Northeastern Lab for Inclusive Entrepreneurship

We'd appreciate your feedback on the prototype of our AI-powered Diverse Supplier Chatbot which is designed to help small businesses understand the higher education marketplace. Spend a few minutes interacting with the chatbot:https://lnkd.in/gRnSmaca (log in: admin password: admin). Then share your feedback in this very brief survey: https://lnkd.in/gaWS2XcK (Note: Currently only Northeastern University data is available in the prototype).)

What is the state of supplier diversity in higher education? We asked 101 procurement professionals at colleges and universities across the country to share their perspectives and experiences. The research findings, made possible by support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, are now available -- please share this post with those interested in supplier diversity in #highereducation. https://lnkd.in/eSxzXnm4

Northeastern University’s 2024 Women Who Empower Innovator Awards will recognize 33 entrepreneurs for their innovative, boundary-pushing work. The recipients — students and alumni from the Northeastern community — were selected by a panel of judges and will receive a total of $500,000 in funding. The Innovator Awards, now in their fourth year, have provided more than $1.32 million in funding to over 100 changemakers.

The Lab is proud to be a part of this university-wide network helping entrepreneurs thrive!

We're celebrating the 4th annual EDA University Center Week. With support from EDA, the Northeastern Lab for Inclusive Entrepreneurship has been able to support scores of small businesses in ME, MA, and RI through our Inclusive Entrepreneur Fellowship program and funding for projects involving collaboration between our students, faculty, and company sponsors. In the brief video, the Lab's Executive Director Francesca Grippa summarizes our work. #EDAUnivCenters #entrepreneurs #lifelonglearning #EDAUnivCenters

As Association of Independent Colleges & Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM)'s Economic Impact Study shows, colleges and universities are uniquely positioned to influence local and regional economies. While the study does not explicitly address the role of diverse small businesses in the higher education marketplace, the case for increasing supplier diversity is compelling. Read our 'take' on the report: https://lnkd.in/eXV9zZFm #supplierdiversity #highereducation

The Northeastern Lab for Inclusive Entrepreneurship is delighted to welcome four new members to our Advisory Council. ➡ Jeffrey Roy, CPA, MBA is the Head of Category Management at Northeastern University and serves as a member of the board of the National Association of Educational Procurement. ➡ Daylana Ervin-Parker is Director of Budget and Supplier Diversity at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts where she leads and executes strategies that advance the procurement of products and services from diverse vendors. Two of our Inclusive Entrepreneur Fellows are also joining the council. ➡ Dr. Gayl Crump Swaby from the 2022 cohort is President of New Generation Consultants & Associates, a company focused on wellness and mental health services. ➡ Adriana Vaccaro, MBA, SHRM - SPC from the 2023 cohort is the Founder of Culture Redesigned, which helps business leaders design and implement intentional, effective, and inclusive cultures that drive performance, engagement, and retention. The Advisory Council provides the Lab's team with input on programs that are designed to spur the growth of diverse small businesses and their local communities. To learn more about the Lab's work visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gRhxvXUE #entrepreneurship #supplierdiversity

The registration’s deadline is tomorrow! Consider applying!

Congratulations to Samantha Johnson and the Tatum Robotics team for this recognition! Samantha has been a wonderful sponsor of several experiential projects with Northeastern University students, with project funding support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. See highlights of one project on the Northeastern Lab for Inclusive Entrepreneurship website: https://lnkd.in/eVjRBqKP #entrepreneurship #lifelonglearning

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC) will host the first annual Financial Summit. The event will equip small business entrepreneurs with the tools to identify best practices for business growth and financial prosperity: https://lnkd.in/eX8HzWNx