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Spelpreneur

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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 open to all current Spelman students. In 2024-2025, Spelpreneur will offer two (2) programs: The Spelpreneur Program and the HBCU Founders Initiative (HBCUFI) Pre-Accelerator Program. The Spelpreneur Program introduces students to the fundamentals necessary to advance their knowledge and practice of entrepreneurship. Programming is organized into three categories: EDUCATE, INSPIRE, AND EMPOWER.

All Spelman students are invited to apply for the Spelpreneur program. Those selected will have the opportunity to participate in weekly programming and receive benefits during the semester. All Spelman students will also be invited to apply for the 10-Day Startup Competition. Those who complete the Competition will have the opportunity to receive benefits.

Spelpreneur Core Focus Areas

EDUCATE

Spelman College Spelpreneur Program Goal to Educate

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

INSPIRE

Spelpreneur Goal to Inspire

Entrepreneur Chats where students engage with successful entrepreneurs and our Speed Mentoring where students meet 1-on-1 with entrepreneurs.

EMPOWER

Spelpreneur Core Area to Empower

With our 10-Day Start-up Competition, students identify a unique problem and pitch at a “Shark Tank” style event, competing for financial prize packages. 

HBCU Founders Initiative (HBCUFI) Pre-Accelerator

HBCU Founders Initiative (HBCUFI) Pre-Accelerator program, a 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 may apply

Spelpreneur Spotlight: Lauren Thompson, C'2027

A Passion for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Lauren Thompson is a documentary filmmaking major and entrepreneurship minor from Silver Spring, Maryland, with a passion for entrepreneurship and innovation. Thompson says entrepreneurship allows her to have a creative outlet to express herself and give back to her community. 
 

As a Spelpreneur participant, she has learned the important lessons and problem-solving skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur. She plans to create a networking site that further connects college students and high school seniors in an effort to aid in their college selection process and increase college preparedness. Through Spelpreneur, she gained access to a web of entrepreneurs who she could rely on for support and guidance, and she developed the confidence and reassurance she needed to continue with her entrepreneurship journey. 

As a result of participating in Spelpreneur, Thompson says her next steps toward entrepreneurship are to begin the market research for her business, which includes reaching out to college and career readiness resources to confirm demand for her proposed product.