12 undergraduate students from across the university were selected to represent Howard University in the annual StartUp Scramble™ DC University Challenge beginning Friday, January 29, 2010, and concluding Sunday, January 31, 2010. With teams pitching their ventures to a panel of expert judges, the mission of the challenge is to develop and launch sustainable ventures that address social issues affecting local communities.

Winning teams will receive mentorship, up to $1,000 in seed funding, entry into a global network of Ashoka “changemakers,” and the possibility of one year of incubation services from Ashoka and its partners. The Howard University Entrepreneurship Institute will continue to work with the winning young social entrepreneurs intensively in the coming year to support their ventures, connecting the venture teams to StartUp Scramble™ sponsors for additional mentoring and engagement. This year’s team is jointly sponsored by the Howard University Entrepreneurship Institute and the Howard University School of Business; the team consists of:

• Jeremy Odoffin
• Patrick  Oseni
• Kyle Douglas 
• Amal Bennett-Judge
• Tianna Robbins
• Lawrence Ball
• Gabrielle Sims
• Shenise McKnight
• Emmalesha Christman
• Damon Lawrence
• Ashley White
• Tanzania Bridgett

Learn more information about the annual challenge on the ELI Institute website: http://www.theeliinstitute.org/business-plan-a-case-competitions/startup-scramble