N.C. A&T Computer Science Student Earns Second Place in UNCF Pitch Competition

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Sept. 10, 2024) – Folaranmi Olawepo, a senior computer science student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, earned second place and a $10,000 cash prize for his app “Neur” at the Impact Pitch Competition presented by the United Negro College Fund’s (UNCF) Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in partnership with Think Broccoli. 

“‘Neur’ is an all-in-one platform that helps college student entrepreneurs have an equal advantage in turning their ideas into reality,” said Olawepo. “For example, if you want to start a clothing brand, we’ll give you a collaborative space that will help with task and project management, identifying resources including how to request funding, as well as provide an AI space, which will help you give direct feedback and communication about your product.”

Olawepo believes this product will allow colleges and universities to have their own digital innovation lab. He plans to launch “Neur” over the December break and ask N.C. A&T students to use the beta version for their senior projects and senior theses. 

“I know firsthand how useful this product has been for the projects I’ve worked on as a transfer student trying to navigate the entrepreneurship field,” he said. “I want to see how the app can impact other students and how they will interact with it.”

Winning the $10,000 prize not only gave Olawepo the encouragement he needed to move forward, but also will help him pay for the credits he will use to access technology to build and demonstrate the app. He is also collaborating with the university’s Center for Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation to focus on increasing awareness across campus.

Olawepo, transferred to A&T and became a member of the Honors College in fall 2023 after meeting students from the university at previous pitch competitions hosted by organizations like the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. He was intrigued by the various opportunities in which students participated and the state-of-the-art laboratory spaces in the Harold L. Martin Engineering Research and Innovation Complex.

“Those students really pitched me on the available resources they are receiving at A&T, particularly in the artificial intelligence space, and I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunities,” he said. “I love the program so far. My first year in Greensboro allowed me to settle into the area and I’m really excited to do all that I can in my last year as an undergraduate.”

Olawepo is originally from Nigeria and most of his immediate family members are entrepreneurs. He won several pitch competitions prior to transferring to A&T and those experiences taught him the fundamentals of what customers need and how to engage with investors.

“I like the idea of seeing problems and how they inspire us to create products to address the challenge,” said Olawepo. “Going to pitch competitions is not just to try and win, but to be able to network and talk with people.”

According to the UNCF, the Innovate for Impact Pitch Competition received 360 venture submissions, and from that group, 65 ventures representing 27 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) advanced. “Twenty-four were selected for mentorship and ultimately eight were selected to compete in the final round of the competition.”

Olawepo benefitted from the advice he received from his mentor while competing.

“My mentor is a very successful entrepreneur herself, and she was very helpful when taking another look at my idea and helped my business model make that much more sense,” said Olawepo.

“I often pass along this advice from my mentor from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund: ‘Fall in love with the problem, not the solution.’ Be bold, go for what you want.”

“These young leaders are tackling real issues, from supporting families facing health challenges to promoting social justice through literacy. They embody the change we want to see in the world,” said Devon Cobin, director for UNCF Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “And we're just getting started. We're going to keep pushing, keep expanding, and keep fostering innovation. Because every HBCU student with a dream deserves a shot at making it a reality.”