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HBCU Founders Initiative - Pitch Competition

HBCU Founders Initiative - Pitch Competition

Nex Cubed
LOCATION & INDUSTRIES
AMOUNT

Between $5,000 and $25,000

OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
DEADLINE

2026 TBA

ABOUT THE GRANT

Since 2023, The HBCU Founders Initiative (HBCUFI) and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), a philanthropic organization that funds scholarships for Black students and 37 HBCUs, have partnered together to host the Better Futures pitch competition. Better Futures is a national showcase of the entrepreneurial excellence booming out of the nation's 100+ HBCUs. The competition features startups led by HBCU students and alumni from the HBCUFI network who are building innovative solutions and creating better futures.

The Better Futures pitch competition has traditionally been held at the National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, D.C. with $25,000 in prizes distributed across the top three winners annually.

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NOTES

Note: The 2025 grant window has closed but this is an annual program. Check back for updates on this year's application window, expected to open in Spring 2026

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