This number is more than twice the national rate of all U.S. businesses.
As the OFC Venture Challenge grows, it continues to expand its efforts. Bhuiyan says, when it began, it only focused on the small number of HBCUs with entrepreneurship programs. Its new focus will be motivating more HBCU students to launch successful ventures such as Pirzadeh did.
The April conference gives Venture Challenge participants access to some of the nation’s top business leaders. For some, it provides a segue to employment with OFC’s top sponsors, including Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, OfficeMax and UPS. OFC also added a development seminar for HBCU professors and deans and a national policy forum on minority entrepreneurship education.
