The Nex Cubed HBCU Founders Accelerator seeks to foster and invest in startups where at least one founder is an HBCU student, alum, or faculty member.

The HBCU Founders Accelerator is a customized 16-week intensive program, primarily conducted virtually. It commences with goal-setting discussions, the development of a work plan, and the identification of key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress. Throughout the program, each portfolio company is provided with dedicated executive-level support from paid advisors. With a cohort size of 8-10 startups, our accelerator seeks to create a collaborative environment to foster entrepreneurial success. We make an initial investment of $120,000 in each selected startup to help support their growth.

Meet the businesses of tomorrow, built by today's visionary HBCU founders.

Featured

The promise of dedicated advisors for each participating company initially drew us to the Nex Cubed HBCU Founders Accelerator. These advisors have indeed become game-changers for us. Having the opportunity to engage weekly with industry experts, discussing and strategizing our business growth, is an experience unparalleled by other programs we've participated in.

Kayla Wright-Jackson and Corey Shaw, Transition, Morehouse College
The HBCU founder community within Nex Cubed aligns with my vision, providing a valuable network where experiences and challenges are understood on a deeper level.

Antonio Depina, Scoutz, Lincoln Universiy
The mentorship from Nex Cubed has driven me to be more intentional in tracking, measuring, and forecasting our pipeline, significantly contributing to our overall success.

Desmond Wiggan, BatteryXchange, Winston-Salem State University
I am a solo founder, but it feels like Nex Cubed gave me an entire team dedicated to the success of Rush Roto.

Christian Morris, Rush Roto, Hampton University
The advisors that Nex Cubed selected were amazing, and as soon as we met, our company radically transformed. I'm really excited about the direction that we're heading.

Eboni Boyd, Budget Collector, Howard University

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FOUNDER FOCUSED ACCELERATOR MODEL

Striving to Position Companies for Success

Nex Cubed is very different from conventional accelerators in that we offer a remote, fully customized program for the select few startups we work with.

Lifetime support and access to the Nex Cubed ecosystem.
Connections to the Nex Cubed Global Network of highly successful mentors, professional investors, and a loyal and active startup alumni base.
Each portfolio company receives an initial cash investment and is eligible for a follow on investment.
Lifetime access and personal intros (where appropriate) to our investor network.
Over $1M worth of discounts and exclusive perks from software companies, service providers, and industry experts.

Access to office space in NYC, San Francisco, or San Diego as needed.
Dedicated (and paid) advisor providing hands-on executive-level support.
Paid expert advisors who are embedded with the startups for the duration of the program
Fully customized program based on founders’ priorities and the needs of the startup.
Access to liquidity opportunities via M&A pathways.
Access to enterprise and institutional capital ready at completion
The HBCU Founders Accelerator provides follow-on funding to help further the growth and impact of HBCU-led companies. Follow-on financing ranges from $100k to $500k with an average investment of approximately $250k.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Investing in HBCU Founders

With a cohort size of 8-10 startups, our accelerator creates a collaborative environment to foster entrepreneurial success. The program is scheduled to begin in March 2025, and participating startups will have the opportunity to present their progress and achievements at the in-person demo day which is slated for Q3 2025.

Cohort Size: 8-10 Startups
Initial Investment: $120,000
Application Deadline: November 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET
Start Date: March 2025
Program Length: 16 Weeks
Demo Day: Q2 2025

Apply for Future Cohorts

Expand each section below to ensure you meet the minimum requirements before applying. If you are past the accelerator phase, we’d still love to hear from you as we have capital for later-stage companies available through our fund.

Minimum Requirements

At least one member of the founding team must be an HBCU student, alum, or faculty.
At a minimum, the team must have a proof of concept/MVP that is in market or on the verge of commercialization.
Founder(s) must be open to feedback and willing to learn. Coachability is a crucial factor in the selection process.
Founder(s) should have a unique insight into the problem they are trying to solve. Deep Industry experience is preferred.
Founder(s) should be able to discuss market size, target audience, and potential for expansion.

We work to invest everything we have in your success

WHAT WE DO

Business Planning
and Strategy

Go-to-Market Strategy and Execution

Financial Operations and Fundraising Preparation

Marketing and Branding

Business Development
and Customer Acquisition

Product Commercialization

Leadership, Culture and Social Impact

Pricing and Monetization

FOUNDER FOCUSED ACCELERATOR MODEL

Global Accelerator Network Benefits

Nex Cubed is part of Morrow, a highly-curated community of the world’s most respected accelerators, organizations, and investors in support of the startup industry.

$1M+ Savings; Benefits

From cloud hosting credits to airline tickets to CRMs, you’ll probably find what you need.

Coworking Exchange

Connect with the Morrow community and work for free for up to two weeks at participating Morrow Accelerators across the world.

Investor Network

Connect with the investment arm of Morrow creating catalytic capital for seed-stage companies coming out of Morrow Accelerators.