Collaborating to close the Stem Gender Gap Through Innovation

Abi Olukeye, the founder of Charlotte-based Smart Girls HQ, began her journey through Ventureprise, the University’s center for innovation and entrepreneurship. She participated in Venturprise’s Regional National Science Foundation (NFS) Innovation-Corps (I-Corps) programming in fall 2018. This six-week curriculum is designed to take early-stage entrepreneurs through the customer discovery process, which involves 30-plus interviews to assess the startup’s potential. To date, 145 University technology teams and 104 community startups have completed the program.

COLLABORATING TO CLOSE THE STEM GENDER GAP THROUGH INNOVATION AND FUN