Black Girl Ventures is ensuring that the next generation of entrepreneurs has a bright future.
According to our sister site, Blavity News, the BGV NextGen Program will provide 25 students with the opportunity to progress their business strategies with help from BGV and the National Basketball Association (NBA).
“We are excited to announce that @blackgirlventures will be partnering with the @nba to launch BGV NextGen,” Shelly Bell said in a tweet in August 2021.
According to the company’s website, the eight-week curriculum would empower Black and brown women-identifying undergraduate and graduate students between the ages of 18 and 24 with access to money, capability, and community. Students must be in the concept stage or have a completed product. The resources supplied will be used to decrease the wealth gap and develop strategies to help minority entrepreneurs financially.
“Our vision is to democratize entrepreneurship for the NextGeneration of business leaders. This will help change the playing field for Black and Brown women-identifying founders while closing the generational wealth gap, strengthening families, and creating a more equitable society,” the website reads.
All students will receive a $5,000 stipend, mentorship, and a premium entrepreneurial education, as well as the opportunity to improve management and business development abilities. The well-crafted program will prepare students for a demo day where they will demonstrate their business acumen.
Following that, the top seven Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) students will compete in a BGV Pitch Competition for the chance to win further funding. In addition to funding, Supplier Diversity opportunities will be developed for founders to gain additional visibility for their company.
“Our mission is to develop the entrepreneurial mindset of HBCU students via access to capital, training, mentoring, and new networks. Through our multi-pronged efforts, we will help prepare students for a highly competitive workforce as well as providing experiences design to elevate entrepreneurship as a practical avenue for employing themselves and others,” according to the official company website.
The selected founders will also have access to BGV’s growing partner network and capital investors, as well as a lifetime subscription to the BGV Connect platform.
The application deadline is February 4th, and selected participants will be notified by February 16th.
The Black Girl Ventures Instagram page posted a photo with a caption that reads:
blackgirlventures: 🚨🚨NEW PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT🚨🚨
Are you an HBCU student between 18-24? Do you have a business or a business idea?
In partnership with @NBA we have BGV NEXTGEN!
We will have an 8-week accelerator program – chill, it’s only 3 hours a week – where you learn business strategy, identify your correct customer, and how to build/cultivate relationships.
Did I tell you there is a $5,000 stipend! You know your business needs that extra change.
In the end, there is a demo day to showcase what you developed in training AND the top 7 visionaries will be in a BGV styled pitch competition.
Are you still here? Go apply at bit.ly/bgvnextgen. Hurry applications close on Feb 4 at 11:59 pm EST!
