Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Welcome to the UNCF Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

With the mission of: We address social inequities through entrepreneurship by empowering Black and other creators with community and opportunity, from idea to impact.

Below you will find information about our signature programs, pitch competition; rules, and resources for your innovative ideas and entrepreneurial endeavors

Application Contest Rules

Signature Programs

Innovative Collective

The Innovative Collective is a series of innovation labs geared towards social impact through enterprise creation. Each lab will present a topic and problem statement based on a societal issue that needs to be addressed, corrected, and/or innovated upon. The labs will include innovation challenges that introduce students to social entrepreneurship that partners with their passion and the degrees they are pursuing in their collegiate careers.

Pathways to Pitch

The young adult male supervisor stands at the whiteboard to talk to his colleagues. Side view of smiling young female student reading paper while sitting by friends at desk in library

The Pathways to Pitch symposium stands as a catalyst for young Black urban students, providing them not only with the necessary knowledge and tools but also instilling the confidence needed to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. By cultivating a supportive and inclusive learning environment, the aim is to inspire a new generation of innovative and socially conscious business leaders poised to make a meaningful impact within their communities and beyond.