Apply for the Pitch Competition Here

Venture to Learn

april 25-26, 2025

Bringing together founders, investors, and ecosystem builders to foster community around profitable entrepreneurship

opening reception

Friday April 25th, 2025

5:30pm - 7:30pm

Opening Reception Registration

Note: Registering for the Opening Reception does NOT register you for the full Summit. Please sign up for both!

2025 YALE BLACK VENTURE SUMMIT

AGENDA:

registration & breakfast

8:30am - 9:00am

OPENING KEYNOTE

9:15am - 10:00am

STAY TUNED

Workshop: Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset 10:05am - 11:05am

Harold Hughes

Harold is the Founder and CEO of NFNTE Capital, an entrepreneur services company designed to help entrepreneurs unlock the value of social capital through personal networks. With nearly two decades of experience in business development, partnerships, and operations, he’s a serial entrepreneur who has started businesses and secured key partnerships.
Harold co-founded the first token-gated community for Black founders, funders, creators, and community leaders, and later co-founded Catalyst Labs, developing a flagship curriculum based on his entrepreneurial experience. Before launching NFNTE Capital, he raised over $5M for his venture-backed startup, supporting major brands like Pepsi and LIFEWTR, as well as athletes in the NFL, MLS, and NCAA.
An educator, Harold authored A Kids Book About Blockchain to ensure the next generation understands this revolutionary technology. He also shares his journey as a dad, foodie, and his experiences with mental and physical health to inspire others.
Harold believes that NFNTE Capital is the culmination of all the "dots" he’s been connecting since 2004, and is excited to bring his newest vision to life.

Workshop: Effective Business Experiments for Useful Insights 10:05am - 11:05am

ANNOUNCED SHORTLY!

Panel: Resources to Develop Black Wealth in NHV

11:10am - 12:10pm

Arthur W. Thomas III, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven

Arthur W. Thomas III, MDIV, EDP is the Director of Mission Investing and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, where he leads cross-sector collaboratives that create strategies for increasing equity and empowerment. He is a graduate of Yale Divinity School, where he enhanced his ability to evaluate ethical outcomes of community empowerment programs and build strategic partnerships to reduce socio-economic inequities.
Prior to this, Mr. Thomas had a career in finance and residential real estate development. He also serves on the board of Community Health Network, an organization that uses Emotional Emancipation Circles to address trauma in minority communities. Passionate about faith’s role in justice work, he co-chairs the Faith in Action outreach ministries at Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church and is in the ordination process with the American Baptist Convention.
A healer at heart, Mr. Thomas is dedicated to using innovation, real estate, and entrepreneurship to disrupt the cycle of poverty in under-resourced neighborhoods.
ANNOUNCED SHORTLY!

lunch AND NETWORKING

12:15pm - 1:15pm

Panel: Founding and Building Sustainable Businesses

1:25pm - 2:25pm

Christopher gray, co-founder and ceo of path

Christopher Gray is the CEO and co-founder of Path, an AI-powered platform that helps students and professionals prepare for exams in IT, cybersecurity, healthcare, and college admissions. Path offers practice questions, full-length exams, and personalized study plans to make high-quality test prep accessible and affordable.
Prior to founding Path, Christopher co-founded Scholly, an app designed to help students find scholarships and pay off student debt. Scholly gained national attention on Shark Tank, securing a deal with Daymond John and Lori Greiner. With over 5 million users, Scholly has helped students secure more than $100 million in scholarships and was later acquired by Sallie Mae to expand its mission.
Christopher also serves on the Board of Directors for Camelback Ventures, an organization dedicated to supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs in education and social impact.
DéVon Johnson, BLEULIFE MEDIA group and BOMESI

DéVon Christopher Johnson is the founder and CEO of BleuLife Media Group, a multimedia company with platforms like BleuMagazine.com, Bombshellbybleu.com, the Average Black Guy podcast, and ShopBleuLife.com.
DéVon began his career at Def Jam Records, collaborating with artists like Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, and Rihanna, before moving on to Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. After transitioning to publishing, he built Bleu Magazine into a global media empire focused on inclusivity and diversity. He advocates for the importance of print media in communities of color and works to close the digital divide for the BIPOC population.
A native of Queens, New York, DéVon now resides in Harlem. In 2020, he co-founded the Black Owned Media Equity & Sustainability Institute (BOMESI) to support diverse media founders in securing equitable opportunities.
STAY TUNED!

STAY TUNED!