Designing For Social Good
The HBCU Founders Initiative (HBCUFI) created the Designing For Social Good Workshop to engage students who are interested in harnessing innovation to tackle society’s biggest challenges.
The Designing For Social Good Workshop is a 2-day event that provides HBCU students with the unique opportunity to engage in design-thinking around pressing issues such as climate change, mental health, the future of work, and education.
In 2024, we hosted workshops at Prairie View A&M University, North Carolina A&T State University, and the Atlanta University Center, reaching over 100 HBCU students.
Workshop Design
The workshop spans two days, commencing with a pre-workshop dinner on the first day. This gathering provides an opportunity for engaging discussions, setting the stage for students to share their diverse perspectives and ideas. Participants are strategically grouped based on their shared interests and begin brainstorming solutions to a common problem.
The second day of the event features an immersive Design Thinking Workshop which involves the students introducing their proposed solutions and getting feedback from peers on campus. This hands-on experience equips participants with the design thinking methodology, empowering them to enhance their solutions, refine their market strategies, and develop business models while critically evaluating the potential trajectory of their ventures.
At the workshop’s conclusion, each member of the winning team is awarded a gift card. The winning team is selected based upon how well the participants incorporated what they learned from the workshop into their proposed solutions. By the end of the workshop, students who previously never considered themselves entrepreneurs often develop a newfound interest in pursuing entrepreneurship.
To further support the entrepreneurial spirit ignited during the workshops, all participants are extended an invitation to apply and receive priority consideration for HBCUFI's 8-week Pre-Accelerator program, a platform for the students to further refine their solutions, develop sustainable business models, receive ongoing mentorship and continue to transform their innovative ideas into impactful ventures.
Designing For Social Good Partners
How Your Business Can Thrive at the Intersection of Innovation and Inclusion.
Most Recent Workshops
Fisk University and Meharry Medical College
October 24-25, 2024
Health Inequity
Philander University and University of Arkansas Pine Bluff
November 8-9, 2024
Access to AI & Tech
The Workshop in Action
Prairie View A&M University
January 19-20, 2024
Climate Change
Winning Team: Renewable Pioneers
Problem: Renewable Energy
Solution: App and kiosk for choosing alternative clean beauty products.
North Carolina A&T State University
March 15-16, 2024
Social Determinants of Health
Winning Team: DetectaKit
Problem: Patient Education
Solution: An educational and easily accessible kit marketed for men that tests for high blood pressure, STDs, certain cancers, and other ailments.
Atlanta University Center
April 12-13, 2024
Future of Work and Education
Winning Team: Care On Demand
Problem: Care Work and Labor
Solution: Connect users to self-care and self-help therapists on-demand.
Student Testimonials
Become a Corporate Partner or Host a D4SG Workshop on Your Campus
If you are interested in becoming a Corporate Partner or if you want to bring the D4SG Workshop to your HBCU, we’d love to hear from you! Please fill out the form below and one of our team members will be in touch soon!
Interested in partnering with the HBCU Founders Initiative?
The HBCU Founders Initiative is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Your donation will help ensure that all HBCU students, alumni, and faculty have access to the technical and financial resources necessary to launch impactful, digitally-enabled businesses that help close the racial wealth gap. Together we can build the next generation of founders.