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Historically Black Colleges and Universities have long served as incubators for business talent, launching ventures that span computer-vision technology, acoustic data transfer, and natural consumer goods. According to reporting from The Root and the HBCU Higher Education Coalition, alumni from institutions including Howard University, Hampton University, and Tennessee University are scaling enterprises that attract major corporate clients and venture capital.
While prominent figures like Oprah Winfrey and Spike Lee established household names in media and entertainment, a newer wave of HBCU graduates is securing venture backing and building scalable product companies.
Here is how several HBCU alumni turned concepts into functional commercial enterprises.
Jewel Burks Solomon and Partpic’s Computer-Vision Acquisition
Recognizing that buyers struggled to identify and describe exact mechanical parts, she founded Partpic in 2013. The company developed smartphone computer-vision technology allowing users to search for and order replacement parts visually.
Amazon acquired Partpic just three years after its founding. Solomon now serves as a Managing Partner at Collab Capital, an investment firm focused on funding Black-owned innovative businesses.
Core business lesson: Identify a functional operational friction point and build a direct technological solution for it.
Rodney Williams and Lisnr’s Ultrasonic Data Software
Alongside co-founder Chris Ostoich, whom he met at Procter & Gamble, Williams built proprietary software that transmits data over near-ultrasonic, inaudible sound waves rather than traditional Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The technology eliminates hardware requirements like antennas and transmitters for connected devices ranging from smartphones to smart refrigerators.
Lisnr has since raised millions in venture funding, cleared its initial debt, expanded to 40 employees, and secured enterprise clients including the Dallas Cowboys, Range Rover, and NBC.
Core business lesson: Sustained conviction in unproven technology requires navigating severe financial risk before achieving market validation.
Andrea Reed and Bubble Bistro’s Global Botanical Sourcing
Using personal savings and credit cards, she founded Bubble Bistro, a natural soap and skincare brand utilizing raw ingredients like plant clays, herbs, and nut butters.
According to the HBCU Coalition, Bubble Bistro sources raw materials globally—salts from Europe, the Caribbean, and the Dead Sea; mango butter from Brazil; and shea butter from Ghana. The company developed a cult following primarily through word of mouth and earned features in national publications including O, The Oprah Magazine, and Essence.
Core business lesson: Grounding a physical product line in authentic, high-quality sourcing can generate organic brand equity without traditional institutional advertising.
Kamilah Mitchell and Teas With Meaning
Following a cancer diagnosis in 2018, she expanded her brand to include Teas With Meaning, an organic loose-leaf tea line conceived during a restorative trip to Mount Shasta in California, where she sought out natural healing ingredients.
Core business lesson: Personal life events can pivot an existing community-focused platform into a specialized product offering.
Strategic Takeaways for Aspiring Founders
Analyzing the trajectory of these ventures highlights key patterns in early-stage company building:
- Problem-First Engineering: Partpic and Lisnr both addressed acute technical or operational inefficiencies experienced firsthand by their founders.
- Bootstrap Resilience: Ventures like Bubble Bistro scaled through consumer pull and raw material curation before seeking outside attention.
- Ecosystem Reinvestment: Successful founders frequently transition into capital allocators, as seen with Solomon’s work at Collab Capital.