Truths
Setser Group has been supporting the design of the WSSU Innovations Festival, taking place April 4-8. We’d love to see you attend in person or virtually as the festival is brought to you by WSSU’s Brilliance Lab, an entrepreneurial lab that supports minority entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and training.

At this multi-day event, you will meet a mix of education and business leaders, students, entrepreneurs, WSSU faculty, alumni, funders, investors, and creatives, all working toward creating the next generation of game-changing innovators.

The foundation for the lab and festival was built during the pandemic, when we saw the gap widen in society, leaving minority groups further behind in terms of health and wealth. These conditions fueled courageous conversations regarding the future of learning and work and how this effort might coalesce around our collective passions to grow wealth and health on equitable terms for all. Thus, the Brilliance Lab seeks to establish a viable and sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem to close the black and brown wealth gap in the United States. 
Tools
The WSSU Innovations festival provides opportunities to learn and connect.

Check out these events:

Celebration on the Breezeway (April 4, 1 - 2 p.m.)
Network with local entrepreneurs and inspiring creatives as you enjoy live music and delicious food. This is an open event. Register here.

Networking Hour + Mocktail Mixer (April 5, 4 - 5 p.m.)
Invited students will meet with the Chancellor, special guests, local entrepreneurs, and inspiring creatives. This is a special, invitation-only event. Setser Group loves the idea of this space where WSSU students and leading mentors can spark fresh ideas and innovation!

The Ability of a Woman Entrepreneur Conference (April 8, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
The inaugural conference will address barriers that hinder women, specifically lower-income minority women pursuing entrepreneurship. Register here.

Brilliance Network: Our digital community to enhance our collective genius.
The Brilliance Network will be an online mobile and web experience.
We'll be sharing more about the prototype at the festival, stay tuned for more opportunities to join the community in 2022.
Triumphs
WSSU’s entrepreneurial prowess will be on full display at the conference. Take in any (or all) of these four events to experience the future of work.  
Brilliance Lab Rising Launch
April 4, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
This event is facilitated by Agile City and will include an innovation panel. The panel of Black entrepreneurial leaders will discuss the pillars of the Brilliance Labs program and fund. Participants include members of Battery Xchange, The Historic Magnolia House, and Freeman Capital. Register for this event with your Festival Registration. Be sure to select “Brilliance Lab Rising Launch” when you submit your registration. 
Departmental Showcases
April 5, 9:00 -10:45 a.m.
Scholarship Day is the biggest academic event of the year highlighting the research, scholarship, and creative activities of our students and faculty. Scholarship Day is inclusive of all areas: sciences, humanities, business, music, arts, and more. This is an open event.
Student Poster Sessions
April 5, 11:00 a.m. - Noon & 1- 2:00 p.m.
Visit the poster sessions to learn more about student research designed to create new knowledge, solve real-world problems, and develop protocols that can impact our world. This is an open event.
RamPitch Competition
April 5, 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Watch entrepreneurs from WSSU connect with mentors, coaches, and judges to further develop ventures and business plans. Four competitors will present, highlighting the most critical aspects of their project to a group of judges. Each competitor will receive a cash prize ranging from $1,500 to $3,000. 

Register to watch this competition with your Festival Registration. Be sure to select “RamPitch Competition” when you submit your registration. 
Register for the festival and help make WSSU and the city of Winston-Salem a national hub for entrepreneurial growth. We hope to see you there!
Want to share Setser Group on social media?

Join Setser Group and Brilliance Lab on April 4-8, 2022, at the WSSU Innovations Festival. The event will bring together entrepreneurs, innovators, and creatives to create the next generation of game-changers. Learn more at https://www.setsergroup.com/connect.

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