The 6th Annual HBCU+ Entrepreneurship Conference
Entrepreneurship and AI for the Future Economy. Ignite your vision, connect with trailblazers, and celebrate HBCU excellence.
Oct 2, 2026
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center
14000 Jericho Park Road, Bowie, MD 20715
Artificial intelligence is transforming every industry, creating unprecedented opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. The 6th Annual HBCU+ Entrepreneurship Conference brings together students, faculty, researchers, industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurship centers to explore how emerging technologies are shaping the future economy.
Designed to inspire action and spark collaboration, the conference features engaging keynotes, interactive workshops, startup showcases, research presentations, and networking that equips participants to thrive in an innovation-driven world.
This isn’t just a conference — it’s a celebration of HBCU excellence, collaboration, and bold innovation.
From HBCUs, industry, and academia nationwide
Supported through coaching and development
Featured Panels & Workshops
Building Ventures, Careers, and Economic Opportunity
Empowering students from every discipline to develop entrepreneurial mindsets, leverage AI and emerging technologies, launch innovative ventures, and prepare for success in the future economy.
Teaching, Research, Commercialization, and Venture Creation
Showcasing how faculty integrate entrepreneurship and AI into teaching, advance interdisciplinary research, and translate discoveries into market-ready innovations.
Shaping the Future Workforce and Innovation Economy
Bringing together corporate, nonprofit, government, and investment partners to explore how collaboration with HBCUs accelerates innovation and strengthens talent pipelines.
Building Innovation Ecosystems and Driving Regional Impact
Highlighting the critical role entrepreneurship centers play in cultivating talent, supporting venture creation, and driving sustainable economic growth.
Run of Show
Friday, October 2, 2026 · The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center · 14000 Jericho Park Road, Bowie, MD 20715
Schedule subject to change.
Dr. Johnny Graham
Caroline E.W. Glackin, PhD
Dr. Xin Liu
Dr. Benjamin Harvey
Jeffery Meade
JaMarcus Roy
Tyrome Smith
Haley Bryant
Donna Harris
Stephen Auvil
Dr. Stacy Gee Hollins
Lakeisha Sutton
Somuadina Egbulam
Zachary Solembrino
Adonias Stuckey
Dr. Robbie Melton
Lindsay Ryan
Alicia Moran
June Evans
Johnetta Boseman Hardy (Moderator)
Tammi Thomas
Mindy Lehman
Ann-Marie Waterman, PhD, MBA
Arti Santhanam
Katrina Young
Beth Paquette
Dr. Bryant C. Mitchell
Adetunji Oduduwa
Farhana Begum
Zamalia Bennett
Dr. Phylicia Taylor
Darryl Scriven, Ph.D.
Lonell Johnson
Dr. Ronald Cetoute
Darlene Ajayi
Antwone Foreman
Floyd Miller
Grant Warner
Danae Stewart, MBA
Thaddaeus Hubbard
Dr. Krystal Vernee'Caroline E.W. Glackin, PhD
Dr. Willie J. Thompson Jr.
Nicole Murphy
Chanel Outlaw
Estado Outlaw
Amelia GriffinKnow Before You Go
Bowie State University · 14000 Jericho Park Road, Bowie, MD 20715
Parking is first come, first serve, as long as guests don’t park in reserved spaces. There are NO faculty parking lots on campus.
Executives and innovators from deep tech, AI, and emerging technology sectors, seeking talent, partnerships, and market insights.
Faculty, researchers, and administrators focused on entrepreneurship education, tech commercialization, and curriculum design.
The next generation of founders and innovators, eager to learn, network, and pitch their groundbreaking ideas.
Venture capitalists, angel investors, and strategic partners looking to fund and collaborate with promising ventures.
Featured
President
Bowie State University
Governor
State of Maryland
Conference Chair & Founder
Executive Director, Bowie State Entrepreneurship Innovation Center
Vice President
Strategic SMART AI Technology Innovations
Vice President of Story
Whop
Multimedia Journalist, Entertainer & Influencer
Executive-In-Residence and Adjunct Professor
Bowie State University · Conference Host
2026 Conference
Founders, faculty, investors, and innovation leaders across four conference tracks. Select a speaker to read their full bio.
Sessions and speakers subject to change.
Past Speakers
Investor on Shark Tank, Founder of FUBU
CEO of Rap Snacks, Music Executive
Media Personality & Philanthropist
Founder & CEO, Operation Hope
BSU Student, Emmy Award-Winning Host
Founder & CEO of HBCU Buzz
Entrepreneur, Investor, Philanthropist
Chairman & CEO, Ariel Investments
CEO of Kickstarter
The HBCU+ Entrepreneurship Conference is dedicated to strengthening a robust academic entrepreneurial ecosystem, emphasizing culturally competent programming. Attendees gain the tools, networks, and knowledge to develop the entrepreneurial mindset and leadership skills essential for creating lasting legacies.
Together, we will innovate with purpose, build solutions that create lasting impact, and lead with courage in a rapidly evolving world. HBCUs are uniquely positioned to lead the way.
Conference led by entrepreneurship expertise
Conference Chair & Founder · Executive Director, Bowie State Entrepreneurship Innovation Center
Johnetta has led entrepreneurship initiatives in higher education for more than 30 years, mentoring over 3,000 entrepreneurs and building nationally recognized centers at Bowie State, Howard University, and the University of Baltimore.
Bowie State University was among the first HBCUs to convene students, educators, and entrepreneurs to advance entrepreneurship education and catalyze generational wealth-building. The Entrepreneurship Innovation Center, established in 2022, is the hub of the campus entrepreneurial ecosystem and is housed in the $42 million Entrepreneurship Living-Learning Community.
Visit the Entrepreneurship Innovation Center →“At Bowie State, entrepreneurship isn’t just about launching businesses — it’s about igniting a whole new way of thinking.”
Thank you
Thank you
Sponsors
Exhibitors
Save the date
Friday, October 2, 2026 · The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, Bowie State University
