2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization & Growth

What 2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization & Growth does

2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization & Growth (2150 CICG) is a non-profit national HBCU innovation ecosystem founded in June 2024 at Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama, and led by Erskine "Chuck" Faush as Founder in Residence and CEO. The organization convenes three constituencies — founders, builders (universities, corporations, institutions), and funders (investors and foundations) — into a transatlantic network spanning 21 nodes across U.S. HBCU campuses and London, anchored by seven sector-focused iLABs covering Decision Intelligence, Retail, Finance, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Energy, and Public Policy. Programs are structured around two cohort tracks — Foundations for pre-seed/idea-stage founders and Advanced for seed-to-Series-A founders — supported by mentor pods, demo days, and direct capital pathways.

The core technology layer is an AI-driven iLAB model, where sector labs are powered by AI Centers of Excellence and host applied AI research and knowledge production. Notable portfolio-company technology includes Latimer.ai, a culturally-aware generative AI large language model trained on curated corpora of Black history, literature, and lived experience, and Cache AI, a structured-data NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) valuation engine covering 66,000+ athlete profiles across 20+ university pilots. The portfolio spans 10 featured founders across generative AI, NIL analytics, digital policy (AXM), learning platforms (GlobeKin, Internably), consumer health (Toothpik, Thuja, Kushae), and career navigation (NextStep), with NDA Haus providing creative services.

2150 CICG operates as a foundation- and sponsorship-funded convener rather than a product company. Revenue mechanics flow through university partnerships (Miles College, Florida A&M, Johnson C. Smith, Jackson State), corporate sponsorships anchoring each iLAB (Alabama Power for Energy, Macquarie Group for Infrastructure, Mercedes-Benz for Manufacturing, Mindset for Public Policy), foundation grants, and capital-partner relationships including Reign Ventures, Innovate Alabama Capital Access Fund, and Ecosystem Capital's HBCU Innovation Investment Funds. Go-to-market is community-led: cohort applications, university-anchored regional hubs, corporate-sponsored iLABs, and earned-media coverage through outlets such as AL.com, PR Newswire, Birmingham Times, ABC 33/40, and the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. Customers are segmented across HBCU founders and student builders (primary), corporations and industry partners (iLAB sponsors), funders and investors (capital deployment), and universities and institutions (regional hubs and fellowships).

Name

2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization & Growth

Legal name

2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization & Growth

Website

https://2150innovate.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization & Growth is a non-profit national HBCU innovation ecosystem founded in 2024 at Miles College, operating seven sector-focused AI-driven iLABs, founder cohort programs, and a 21-node transatlantic network linking HBCU founders with corporate sponsors, universities, and capital partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Ecosystem Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

HBCU Systems & Multi-Campus Institutions (EDAHAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI), STEM & Polytechnic-Focused HBCUs (EDAHAMAH), Technical Universities with Strong Industry Partnerships (EDAHAEAG)

Keywords

• HBCU innovation ecosystem
• Startup cohort programs
• Sector innovation labs
• Founder mentorship network
• Venture capital pipeline

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Non-profit / Foundation Funded: As a non-profit innovation ecosystem, 2150 CICG is funded through university partnerships, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and capital partner relationships rather than product revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

2150 CICG runs a national HBCU innovation ecosystem that operates seven sector-focused innovation labs (iLABs) — Decision Intelligence, Retail, Finance, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Energy, and Public Policy — and delivers structured founder cohort programs (Foundations for pre-seed/idea stage and Advanced for seed to Series A). It connects overlooked HBCU founders with mentors, builders (universities, corporations, governments), and funders (venture firms, foundations, capital partners) through a 21-node transatlantic network spanning U.S. HBCU campuses to London.

Product overview

2150 CICG operates as a multi-product innovation ecosystem platform comprising: (1) Seven sector-focused iLABs covering Decision Intelligence, Retail, Finance, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Energy, and Public Policy; (2) A Founders Network supporting 10 portfolio companies including Latimer.ai (culturally-aware LLM), Cache AI (NIL valuation), AXM (digital policy), GlobeKin, Internably, Toothpik, Thuja, Kushae, NextStep, and NDA Haus; (3) Two Cohort Programs (Foundations for pre-seed/idea stage, Advanced for scaling/revenue stage); (4) A Transatlantic Network connecting U.S. HBCUs with London partners; and (5) a Capital Pipeline connecting funders with emerging founders. The ecosystem converges founders, builders, and funders to turn overlooked talent into companies, capital, and lasting opportunity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iLABs: Sector-focused innovation labs including Decision Intelligence, Retail, Finance, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Energy, and Public Policy iLABs

Products and services

• iLABs (Sector-Focused Innovation Labs) Sector-focused innovation labs that serve as a research and knowledge hub connecting founders, institutions, industry leaders, and funders around seven high-growth fields: Decision Intelligence, Retail, Finance, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Energy, and Public Policy. Powered by AI Centers of Excellence with students, researchers, and subject-matter experts.
• Foundations Cohort Program A 4-week structured cohort program for pre-seed/idea to MVP stage HBCU founders and student-builders, delivering curriculum, mentor pods, demo days, and access to iLABs and capital networks.
• Advanced Cohort Program A 4-week structured cohort program for seed to Series A revenue-generating founders seeking institutional capital and distribution, with access to iLABs, mentorship pods, demo days, and the broader 2150 network.
• Founders Network A national HBCU innovation ecosystem network that supports founders with mentorship, market access, strategic partnerships, and capital pathways. Currently supports 10 featured founders across AI, healthcare, education, media, and consumer products.
• Transatlantic Network An international innovation network spanning HBCU campuses across the United States to partners in London, UK, connecting American talent with European capital and markets through the London School of Economics partnership and Energy iLab collaboration.
• Capital Pipeline A funding access service connecting funders (Reign Ventures, Innovate Alabama Capital Access Fund, HBCU Innovation Investment Funds) with emerging founders, scalable ventures, and innovation ecosystems positioned for long-term growth.

Quantifiable outcome

• Seven-figure revenue with profitable growth for Latimer.ai portfolio company
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• London School of EconomicsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Transatlantic partnership extending the 2150 network from Alabama to the UK. Pairs Birmingham entrepreneurs with LSE for European capital and market access. Expands through Energy iLab collaboration and ongoing academic partnerships.
• Florida A&M UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Deepened iLAB partnership to accelerate AI-driven research, entrepreneurship, and student startups across the HBCU network. Florida A&M is a key academic partner in the 2150 ecosystem.
• Miles CollegeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2024Founding partner and host institution for 2150 CICG. Miles College President Bobbie Knight unveiled the center to supercharge the HBCU and HBCC innovation ecosystem. The college provides physical headquarters and institutional anchor for the national network.
• Alabama PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the 2150 Energy iLab at Birmingham headquarters. Energy iLab brings together HBCU students, faculty, and administrators to explore innovation in the energy sector, emerging career paths, and entrepreneurial support.
• Macquarie GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPowers the Macquarie Group iLAB and supports the Infrastructure iLAB focused on smart cities, transportation, and community-development partnerships with municipal governments.
• GrammarlycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership with Latimer.ai portfolio company. Latimer is embedded in tools students already use through Grammarly and growing coalition of universities and community colleges.
• Johnson C. Smith UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in the Public Policy iLAB, convened at the National Press Club to frame policy innovation alongside Miles College, Florida A&M, and Jackson State.
• Jackson State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in the Public Policy iLAB, convened at the National Press Club to frame policy innovation alongside Miles College, Florida A&M, and Johnson C. Smith.
• Mercedes-BenzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnchors the Manufacturing iLAB, which focuses on precision farming, crop optimization, and food-security work in collaboration with local farms.
• MindsetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPowers the Public Policy iLAB alongside Miles College, Florida A&M, Johnson C. Smith, and Jackson State at the National Press Club.
• World's Most Valuable Publicly Traded CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst-of-its-kind AI partnership announced in October 2025, positioning HBCUs at the center of the next wave of tech, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Backstage Capital: Backstage Capital invests in underrepresented founders and runs accelerator programs. Comparable focus on diverse founder pipelines and capital pathways, though more capital-deployment focused vs. 2150's broader ecosystem-convener model.
• gener8tor: gener8tor runs accelerator programs including HBCU-focused cohorts and a turnkey platform for universities and corporations to launch accelerators. Directly comparable to 2150 CICG's cohort model (Foundations/Advanced) and university-corporate partnership structure.
• Digital Undivided: Digital Undivided operates startup ecosystems and accelerators for Black and Brown founders, including cohort programs and corporate partnerships. Comparable founder-targeting and cohort-based program design to 2150 CICG's Foundations and Advanced tracks.
• Halogen Ventures: Halogen Ventures is an early-stage venture fund focused on Black and Brown founders. Comparable in targeting underrepresented founders and operating portfolio-support programs, though a fund rather than an innovation ecosystem.
• Camelback Ventures: Camelback Ventures is an accelerator and venture fund specifically for Black and Latino founders. Highly comparable in mission focus on underrepresented founders and in providing mentorship, capital pathways, and cohort-based programming similar to 2150's model.

Broad incumbents

• MassChallenge: MassChallenge is a global startup accelerator working with corporate partners and diverse founders. Comparable as a large-scale accelerator with corporate sponsorship model and cohort-based programming, though broader in scope and geography.
• United Negro College Fund (UNCF): UNCF is the largest HBCU-supporting organization with innovation and entrepreneurship programs across member institutions. Comparable as an institutional HBCU ecosystem convener, though broader in scope (scholarships, capacity building) while 2150 focuses specifically on innovation/commercialization.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Plug and Play operates a global accelerator and corporate innovation platform with sector-specific programs and corporate partnerships. Comparable as a multi-sector (Health, FinTech, Retail, etc.) innovation hub model, though far larger and not HBCU-focused.

Emerging players

• Black Innovation Alliance: Black Innovation Alliance is a coalition of Black-led innovation hubs and accelerators. Comparable in mission to build Black founder ecosystems, though it operates as a coalition rather than running its own cohort programs like 2150 CICG.

Regional players

• Rev1 Ventures: Rev1 Ventures is a Columbus, Ohio-based startup accelerator and innovation hub with corporate partnerships and university connections. Comparable as a regional innovation hub with connector model, though not HBCU-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization & Growth