edu%2F&a=Spelman+College> Each of the campuses will host two, eight-week pre-accelerators (one in the fall and one in the spring) in support of approximately five startups per cohort; all of which are comprised of early-stage founders who are past the ideation stage and ready to validate a problem and build an MVP. Each pre-accelerator program will include topics such as validating the idea, building a prototype, customer discovery, marketing and branding, legal operations, and fundraising and will be presented in weekly virtual cohort sessions with on campus activities also planned. Participants will have access to office hours with advisors who will help them along their entrepreneurial journey. The program will culminate in a pitch competition where participants will be eligible to receive non-dilutive program awards in support of MVP development. "As an institution dedicated to innovation and collaboration, Oakwood University is honored to be selected as one of the seven campuses that will partner with HBCUFI for its Pre-Accelerator Program. We believe that entrepreneurship is a key component of a well-rounded education and a core value at Oakwood University. We are excited to expand our entrepreneurial offerings through our partnership with HBCUFI," commented Dr. Theodore Brown Sr., Dean of the School of Business at Oakwood University. HBCUFI is now accepting applications for the fall pre-accelerator. HBCU students from the seven participating schools are encouraged to apply (alumni applications will be reviewed, but preference will be given to current students). HBCU students and alumni not affiliated with one of the participating schools are also encouraged to apply and participate in the virtual fall pre-accelerator. To learn more<https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-hbcu-founders-initiative-and-uncf-techventures-partner-to-establish-the-hbcu-pre-accelerator-program-to-scale-entrepreneurial-education-and-training-across-hbcus-and-support-student-led-tech-enabled-ventures-301593739.html?tc=eml_cleartime&fbclid=IwAR1ZdYgKAunThhk5JFwCqQvAsxvHsrm8TxREeYvrrk7d4EzXltnb_wjCcGg> and to apply, visit: https://www.hbcufi.org/pre-accelerator<https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3604502-1&h=1536551156&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbcufi.org%2Fpre-accelerator&a=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbcufi.org%2Fpre-accelerator> LaTasha Denard Executive Assistant HBCU Library Alliance (678) 210-5801 ext. 102 http://www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> ldenard@hbculibraries.org<mailto:ldenard@hbculibraries.org> "Transforming for Tomorrow while Preserving the Past." Sandra M. Phoenix, Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance 678-210-5801 ext. 101 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Seek justice, honor the ancestors, honor the children and those yet to come. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/