Historically Black Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, has established its inaugural accelerator program aimed at empowering and uplifting entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds across South Carolina. In conjunction with Black@ Labs, the program marks a significant milestone in fostering a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem, providing aspiring entrepreneurs with the resources, support, and opportunities needed to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into thriving businesses.
In 2022, Benedict College received $525,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce to help organize, launch, and operate a state-wide investment accelerator program for underrepresented and minority persons who are in the early stages of entrepreneurship in South Carolina.
“Benedict College is prepared to become a major contributor to the South Carolina innovation ecosystem through this statewide investment accelerator,” said Tracy Dunn, dean of the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Benedict College. “We believe that our program offers unique benefits for our state, the most important being our focus on diverse entrepreneurs who typically experience greater challenges accessing capital to grow and scale their companies.”
Dr. Dunn is the first woman to lead the business school. She is a graduate of Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where she majored in German. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Boston University and an MBA and a Ph.D. from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.
