• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

HBCU Lifestyle – Black College Living

  • HBCU Colleges
    • What is an HBCU?
    • List of HBCUs
  • College Bound
    • HBCU Rankings
    • Black College Tours
    • Financing
    • College Scholarships
    • College Planning
  • Campus Life
    • HBCU College Life
      • HBCU Greek Life
      • Sports
      • Dorm Living
      • College Survival
    • Careers
      • HBCU Career Hub
      • Career Exploration
    • Research Paper Resources
      • Research Paper Topics: 50 Ideas to Get Started
      • How To Write An Annotated Bibliography
      • Journalism Research Paper Resources
  • Jobs
  • Shop
You are here: Home / Careers / HBCUs As Launch Pads for Small Business Startups

HBCUs As Launch Pads for Small Business Startups

October 18, 2012 by Richard Gibson, Jr.

Let’s get this party started! A launch party for new and innovative ideas that create businesses and foster economic development. So where is this launch party? Maybe at an HBCU near you.

Since their inception in the late 1800’s, HBCUs have built their mode of being around the concept of being “teaching institutions”. It was the appropriate mode at that time. The fact that thousands of newly freed slaves seeking to become educated in a rigidly enforced segregated social system made it necessary for Black colleges to focus on teaching. In fact, many HBCUs still exist to part wisdom to many who otherwise would not be able to attend college.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and note that some HBCUs have changed their mode of parting wisdom, others have been slow to change. The change that is necessary is for all HBCUs to become more embracing of technology.

HBCUs are a natural launching pad for technological innovations. These innovations can run the gamut form agricultural science to space science. New innovations shaped and directed towards business development and job creation will allow this country to once again compete on even ground in the global market.

Many predominately white institutions have already begun to create “launching pads” that allow students, faculty members, and citizens of the larger community to create businesses. Using the “incubator” concept, these universities have used their existing resources plus resources from the corporate and non-profit sectors to create an almost perfect starting place for new businesses, especially high-growth technology oriented businesses.

In a world of expanding possibilities, HBCUs can and should be on the cutting edge of this still developing economic revolution. HBCUs will not have to re-invent the wheel. There are a handful of universities who are already involved in the incubator concept. One of the newest and fastest growing university-based incubator is called The Launch Pad Tech Accelerator, which was created by The Launch Pad based on the campus of the University of Miami. Since 2008, The Launch Pad has created more than 80 businesses.

HBCUs should follow their example and create entrepreneurial resource centers that allow for the development and cultivation of this type of accelerator. Students may have to nudge their HBCUs into the 21st century, by pushing and lobbying for innovative changes.

Once there, don’t forget to send out the invitations to the launch party.

Photo credit: Savannah State University

Careers, Career Exploration

About Richard Gibson, Jr.

Richard Gibson, Jr is a cofounder at HBCULifestyle.com and is a graduate of Florida A&M University. He is a retired businessman. In his retirement, he serves as a volunteer, mentoring and tutoring students at a local university. Additionally, Mr. Gibson finds time to write and engage in various art projects.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Quick Links

  • Newsletter
  • Jobs and Internships
  • Shop
  • List of HBCU Colleges
  • Top 25 HBCUs in the Nation
  • HBCU College Tours
  • Contact Us
  • About Us

Popular Posts

  • Happy female college student working on research paper topics. Research Paper Topics: 50 Ideas to Get Started
  • HBCU Sororities and Fraternities to Consider The Divine Nine: Sororities and Fraternities on HBCU Campuses
  • A female African American HBCU student poses while smiling and holding her book in her arms. HBCU Rankings 2023: The Top 25 Black Colleges from U.S. News
  • First-Ever Edward Waters University MBA Program: 23 Degrees Conferred First-Ever Edward Waters University MBA Program: 23 Degrees Conferred
  • Young Black Female College Student Looking Up And Thinking Joining a Black Sorority: 5 Things to Consider Before Pursing Membership

Follow Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Before Footer

Follow Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to receive weekly HBCU news, jobs, and advice in your inbox.

Sign Me Up

Footer

About HBCU Lifestyle

The spirit and camaraderie of black college living is a lifestyle - the HBCU lifestyle! We're committed to keeping you connected to the black college living experience, bringing you the latest on everything, from scholarships and dorm living to Greek life and alumni giving.


Contact Us

Latest from the Blog

  • GSU Receives $74K Grant To Create Ethical Hacking And Penetration Testing Lab
  • The HBCU Media Collective Program Launched to Enhance Newsroom Diversity
  • TSU Music Business Program Gives Students Access to Industry Executives and Artists
  • HBCU Elevate Launched to Drive Revenue for Athletic Departments
  • Newsletter
  • Jobs & Internships
  • Shop
  • List of HBCUs
  • HBCU Rankings
  • HBCU Scholarships
Copyright © 2010-2023 HBCU Lifestyle, LLC. All rights reserved.
Contact Us | Sitemap | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Get the best of the Black college experience delivered to your inbox.
Your email address:*
Name:*
Subscribe to (select all that apply):*





Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide
No spam, ever. Promise. Powered by FeedBlitz