Encouraging entrepreneurship and economic development by cultivating an innovative and creative culture among NCCU's students, professors and staff, as well as the community at large.
Our Mission
North Carolina Central University's Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) mission is to create a culture of creativity and innovation among students, faculty and staff at NCCU and the broader community to spur entrepreneurship and economic development. The CEED fosters and contributes to the long legacy of the entrepreneurial spirit of NCCU by leveraging programs to support entrepreneurs with diverse businesses in varying stages such as conception, launch and growth.
We aim to inspire entrepreneurship and economic development by cultivating a culture of creativity and innovation in our community. CEED empowers entrepreneurs with diverse businesses at various phases of their venture, contributing to NCCU's rich history of entrepreneurship.
Mentors provide years of experience and insight into various industries and backgrounds. They also provide students with different strategies for how to approach problems and make connections to employers or startup resources. Finally, they provide feedback and support, as well as consultation services.
Entrepreneurial workshops aim to equip participants with the necessary skillset and mindset for identifying and launching new business ventures.
At pitch competitions, entrepreneurs present their business concepts to a panel with the hopes of winning a cash prize or investment capital.
According to the Survey of Business Owners, Black-owned businesses have created over 1 million jobs and generated over $165 billion in revenue.
Between 2012 and 2017, the number of Black-owned businesses grew at a faster pace than the number of white-owned businesses.
Although Black Americans represent more than 13% of the population, only about 10% of all businesses in the United States are Black owned.
The PNC Foundation is awarding more than $2 million to five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in North Carolina to establish the PNC North Carolina HBCU Initiative, an effort that aims to enrich the future of entrepreneurship and create workforce opportunities in the state.
This partnership is part of the Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s previously announced commitment to providing $40 million dollars in support of entrepreneurial skill-building resources for underserved communities.