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Spelpreneur

Fostering Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Spelman

Are you curious about entrepreneurship?
Are you a student entrepreneur in the early stages of your business development?
Do you need some business tips to run and grow your side hustle/business?
Did you know that an entrepreneurial mindset is applied in various work organizations?

What is Spelpreneur?

Spelpreneur is a co-curricular education initiative that fosters entrepreneurship and innovation at Spelman College. Spelpreneur educates, inspires, and empowers students. It is opened to all current Spelman students. In 2022-2023, Spelpreneur will offer two (2) programs:

Spelpreneur Start Program
Spelpreneur Pre-Accelerator Program

Spelman College students, Spelpreneur is for YOU!

Learn more about the Spelpreneur Program

Pitch Night of the 2023 Spelpreneur 10 Day Startup Competition Winners

1st Place Winners: $2,500 (beauty, skinscare)

Chai Tchanque, Gianna Jones, and Sahara Trask

2nd Place Winners: $1,500 (sustainability, beauty packaging)
Viewers' Choice winners $500

Nichele Washington and Crystal Ike

3rd Place Winners: $1,000 - Team Rooted (financial education)

Princess Dandoo and Kelaiah Dixon

View Photos from 2023 Spelpreneur Pitch Competition

The Spelpreneur Start Program

The Spelpreneur Start Program introduces students to the fundamentals that will advance their knowledge and practice of entrepreneurship. Programming is organized into three categories: EDUCATE, INSPIRE, AND EMPOWER.

On a weekly basis during the Fall and Spring semesters, there will be on campus and virtual programming. Students may voluntarily participate in all programming sessions. There will be weekly eblasts and Instagram posts from Spelpreneur to register for these sessions.

Group of Spelpreneur students working together

EDUCATE

With our Fundamental Series, students learn about the entrepreneurial mindset as well as key aspects of starting, running, and growing a business.

INSPIRE

With our Entrepreneur Chats, students engage with successful entrepreneurs who openly talk about their entrepreneurial journey. With our Speed Mentoring, students meet 1-on-1 with entrepreneurs to discuss their business idea or business/side hustle and learn about successful business practices.

Spelpreneur alumne talking to student

Spelpreneur students and judges at pitch night

EMPOWER

With our 10-Day Start-up Competition (held in the Spring), students will:

apply for the competition
form teams of 2 to 4 members
identify a unique problem
work with mentors
collaborate with the Spelman Innovation Lab
demonstrate how their idea presents the best solution to the problem
build a mock-up and business case
pitch at a “Shark Tank” style event, competing for financial prize packages

Spelpreneur Pre-Accelerator Program

The Spelpreneur Pre-Accelerator Program, a new partnership with HBCU Founders Initiative, is an eight-week empowering program that focuses on student entrepreneurs with early-stage companies and are ready to validate a problem and build a minimum viable product (MVP).

Various topics will be covered weekly during virtual sessions
Occasional on-campus activities are also planned
Advisers and mentors will provide guidance
The program will be offered during the Fall and Spring semesters
Teams will be eligible to receive funding in support of MVP development from HBCUFI
Teams will also be eligible to receive financial stipends for completion of this program from Spelpreneur
Student teams of 1 to 4 members my apply