Black entrepreneurs are often faced with challenges in attracting investors that their white counterparts don't encounter. One of these is finding investors that look like them. 

Hadiyah Mujhid, co-founder of HBCU.vc, cited this very struggle in a recent Medium post in which she laid out exactly why she was driven to found the platform, noting that only one percent of investors at venture capital firms are black. 

With HBCU.vc, Mujhid hopes to change that.

According to HBCU.vc's website, the organization's "mission is to increase the number of black entrepreneurs starting tech companies. We do this by helping these entrepreneurs gain access to investment dollars and mentors." 

The seed for what has become HBCU.vc was planted when Mujhid was introduced to an investor from a well-known venture capital firm. Mujhid was on the hunt for sponsors for a black founder event she had in the works, and the firm was looking to attract more black-founded tech companies to invest in. Perfect match, right? 

Well, let's just say that the general frustration that black entrepreneurs experience is very, very valid. 

Mujhid left the meeting without gaining a sponsor, but with the realization that although investment firms such as the one she met with cite "diversity" as a priority, they fail to realize that their decision-making rooms aren't diverse enough to incite real change. 

Perhaps this is why only about one percent of venture backed companies have founders that identify as black, according to data provided by Mujhid. 

So, how exactly does HBCU.vc plan to make an dent in that number? By starting from the ground up:

"We're looking for students, both grad and undergrad, who are passionate about entrepreneurship, startups and technology to join our mission. Our student investor program is a unique opportunity for students at historically black colleges to learn about startup investing and to build a startup community on their campus."

Mujhid notes, "HBCU.vc is about inviting another perspective to the decision room. We’re working to create more capital for black tech entrepreneurs. We do this by training new investors and partnering with them to fund companies. For us, it’s our way to a broader representation in tech that will ultimately create more jobs, better products and better businesses for us."

This is a dope venture! Be sure to check HBCU.vc out and show your support!