Howard University and PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship
The Howard University and PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship is a national consortium and resource hub focused on enhancing entrepreneurship education and empowering entrepreneurs around the country.
In October 2021, PNC announced a $16.8 million, five-year grant to launch the National Center, which works collaboratively to coordinate programs and initiatives for entrepreneurs through the nation's network of 101+ HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).
The National Center supports the launch, growth and acquisition of business ventures by providing access to programs, capital, curriculum, research, skills training, events and other resources.
Through this work and network of institutions, the National Center not only impacts students, faculty, staff and alumni, but also reaches business owners and investors in the community, all with the collective goal of empowering an ecosystem for the next generation of entrepreneurship.
The National Center is headquartered at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and includes four regional centers. Each of these regional hubs coordinates and collaborates with HBCUs and communities across a four- to six-state footprint.
- Mid-Atlantic Region: Howard University
States: D.C., DE, OH, PA, VA, WV - Southeast Region: Clark Atlanta University
States: GA, FL, AL, VI - Mid-South Region: Morgan State University
States: MD, NC, SC, KY, TN - Southwest Region: Texas Southern University
States: TX, OK, MS, LA, AR, MO
The cornerstone program of the National Center, this annual gathering connects entrepreneurs, investors, ecosystem builders, students and scholars with the networking and learning opportunities to build their skills and grow business ventures. The conference features nationally known speakers, workshops, panel discussions, events, a maker marketplace, a resource fair, award presentations and more.
The Startup Scholars Program empowers the next generation of entrepreneurs by helping them grow their existing business ventures while supporting their higher education goals. It provides up to $10,000 in funding to HBCU student entrepreneurs around the country, complemented by one-on-one mentorship, business management workshops and networking events.
The HBCU Consulting Lab is an eight-week program that connects HBCU undergraduate seniors and MBA students with local businesses for mutually beneficial consulting projects. For students, it’s an experiential learning opportunity to assist an existing small business, startup or nonprofit; for participating businesses, it’s a chance to increase capacity, revenue and impact. Students work on projects like developing digital marketing strategies, analyzing financial and marketing performance data, engaging in consumer and competitive analysis, creating content marketing materials, and more.