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The Urgency of
Black Innovation Ecosystems:

Policies for Economic Growth, Security & Opportunity

THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF A HISTORIC CONVENING

On Thursday, April 20th, 2023, Black Innovation Alliance, in collaboration with The White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans, hosted The Urgency of Black Innovation Ecosystems: Policies for Economic Growth, Security & Opportunity—celebrated the one anniversary of the Congressional Caucus of Black Innovation.

It was rich with resources and information that we are happy to share here on our site.

Special thanks to our collaborators, The White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans, and the continued work of the Congressional Caucus of Black Innovation.

View the recap and learn more about the federal action providing momentum for our movement in 2023.

JUMP TO SECTIONS

VIEW THE FULL REPLAY HERE

Polls from the Webinar

During the event, we sought to learn more about our hundreds of attendees and how they see government’s roll in fostering Black Innovation Ecosystems. We asked the following questions:

Which designation best represents you?

How might the federal government be most effective in fostering Black Innovation Ecosystems?

Didn't get to participate in the polls?

Highlights from the Urgency of Black Innovation Ecosystems Webinar

INSIGHTS FROM INNOVATOR JOURNEYS

McKeever (Mac) Conwell, II, Founder & Managing Partner, RareBreed Ventures

Erin Horne McKinney, Howard University & PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship, National Executive Director

“To learn more about our bold and historic work, follow us on social media and check out our website. And plan to attend our national conference June 14th-June16th in Washington, DC.”

LeKiesha French, PRENEURology, President; The Future in Color, Founder

“To follow the ecosystem-building work of Preneurology Global and the upcoming launch of  “The Future In Color” a ground breaking Global Movement and National Initiative” please follow me on LinkedIn or reach out directly. I look forward to building and disrupting with this community.”

Samantha Abrams, CEO & Managing Director, Walker’s Legacy Foundation

Walker’s Legacy exists to equip you with the tools, programs, connections, and opportunities to keep your legacy moving forward.

Read the 9-Point Black Innovation Policy Agenda

Read the Black Innovation CensUS

Read BIA’s Annual Report

HOW BLACK INNOVATORS ACCESS FEDERAL FUNDS

Are you an SBIC? The Small Business Investment Company—or SBIC—program is one of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) financial assistance programs. An SBIC is a privately owned and managed investment fund that’s licensed and regulated by SBA. An SBIC uses its own capital, plus funds borrowed with an SBA guarantee, to make equity and debt investments in qualifying small businesses.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering $50,000 to $200,000 in prize awards for impactful and inclusive approaches to foster a thriving, collaborative national innovation support ecosystem to advance research and development (R&D) from ideas to impact.

The SBIR and STTR programs fund a diverse portfolio of startups and small businesses across technology areas and markets to stimulate technological innovation, meet Federal research and development (R&D) needs, and increase commercialization to transition R&D into impact.

See the supplemental guide of opportunities Black Innovators can take advantage of today created by Jarrod Loadholt & Meagan Bolton, Public Policy Specialists.

The CHIPS and Science Act

This act provides funds to support the domestic production of semiconductors and authorizes various programs and activities of the federal science agencies.

Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 allows new ways for ensuring eligible taxpayers receive their credits

Justice40 Environmental Justice Initiative

This initiative confronts and addresses decades of underinvestment in disadvantaged communities.

ThanK you to all the people who made this WEBINAR possible

Speakers

Master of Ceremonies, Ifeomasinachi “Ify” Ike, Founder & Chief Equity Weaver, Pink Cornrows, Director of Policy & Movement Strategy, Black Innovation Alliance

Representative Stacey Plaskett

Representative Marilyn Strickland

Representative Ritchie Torres

Kelly Burton, Ph.D., CEO of Black Innovation Alliance

Alexis K. Holmes, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans

Amber Greene, Special Assistant to the President for Racial and Economic Justice, White House Domestic Policy Council

Dr. Steve M. Newell, Assistant Director for Innovation and Equity, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President

Sinclair Ridley-Thomas, Managing Director & Head of Technology Private Placements, UBS

LeKiesha French, PRENEURology, President;
The Future in Color, Founder

McKeever (Mac) Conwell, II, Founder & Managing Partner, RareBreed Ventures

Samantha Abrams, CEO & Managing Director, Walker’s Legacy Foundation

Erin Horne McKinney, Howard University & PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship, National Executive Director

Erick Paige-Littleford, Program Manager, America’s Seed Fund, U.S. Small Business Administration

Henry McKoy, Inaugural Director, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, US Department of Energy

Jarrod Loadholt & Meagan Bolton, Public Policy Specialists

Producers and Partners

Carbon Thread

Clare Cecil

Diamond Taylor

Friends & Company

God-Is C. Ike

Ifeomasinachi “Ify” Ike

Janessa Bailey

Jason Lorne Giles

Kiara Lyle

Pink Cornrows

Shambulia Gadsden Sams

Studio J Lorne

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