Howard University & PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship
About the program · 2 linked sources
National consortium and resource hub for HBCU entrepreneurship, headquartered at Howard University. Founded 2021 with a $16.8 million, five-year grant from the PNC Foundation. Serves 101+ HBCUs through four regional hubs (Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Mid-South, Southwest). National Executive Director: Johnny Graham, Ph.D. Has awarded over $450,000 in venture funding and reached over 75% of all HBCUs.
Also known as: HU x PNC Center, PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship
How we know this: the figures on this page come from the linked sources (last verified 2026-06-24); what those sources do not state is left unknown.
Key numbers
Funding range
Not listed
Equity
None
Application
Rolling
National
Last activity
2026-06-24
High confidence
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Student notes
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Program details
Key Programming
- Startup Scholars Program — Up to $10,000 funding for HBCU student entrepreneurs, with mentorship and workshops
- Faculty Fellowship Program — $10,000 awards for HBCU faculty entrepreneurship research
- HBCU Consulting Lab — 8-week program connecting students with local businesses
- Prime Incubator — Incubator program for early-stage ventures
- Idea-to-App Accelerator — 15-week program for non-technical entrepreneurs
- Ready, Set, Launch — 5-week social entrepreneurship bootcamp
- Startup Skills Academy — Noncredit courses on AI, finance, marketing
- Dreams to Dollars — Monthly webinar series with trailblazing founders
- HBCU Empower Conference — Annual national conference (June, Washington DC)
- Entrepreneurship Education Innovation Grant — $25K grants for HBCU program development
Activity & Impact
The Center has reached 75% of all HBCUs, awarded $450K+ in venture funding, and supported thousands of entrepreneurs through its network of regional hubs. The annual HBCU Empower Conference draws founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders from across the country. Meets national demand for HBCU-focused entrepreneurship infrastructure.
Notes
- National scope — serves 101+ HBCUs, not just Howard
- Regional hubs: Howard (Mid-Atlantic), Clark Atlanta (Southeast), Morgan State (Mid-South), Texas Southern (Southwest)
- No ongoing grant program — funding through competitions and program participation
- Faculty programs, student programs, and community entrepreneur programs
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting Howard University & PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship at Howard University.
2 sources
Howard University
HU Empower Business Pitch Competition
# HU Empower Business Pitch Competition Annual Howard University student business pitch competition. 2026 competition: over $50,000 in funding. Presented by PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship. Multi-industry participation.
Read on Howard University
Howard University & PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship
Howard University
Howard University
Howard University & PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship
# Howard University & PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship National consortium and resource hub for HBCU entrepreneurship. Founded 2021 with $16.8M PNC grant. Serves 101+ HBCUs through 4 regional hubs. Programs: Startup Scholars ($10K), Faculty Fellows ($10K), HBCU Consulting Lab, Idea-to-App Accelerator, Ready Set Launch, Startup Skills Academy, Prime Incubator, HBCU Empower Conference. $450K+ venture funding awarded.
Read on Howard University