Ecosystem, education, and pathways: these are the programmatic pillars through which the Center for Black Entrepreneurship (CBE) engages students at Spelman College and Morehouse College, respectively. In an effort to bridge the wealth gap in the Black community, the CBE was created as a first-of-its-kind academic center for developing Black entrepreneurs.
Founded in 2021 with $10 million in support from Bank of America, the Black Economic Alliance, Morehouse College, and Spelman College brought the CBE to Atlanta to create entrepreneurial success for Atlanta University Center (AUC) students and Black business owners within the city. In addition, the networks offered by Spelman and Morehouse have supplied the CBE with ample resources and capital to leverage from.
“It’s really important for us to kind of essentially start here and show other HBCUs what can really be done if we invest in entrepreneurs at a younger and earlier stage,” CBE Program Manager Jordyn Weaver said.
Some of the program offerings for students pertain to scholarship programming, pitch competitions, and networking events. The CBE Entrepreneur Scholars Program encapsulates those offerings with a $15,000 renewable scholarship that requires students to engage in developing their entrepreneurial endeavors through the CBE all the way till graduation.
“Everybody can build off of everyone,” Morehouse junior and CBE Entrepreneur Scholar Jeremy Hall said. “Having that network, that some people have to pay for to actually get, is amazing.”
HBCU alumni and Black business owners benefit through research and funding opportunities as well. Programs such as the CBE Research Program and the CBE LIFT (Launch Incubator For Traction) ground Black entrepreneurs in the history of Black entrepreneurship and the support within Atlanta’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“We offer opportunities not just for developing, growing and scaling businesses, but to actually have a richer understanding of the theory and learnings behind them,” CBE Associate Director Dr. Laquita Blockson said.
Going forward, the CBE intends to continue its growth as a hub for economic development and close the wealth gap in the Black community. Students such as Hall would like to see more participation from the vast number of entrepreneurs in the AUC and see growth for the CBE as well.
“Anybody can volunteer and help out,” Hall said. “If you show an open interest, you’ll get the opportunity.”
The CBE will be hosting its first annual New Venture Competition the week of April 20. AUC students and recent alumni are encouraged to apply and have a chance at winning up $65,000 in cash prizes. For more information, go to cbecenter.org.
