Xavier University of Louisiana has long been a beacon of innovation and progress, shaping the education landscape for nearly a century. Multitudes of its distinguished and talented alums have carried forward the university’s mission to promote a more just and humane society through their success and impacts on the global society. Seeking to continue to develop the aspirations and skills of Xavier students while offering the opportunity for an expanded network, the Entrepreneurship Institute at Xavier University of Louisiana is thrilled to unveil Rising Stars: HBCU Entrepreneurship Summit in partnership with Entrepreneurship For Everyone. Set to take place from March 8-10, 2024, on Xavier’s vibrant campus, this summit aims to provide an unparalleled interdisciplinary entrepreneurship experience. Open to XULA students, alums, faculty, staff, and the wider Historically Black College and University (HBCU) community, the event offers invaluable resources, opportunities, and support to empower the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders.

 “Xavier and HBCU students are talented innovators, creators and entrepreneurs, and our goal for this conference is to connect them with the resources that will assist them as they conceptualize, launch and grow their businesses,” said Mark Quinn, Conrad N. Hilton Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship and Assistant Professor at Xavier University of Louisiana.

Recognizing the importance of creating strong connections between HBCUs, their surrounding areas and local minority-owned businesses, as well as fostering mutually beneficial collaborations that uplift individuals, the HBCU ecosystem and these communities, the summit is open to anyone interested in learning about entrepreneurship.

The Rising Stars: HBCU Entrepreneurship Summit will be the fourth event in a series hosted at different destinations throughout the network of 107 HBCUs in 20 U.S. states, Washington, DC, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Many Xavier alums will attend as dynamic speakers and potential mentors, including Kwame Terra (‘15 & ‘22), MPH, founder & CEO of bEHR Health Systems; Chandra Teddleton (‘05), director of project management at the New Orleans Business Alliance; Sinnidra Taylor (‘09), executive director of Friends of Codey’s NOLA, owner/operator of Crazy Waffle Bar, LLC, and Owner of Infinity Educational Advantage, LLC; and Naomi Winston (‘21), who recently gained national recognition on CBS News for her diversity-driven coloring books and supportive publishing cooperative, The Creative Representation Empire.

Beyond HBCU students, alums, faculty and staff, participants will also include greater New Orleans area high school students and teachers, local government officials, minority business owners and the extended entrepreneurial ecosystem. See the full agenda for the event here.

The event program will include a balanced mix of presentations, panel discussions, workshops, activities promoting peer-to-peer networking and knowledge exchange, showcases of student and local minority-owned businesses, and feature Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs), Government representatives, and business services providers. Topics for exploration will be interdisciplinary entrepreneurship, including but not limited to arts, health, social entrepreneurship, STEM and women in business leadership. The summit will include engaging and interactive panel discussions and workshops covering biotech, black entrepreneurship, dorm room CEOs, equity unleashed, intellectual property, international trade and working with the government. Food, fun, music, and opportunities for serendipitous conversations and connections are awaiting attendees.

For more information and opportunities to support our efforts, visit here.