HBCU Startup School 2025 Recap
Earlier this summer, we gathered in Palo Alto with a bold mission: to equip the next generation of HBCU students with the knowledge, tools, and community to reimagine wealth and impact. At the 2025 HBCUvc Startup School: Pathways to Wealth & Impact, 55 students from across the country stepped into a three-day journey of learning, connection, and possibility. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, 30 of these students received scholarships to make their attendance possible.
Hosted at Playground Global Headquarters, the program brought together students from more than a dozen Historically Black Colleges and Universities — including Grambling State, Philander Smith, Norfolk State, Howard, Tuskegee, and Morehouse — as well as select partner institutions. Their diverse academic backgrounds, ranging from Computer Science and Software Engineering to Business, Marketing, and Economics, created an environment rich in perspective and collaboration.
A Transformative Experience
The Startup School experience was intentionally designed to blend practical training with inspiring stories. Students dove into interactive sessions like the Networking Crash Course, where they learned the art of building authentic relationships, and panel conversations, where investors, operators, and entrepreneurs shared hard-earned lessons with candor and care.
One of the most talked-about moments came from Etosha Cave, co-founder at Twelve, who shared her founder journey with openness and honesty, reminding students that the path of entrepreneurship is as much about resilience as it is about vision. Across panels, workshops, and fireside conversations, students found themselves not only learning new frameworks but also seeing reflections of themselves in leaders who had walked similar paths.
Who Was in the Room
Startup School brought together a vibrant mix of students united by a shared vision for creating impact.
55 students attended, with 30 supported by travel scholarships.
Students represented HBCUs including Grambling State, Philander Smith, Norfolk State, Howard, Tuskegee, Morehouse among others.
Majors spanned Computer Science, Software Engineering, Business Administration, with additional representation in Marketing, Economics, Finance, and related fields.
The cohort reflected near gender parity, with 53% identifying as He/Him and 47% as She/Her.
The voices they heard were equally diverse, experienced, and inspiring. Startup School featured entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem builders who shared real stories and actionable lessons. Among the speakers:
Ty Montgomery (Next Legacy Partners) — opening keynote, bridging sports, relationships, and investing
Kendall Camp, Olumide Longe, Tori Orr — in “Boots on the Ground,” sharing early lessons and advice for navigating startup/VC paths
Ryan Nece (Next Legacy Partners) — on generosity as a strategy and long-term thinking
Desireé Jones — led the “Networking Workshop,” turning “Hey, nice to meet you” into meaningful connections
Jennifer Arguello, Laurie Yoler, Olumide Longe — in the AI / future tech conversation, exploring how HBCU talent leads in emerging tech
Javaughn Lawrence (Drip) — session on building for culture and authenticity in startups
Michael Seibel (Partner Emeritus, Y Combinator) — fireside chat on designing your “serendipity engine” by being intentional about your community, networks, and choices
Marlon Evans (NexCubed) — gave advice for students thinking about entrepreneurship in a session titled, “From Campus to Capital,” bridging athlete, operator, and investor roles
Rachel Clark, Seyi Adediwura, Mussa Seid, Kendall Camp — panelists on launching wealth-building careers post-graduation
Justin Bethune (Andreessen Horowitz) — guided students on how early career roles can feed startup ambitions
Etosha Cave (Twelve) — closing keynote, sharing her path from research to company-building, and modelling how deep technology can drive social impact
These speakers didn’t just deliver content — they offered windows into lives lived intentionally, with ambition, with risk, with commitment to community. For many students, hearing from them felt affirming: “I belong in these rooms, too.”
Student Reflections
By the end of the summit, the energy in the room was undeniable. Nearly every student described their experience as “amazing” and left feeling deeply inspired. As one participant shared:
“The speakers shared so much valuable real-life experience — it left me inspired and confident about my own path.”
One participant, Life Makarudze, reflected on the experience in a blog post titled Concrete Dreams, Venture Realities: What HBCUvc Taught Me About Black Innovation.
In his words:
“I walked away not just with knowledge, but with a renewed belief in the power of Black innovation. Startup School reminded me that our ideas are valid, our communities are worthy, and our dreams are possible.”
By highlighting their journey, we’re reminded that Startup School is more than a program — it’s a catalyst for students to dream bigger, build boldly, and step into the innovation economy with confidence.
Looking Ahead
Startup School was more than a three-day summit — it was a launchpad. For many students, it was their first exposure to the world of venture capital and startups. For others, it affirmed the entrepreneurial journeys they had already begun. Collectively, it was a reminder that the innovation economy belongs to HBCU talent, too.
We are proud to have created a space where students not only gained knowledge but also built a community of peers and mentors who will continue to support them long after the summit ended. The future of venture, entrepreneurship, and wealth-building is brighter because of them.
