HBCU entrepreneurs have always understood something that took the broader business world longer to catch on: the most powerful ideas often come from identifying real gaps and building something to fill them. During Black Business Month, it’s worth looking at the graduates who took their HBCU foundation and turned it into thriving companies across biotech, entertainment, finance, beauty and beyond. These aren’t just success stories. They’re blueprints for what happens when institutional excellence meets entrepreneurial hunger.
The pattern is consistent. HBCU entrepreneurs saw problems their communities faced. They had ideas. They built. Some became household names. Others are still scaling. But collectively, they demonstrate why Black business ownership continues to matter—not as inspiration, but as infrastructure.
Oprah Winfrey, Tennessee State University
Oprah Winfrey’s rise from Tennessee State University to global media powerhouse remains one of the most recognizable HBCU success stories. She built far more than a television career—there’s OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, plus production, publishing, philanthropy and entertainment ventures. What makes her story especially instructive is the detour. Winfrey left TSU before graduating, then returned in 1986 to finish her degree. Sometimes the path loops back on itself. Sometimes unfinished business becomes the foundation for legacy.
Jewel Burks Solomon, Howard University
While working at an industrial-parts company, Howard University graduate Jewel Burks Solomon noticed something obvious once you see it: customers often knew what a part looked like but had no idea what it was called. Why not just photograph it? That observation became Partpic, a computer-vision company that solved a real supply-chain friction point. Amazon saw the potential and acquired the company in 2016. Today, Solomon is channeling her success back into the startup ecosystem through Collab Capital, helping other Black founders navigate the path she took.
Navarr Grevious and Mikáel Pyles, Clark Atlanta University
Navarr Grevious and Mikáel Pyles met at Clark Atlanta University as fraternity brothers and eventually became business partners. In 2011, they decided to tackle a question that felt obvious but hadn’t been fully solved: why wasn’t ordering alcohol as frictionless as ordering food? They spent years developing that idea before launching QuickLiq, a delivery service partnering with local liquor stores to bring wine, beer and spirits directly to customers. The concept was simple. The execution took patience.
Will Packer, FAMU
Will Packer didn’t wait for Hollywood to create opportunities for Black audiences. At Florida A&M University, he started developing his filmmaking ambitions and eventually partnered with Rob Hardy to build Rainforest Films. Their early independent projects became the foundation for a production company that eventually created major hits including “Think Like a Man,” “Ride Along” and “Girls Trip.” Packer’s films have generated over $1 billion worldwide. His real innovation wasn’t just making movies—it was understanding that the audience he wanted to reach deserved to see themselves on screen, and building infrastructure to make that happen.
Jen Nwankwo, Claflin University
Dr. Jen Nwankwo is bringing HBCU rigor into biotechnology, one of the world’s most technically demanding fields. As a Claflin University graduate, she founded 1910 Genetics to use artificial intelligence, computation and biological automation to accelerate drug discovery. The mission is straightforward: develop medicines more efficiently by removing friction from the research process. It’s the kind of work that requires both technical depth and the kind of problem-solving instinct that HBCU education cultivates.
Melissa Butler, FAMU
Melissa Butler wasn’t planning to leave Wall Street for beauty. But working in finance, she kept noticing the same gap: limited product options for people of color. So she started mixing vegan lipstick in her kitchen while keeping her finance job. That side project became The Lip Bar. When “Shark Tank” rejected her, she didn’t fold. Today the brand sells nationwide, a reminder that sometimes rejection just clarifies your resolve.
Janice Bryant Howroyd, NCAT
In 1978, Janice Bryant Howroyd started ActOne with a few hundred dollars and a loan from her mother. The North Carolina A&T graduate turned that staffing operation into a global workforce-solutions company now valued in the billions. She became the first African American woman to build and own a billion-dollar company. That achievement transcends business metrics. It represents structural change—proof that the ceiling was never as fixed as it seemed.
Chris Latimer, Howard University
Before HBCU-inspired apparel became a cultural mainstream, Howard University graduate Chris Latimer was already building it. In 1991, he founded African American College Alliance, creating clothing that placed HBCU names and logos into popular culture. Will Smith, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige helped amplify the brand. Latimer understood something essential: representation doesn’t live only in classrooms or textbooks. Sometimes you wear it. Sometimes you build a business around it.
Kamilah Mitchell, Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University graduate Kamilah Mitchell founded With Meaning and expanded through Teas With Meaning. What started as personal wellness exploration became a product company offering organic loose-leaf teas and tea-infused goods. Mitchell also built collaborations with other women and Black-owned businesses, turning her company into part of a larger entrepreneurial network rather than just an isolated venture.
Ryan Glover, Howard University
Howard University graduate Ryan Glover has built businesses across media, entertainment and finance. He founded Bounce TV, the first African American nationwide broadcast television network, which Scripps acquired for over $300 million. He later co-founded SoLo Funds, a community-finance platform designed to expand capital access for Black and Latino consumers and businesses. His career demonstrates a pattern: identify the communities mainstream companies overlook, build something that serves them well, then convert that cultural insight into economic power.
Jacquelyn Rodgers, Clark Atlanta University
Jacquelyn Rodgers, a Clark Atlanta University graduate, founded Greentop Gifts after struggling to find holiday wrapping paper featuring a Black Santa for her son. Rather than accept the gap, she created her own solution. The company grew into a family-run brand offering multicultural holiday décor, gifts and apparel, including its signature Clarence Claus character. Google’s Black Founders Fund recognized Greentop Gifts, and the brand expanded into major retail channels. Sometimes the best businesses solve the exact problem you faced first.
Lonnie Johnson, Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University graduate Dr. Lonnie Johnson turned curiosity into one of the world’s most recognizable inventions. The engineer and former NASA and Air Force researcher invented the Super Soaker, which generated over $1 billion in lifetime sales. But Johnson’s story didn’t stop there. Through Johnson Research & Development, he continued working on batteries, energy technology and sustainable power. One invention led to the next, each built on the same foundation of technical rigor and entrepreneurial vision.
Farah Allen, FAMU
Farah Allen has always approached problems creatively. After graduating from Florida A&M University and building a career in technology, she decided to create her own platform. That became The Labz, which helps businesses and creatives build interactive digital experiences without needing deep technical expertise. What began as an effort to protect music creators eventually expanded into a much broader vision. Allen’s approach reflects a larger truth: sometimes the most useful businesses solve problems that affect multiple industries at once.
Rodney Williams, Howard University
Rodney Williams has built his career on identifying problems and developing better solutions. With degrees from West Virginia University and an MBA from Howard University, he co-founded LISNR, a technology company using sound to transmit data. He later co-founded SoLo Funds, a community-finance platform expanding capital access. His trajectory shows how one entrepreneurial insight can lead to the next, and how an HBCU education can equip you to turn those insights into real business.
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