Startup School: Pathways to Wealth

June 2026, New York City. Transferring Wealth Knowledge. Gifting Access. Directing Opportunity.

Program Details

• Location: New York City

• Dates: June 8–12, 2026

• Time: 9:00AM - 4:00PM

• Cohort Size: 12 students per day (60 total for the week)

• Eligibility: Graduating seniors from HBCUs (Class of 2026)

HBCU Startup School: Pathways to Wealth is a selective, relationship-driven experience that brings together HBCU graduating seniors and mentors to create meaningful connection, shared learning, and pathways into opportunity.

Students are invited to participate in a one-day immersive, in-person experience aligned to their academic background or career interests, where they join a small cohort of peers and 3–4 dedicated mentors for a high-touch, closed-door day focused on wealth through compensation, ownership, and opportunity.

To identify the strongest participants, HBCUvc relies on trusted educators, employers, and community leaders to nominate exceptional HBCU seniors. Nominators may submit up to five graduating seniors, selecting the experience that best aligns with each nominee’s interests and trajectory. Please complete this nomination form by Sunday, March 22nd. Applicants who move to the next stage of the process will be asked to complete a supplemental form by Sunday, April 5th. 

Program Purpose

HBCUvc’s Pathways to Wealth is grounded in the belief that Black wealth is built through intentional connection, intergenerational exchange, and expanded access to opportunity — informed by research, but powered by relationships. The program brings together mentors and conversations that span these pillars — pairing real-world perspective and direct exposure to networks, decision-makers, and pathways often out of reach. By design, Pathways to Wealth is as much about transferring knowledge as it is about bringing the next generation into rooms, relationships, and opportunities that shape long-term outcomes.

We are seeking nominees who demonstrate:

• Leadership and initiative

• Ownership over their career trajectory

• Strong academic preparation and relevant experience

• Readiness to engage meaningfully in a mentor-driven environment

• Long-term potential for high-growth careers and wealth-building pathways

Students leave with:

• Tactical skills to evaluate compensation, equity, capital, and career decisions

• Direct access to mentors whose insights reflect tangible outcomes that have resulted in building Black wealth for themselves, their families, and their communities

• Expanded networks and exposure to opportunities that shape long-term economic mobility 

• Concrete next steps to apply what they’ve learned as they transition beyond graduation

Daily Themes

Each day is tailored to a specific pathway based on career and academic interests:

• Monday — Computer Science & Engineering Careers

• Tuesday — Finance Careers

• Wednesday — Social Impact Careers

• Thursday — Scalable Entrepreneurship

• Friday — Black Women Rising

Please note:
Travel and lodging are not provided by HBCUvc.  Breakfast and lunch are provided for all participants.

Sessions are closed-door and will not be recorded. Photography will take place.

Participation is by nomination only. We do not accept self nominations.