The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff was one of more than 25 institutions at the 2024 Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program Summit in Atlanta.
The HBCU/MI summit aimed to assist institutions in developing comprehensive entrepreneurship curricula relevant to preparing African American and minority students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and become leaders and entrepreneurs.
The UAPB team pitched for an investment of $900,000. The team’s business plan, “EduCare 360,” was a healthcare educational software platform designed to manage disease complications such as diabetes among diverse groups of people.
Although they didn’t win the competition prize, the UAPB team received excellent feedback from the judges on how the business plan could be positioned and marketed to make a viable product for investment, according to a news release.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“By participating in this event, our students not only made vital career connections but also gained valuable insights and experiences that will shape their future in entrepreneurship and technology. Most importantly, they contributed by developing a business model for managing disease complications in underrepresented communities, a cause they are deeply passionate about,” according to the release.
The 2024 summit took place at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel in Atlanta. It was a three-day program filled with events that included seminars for university chancellors/presidents and deans and an entrepreneurship business plan pitching competition for student teams, with monetary awards for the winning teams.
The UAPB team was led by Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander, who provided strategic guidance and leadership; Lawrence Awopetu, interim dean of the School of Business and Management; and Vinay Raj, faculty adviser for the UAPB student team.
The five-member UAPB student team included Carlas Smith and Breanna Scott from the School of Business and Management, and three students, Edward Gitonga, Franklyn Stanislaus, and Melissa Walker, from the School of Arts & Sciences’ Department of Computer Science.
Various organizations’ sponsorship contributed to the HBCU/MI Entrepreneurship and Innovation program.
The keynote speaker at the summit, Vincent D. (Chuck) Mattera Jr., chief executive officer of Coherent Corp., a leader in materials, networking, and lasers, was recognized for his outstanding support of the HBCU/MI initiative. His commitment to funding, equipment, and offering expertise to the initiative was highlighted in his speech.
Coherent’s goals to expand America’s role in laser design, manufacturing, and applications by developing training programs and advanced degree certifications in laser technology were also emphasized.