{"id":816396,"date":"2026-08-17T08:56:44","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T08:56:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/816396\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T08:56:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T08:56:44","slug":"from-hbcu-to-ceo-black-entrepreneurs-who-have-built-successful-businesses-the-root-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/816396\/","title":{"rendered":"From HBCU to CEO: Black Entrepreneurs Who Have Built Successful Businesses \u2013 The Root"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rodney Williams speaks onstage at the Global Black Economic Forum during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture (Photo by Arturo Holmes\/Getty Images for ESSENCE), Lonnie Johnson, inventor of Super Soaker a large plastic pump-action water gun which he is holding outside his home. (Photo by Thomas S. England\/Getty Images), Oprah Winfrey speaks during the Forbes Self-Made 250 Celebration at the Museum of the American Revolution (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Historically Black Colleges and Universities<\/a> (HBCUs) have always been about more than getting a degree. They\u2019re places where Black students find community, build confidence, and, sometimes, meet the people who become their future business partners. And during this Black Business Month, we\u2019re looking at some of those graduates who have taken that foundation far beyond campus.<\/p>\n

Whether it was biotech or beauty, entertainment or finance, these entrepreneurs saw a problem, had an idea and decided to build something of their own. Some became household names. Others are still growing their empires. But they all show what can happen when HBCU excellence meets entrepreneurship\u2013and why Black business ownership continues to matter.<\/p>\n

Oprah Winfrey, Tennessee State University<\/p>\n

\"\"PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA \u2013 JUNE 17: Oprah Winfrey speaks during the Forbes Self-Made 250 Celebration at the Museum of the American Revolution on June 17, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Oprah Winfrey\u2019s journey from Tennessee State University to global media powerhouse is one of the most recognizable HBCU success stories. She built far more than a television career, eventually creating OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, while expanding into production, publishing, philanthropy and entertainment. Oprah\u2019s story is especially powerful because she left TSU before graduating, then returned in 1986 to complete her degree, according to the T<\/a>e<\/a>nnessee State University Newsroom<\/a>. The lesson? Sometimes the path takes longer than expected, but unfinished business can still become legacy.<\/p>\n

RELATED: Why Atlanta Could Lose a Major Black Business Festival<\/a><\/p>\n

Jewel Burks Solomon, Howard University<\/p>\n

\"\"WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 NOVEMBER 14: Jewel Burks Solomon attends the 2nd Annual HBCU Honors at Crampton Auditorium at Howard University on November 14, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Sebastian Leon Wolfgang Taylor\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Howard University graduate Jewel Burks Solomon saw a problem while working at an industrial-parts company: customers often knew what a part looked like but had no idea what it was called. So she thought, why not just take a picture of it? That idea became Partpic, a computer-vision company that helped people find the right replacement parts, according to her website<\/a>. Amazon acquired the company in 2016. Today, the Howard University graduate is helping other Black founders through Collab Capital.<\/p>\n

Navarr Grevious and Mik\u00e1el Pyles, Clark Atlanta University<\/p>\n

Navarr Grevious and Mik\u00e1el Pyles met at Clark Atlanta University. The fraternity brothers eventually became business partners in 2011, when they realized they had both been thinking about the same thing: making it as easy to order alcohol as it is to order takeout, Voyage MIA reported<\/a>. They spent years developing the idea before launching QuickLiq, partnering with local liquor stores to bring wine, beer and spirits straight to customers.<\/p>\n

Will Packer, FAMU <\/p>\n

\"\"NEW YORK, NEW YORK \u2013 JULY 20: Will Packer attends the screening of Netflix\u2019s \u201c72 Hours\u201d at The Plaza Hotel on July 20, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil\/WireImage)<\/p>\n

Will Packer didn\u2019t wait for Hollywood to create opportunities for Black audiences. At Florida A&M University, he began developing his filmmaking ambitions and eventually partnered with Rob Hardy to create Rainforest Films, according to his website.<\/a> Their early independent projects helped establish a production company that went on to produce major hits including \u201cThink Like a Man,\u201d \u201cRide Along\u201d and \u201cGirls Trip.\u201d Packer has produced films generating more than $1 billion worldwide. His blueprint: build the audience you believe deserves to be seen. <\/p>\n

Jen Nwankwo, Claflin University<\/p>\n

\"\"Screenshot from YouTube<\/p>\n

Claflin University graduate Dr. Jen Nwankwo is bringing HBCU excellence into one of the world\u2019s most technically demanding fields: biotechnology. She founded 1910 Genetics to use artificial intelligence, computation and biological automation to accelerate drug discovery, Molecule to Market reported<\/a>. The company\u2019s goal is to develop medicines more efficiently.<\/p>\n

Melissa Butler, FAMU<\/p>\n

\"\"LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA \u2013 JUNE 08: Melissa Butler speaks onstage at Industry Talks \u201cThe Culture Made This\u201d panel during the BET Experience Fan Fest at Los Angeles Convention Center on June 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bennett Raglin\/Getty Images for BET)<\/p>\n

Melissa Butler wasn\u2019t planning to leave Wall Street for the beauty industry. But after finding herself frustrated with the limited availability of products for people of color, she decided to make something different. The Florida A&M University graduate started mixing vegan lipstick in her kitchen while working in finance, according to the university. <\/a>That side project became The Lip Bar \u2013 and even a tough rejection on \u201cShark Tank\u201d couldn\u2019t stop her. Today, the brand is sold nationwide, proving that sometimes rejection is just fuel to keep going.<\/p>\n

Janice Bryant Howroyd, NCAT<\/p>\n

\"\"WASHINGTON \u2013 JANUARY 12: Janice Bryant Howroyd arrives at the first annual BET Honors awards gala at the Warner Theater on January 12, 2008 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi\/WireImage) <\/p>\n

Janice Bryant Howroyd started ActOne in 1978 with a few hundred dollars and a loan from her mother. The North Carolina A&T State University graduate transformed that small staffing operation into a global workforce-solutions company, according to Forbes.<\/a> ActOne grew into a multibillion-dollar enterprise serving clients across industries and countries. Howroyd\u2019s achievement is bigger than the numbers: she became the first African American woman to build and own a billion-dollar company. <\/p>\n

Chris Latimer, Howard University<\/p>\n

\"\"HOUSTON, TEXAS \u2013 JANUARY 19: (L-R) Mikos Adams, Steve Rogers, Shawn Stovall, Chris Latimer and D-Nice attend the Skip Day Houston MLK Day Bunch Edition at Leeland House on January 19, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Marcus Ingram\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Before HBCU-inspired apparel became a mainstream cultural lane, 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 directly into popular culture, Crain\u2019s New York Business reported. <\/a>Celebrities including Will Smith, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige helped amplify the brand. Latimer understood something important: representation doesn\u2019t have to just live in classrooms or history books. Sometimes you wear your institution \u2013 and its legacy \u2013 right on your chest.<\/p>\n

Kamilah Mitchell, Tennessee State University<\/p>\n

Tennessee State University graduate Kamilah Mitchell founded With Meaning, then expanded her entrepreneurial vision through Teas With Meaning, according to the website<\/a>. What began as a personal exploration of wellness grew into 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 broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.<\/p>\n

Ryan Glover, Howard University<\/p>\n

\"\"ATLANTA, GEORGIA \u2013 SEPTEMBER 29: Ryan Glover Attends 2023 A3C Conference day 1 on September 29, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams\/WireImage)<\/p>\n

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 was eventually acquired by Scripps for more than $300 million, Voyage ATL reported<\/a>. He later co-founded Greenwood, a digital banking platform designed to serve Black and Latino consumers and businesses. Glover\u2019s career reflects a bigger entrepreneurial theme: build institutions that understand the communities mainstream companies often overlook, and create businesses that can turn cultural insight into economic power.<\/p>\n

Jacquelyn Rodgers, Clark Atlanta University<\/p>\n

Jacquelyn Rodgers, a Clark Atlanta University graduate, founded Greentop Gifts after struggling to find holiday wrapping paper featuring a Black Santa for her son, she told the Eleyae Systems podcast.<\/a> Instead of accepting the lack of representation, she created her own solution. The company grew into a family-run brand offering multicultural holiday d\u00e9cor, gifts and apparel, including its signature Clarence Claus character. Greentop Gifts later earned recognition from Google\u2019s Black Founders Fund and expanded into major retail channels. <\/p>\n

Lonnie Johnson, Tuskegee University<\/p>\n

\"\"Lonnie Johnson, inventor of Super Soaker a large plastic pump-action water gun, holding his invention & its US patent while sitting on grass outside his home. (Photo by Thomas S. England\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Tuskegee University graduate Dr. Lonnie Johnson turned curiosity into one of the world\u2019s most recognizable inventions. The engineer and former NASA and Air Force researcher invented the Super Soaker, which became a blockbuster toy and generated more than $1 billion in lifetime sales, according to his website<\/a>. But Johnson\u2019s entrepreneurial story doesn\u2019t end with a water gun. Through Johnson Research & Development and related ventures, he has continued to work on batteries, energy technology and sustainable power.<\/p>\n

Farah Allen, FAMU<\/p>\n

Farah Allen has always been a creative problem-solver. After graduating from Florida A&M University and building a career in technology, she decided to create something of her own, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation reported<\/a>. That became The Labz, a platform that helps businesses and creatives build interactive digital experiences without having to be a tech expert. What started with a focus on protecting music creators\u2019 work eventually grew into a much bigger vision. Allen\u2019s story is a reminder that sometimes you don\u2019t wait for an opportunity \u2013 you build it yourself.<\/p>\n

Rodney Williams, Howard University<\/p>\n

\"\"NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \u2013 JULY 05: Rodney Williams speaks onstage at the Global Black Economic Forum during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture\u00ae presented by Coca-Cola\u00ae at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 05, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Arturo Holmes\/Getty Images for ESSENCE)<\/p>\n

Rodney Williams has built his career around one simple idea: find a problem and develop a better way to solve it. After earning degrees from West Virginia University and an MBA from Howard University, he went on to co-found LISNR, a technology company that uses sound to transmit data, WVU Business<\/a> reported. He later co-founded SoLo Funds, a community-finance platform designed to make access to capital more accessible. Williams\u2019 journey shows how one idea can lead to the next \u2013 and how an HBCU education can help turn those ideas into businesses.<\/p>\n

Straight From \"The<\/p>\n

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