Support Black Entrepreneurs in Training!

Black Entrepreneurs in Training (BET) is a Cornell program dedicated to inspiring, informing, and initiating the next wave of Black student entrepreneurs. It was found that Black students either weren’t aware of the entrepreneurship resources at Cornell, or they were aware but not confident enough to participate. BET empowers Black students to take advantage of the vast portfolio of entrepreneurial resources Cornell has to offer with a year-long introduction to entrepreneurship, a close-knit community, and tailored support. 

Black startup founders receive less than 1% of venture capital funding annually. Less than 30 Black women have ever raised more than $1 million dollars in venture capital funding. Our first step to changing the narrative nationally is doing so right here at Cornell. We are raising $5,000 to cover the cost of food, speaker fees, extracurricular opportunities for students, and materials for our workshops and events for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Your support will help our cohort members grow as entrepreneurs and network with people that can help their ventures take shape! BET is planning a number of different workshops, events, and (virtual) conference trips that span the entire academic year and expose our cohort to a wide range of opportunities.

Program Timeline:

•  Inspire (October – November):
  • The cohort will immerse themselves in entrepreneurship by networking with alumni and fellow entrepreneurs.
• Inform (December – January):
  • The cohort will learn the formalities of entrepreneurship by attending workshops lead by successful entrepreneurs.
• Initiate (February – May):
  • The cohort of entrepreneurs will start their own journey and act on what they have learned throughout the program to launch a minimum viable product.