Bridging Ecosystems: Highlights from the Silicon Valley Innovation Tour for HBCU Faculty
This year, HBCUvc launched its inaugural Silicon Valley Innovation Tour for HBCU faculty, bringing together educators from Southern University, Tennessee State University, and North Carolina A&T to explore the dynamics of one of the world’s leading innovation ecosystems. This groundbreaking program provided participants with direct exposure to industry leaders, venture capital firms, and influential accelerators, creating a platform for cross-disciplinary learning and collaboration.
The tour included visits and/or speakers from True Ventures, Berkeley SkyDeck, Base10 Partners, Y-Combinator, and Stanford GSB and engaging discussions with innovators like Steve Blank and Michael Seibel. These sessions offered faculty members insights into Silicon Valley's inner workings, strategies for fostering entrepreneurship, and the importance of tailored support for different types of startups.
Dr. Donald Andrews, Dean of the College of Business at Southern University, highlighted the value of observing the interplay between academic research and startup culture. He noted, “The Tour provided great contacts and firsthand insights into how universities can support innovation.”
For Antwon Foreman, Director of the Blackstone Entrepreneurship Launchpad at North Carolina A&T State University, the opportunity to reflect on HBCU ecosystems and build new connections stood out. “The structure of the VC process and what VCs value were incredibly eye-opening,” he said.
Key Takeaways and Lessons for Building Entrepreneurial Hubs at HBCUs
Based on the experiences and feedback from the tour, here are five key takeaways for fostering entrepreneurship and innovation on campuses:
Understand the Taxonomy of Entrepreneurship: Educating students on starting businesses must be tailored to the type of business they intend to launch. A restaurant startup requires a different skill set and capital structure compared to a software company. Faculty should align their support and resources with the specific needs of different types of entrepreneurs.
Rethink College Structures to Foster Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Entrepreneurship is inherently multidisciplinary and should not be confined to business colleges alone. Integrating entrepreneurship education across multiple disciplines—such as engineering, technology, and the arts—can create more holistic and innovative ecosystems.
Leverage Alumni as Guest Faculty: HBCUs have a rich pool of alumni who are entrepreneurs and investors. Bringing them back as guest faculty can provide students with valuable industry insights. It’s crucial, however, to match alumni expertise with course content—an experienced restaurateur may not be the best fit for teaching tech entrepreneurship, for example.
Strengthen Computer Science Programs: With the majority of venture capital backing software companies, strengthening computer science offerings is key. Ensuring that top students have access to cutting-edge technology education can create a pipeline of talent for both startups and tech companies, laying the foundation for a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Embrace and Cultivate Your Unique Ecosystem: Each HBCU has its unique strengths and regional characteristics. The goal should not be to replicate Silicon Valley but to build on these unique assets. For example, North Carolina A&T could focus on technology, Tennessee State University on health tech, and Southern University on clean energy. Tailoring support to these areas can help create sustainable and impactful entrepreneurial hubs.
Looking Ahead
The insights and connections gained from the Silicon Valley Innovation Tour are expected to have a ripple effect across HBCU campuses, influencing entrepreneurship education, technology transfer, and economic development initiatives. Faculty members left inspired and equipped to implement new courses, partnerships, and programs that align with the unique needs and strengths of their institutions.
Antwon Foreman summed up the experience: “This tour was an incredible opportunity to connect our HBCU faculty with the leading minds in Silicon Valley. The ideas and relationships forged here will undoubtedly have a ripple effect, creating new pathways for students and faculty alike to engage in entrepreneurship and innovation.”
Thank You
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the speakers who contributed to the Silicon Valley Innovation Tour. Thank you to Steve Blank; Paul Williams and Abim Odusoga; Dawn McGee; Shea Tate-Di Donna; Demetrius Palmer; Kim Bardakin and Chrystine Villarreal from Kapor Foundation; John Roussel from Colorwave; Sibyl Chen and Ekin Gunaysu from Berkeley SkyDeck; Clarence Bethea, Bryan Mason, Caroline Ciaramiatro, and Phil Black from True Ventures; Riley Rodgers from Valia Ventures; Laura Weidman Powers from Base10; Keegan Cooke from Stanford GSB; Elka Chamberlin, Fern Mandelbaum, Daniel Reyes, and Cheryl Blanchette from Emerson Collective; Ian Beadle and Amanda Irizarry from Westbound Equity Partners; Michael Seibel from Y Combinator; and Kirby Harris from Base Ventures.
