Kenia Best
HBCU Founders Initiative
Baltimore, MD, USA
1.2K social reach
1.8k Connections on LinkedIn | 1.1k Followers on Instagram | 104 Followers on Facebook
The HBCU Founders Initiative (HBCUFI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that empowers entrepreneurs from HBCUs to create tech-enabled solutions, addressing challenges on campus, nationwide, and abroad.
Our core thesis is that by providing underresourced innovators at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) with access to capital and curriculum to scale their startups, we can help reduce the wealth gap that has persisted for generations – through the power of entrepreneurship. To date, over 1,500 students and alumni from 80+ HBCUs have participated in the HBCUFI programming.
Our sector-agnostic community is developing tech-enabled solutions in AI, climate tech, social impact, health care, education, financial services, supply chain, and e-commerce.
From the ideation stage to the investment stage and beyond, HBCUFI offers technical resources, access to funding, and a vast network of advisors committed to supporting founders from HBCUs who are pursuing entrepreneurship. HBCUFI alumni have raised over $2M for their startups.
