Chapman University’s Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics was selected as the Inclusive Innovation Hub for Orange County through a $1 million Accelerate California CalOSBA grant.
The grant, to be disbursed over four years, will empower the Leatherby Center to focus on fostering entrepreneurship in underserved communities, including women, people of color and veterans.
“We hope to coach female founders, people of color, vets and other underrepresented populations so they may compete better for investment funds, or simply start businesses that provide them with economic independence,” said Leatherby Center director Cynthia West. “We are excited to begin the work with the broader community to achieve our lofty goals.”
The components of Inclusive Innovation Hub programs are: entrepreneurship preparation, mentorship, resident entrepreneurs and a startup cohort.
