When you grow up in Prince George’s County, you’re surrounded by Black excellence in motion, from the classroom to the boardroom. For founder Kiante Bush, that environment was more than inspiration—it was prophecy.
“I was always empowered by the principle of ‘Black ownership,’ so I knew that I too, would one day become an entrepreneur,” Bush told MVEMNT.
Today, the Morgan State alum and founder of Venture for T.H.E.M. is doing just that, investing in the next generation of HBCU entrepreneurs and rewriting the rules of who gets funded and how. Launched officially in 2022, Venture for T.H.E.M., which stands for Tech High-Performers & Entrepreneurial Minorities, isn’t just another business accelerator. It’s a disruptor in the venture firm industry.
“We are one of the only startup launchpads created for HBCU entrepreneurs by HBCU entrepreneurs,” Bush says proudly. Their programming is dynamic, relevant, and deeply intentional—from on-campus pitch competitions and curated dinners to their mobile app Fund.FWD, which hosts over 100 funding opportunities and an AI assistant to guide budding founders.
Bush says it all started with recognizing the obstacles in funding access for Black entrepreneurs.
“Over my journey, I began to see the disparity in access to capital for Black and Brown founders. My vision gradually shifted from not only uplifting the mission of Blak founders but also Black funders – with the goal of becoming an angel investor to distribute capital into my community,” he explained.
Still, the road to building a venture firm for the culture hasn’t been without its hurdles.
“I’ve faced various challenges as a Black entrepreneur—from raising capital to the ‘cultural tax’ of being the first or only in a room,” he explains. Still, Bush holds fast to the wisdom of trailblazer Arlan Hamilton: “Be yourself so the people looking for you can find you.” And they are finding him.
In fact, Pharrell Williams and the Black Ambition team saw the vision early, awarding Bush a game-changing investment after a standout pitch in Summer 2022. “This interview is a full circle moment…the support that we received from the audience and judges during that pitch lit a fire in me.”
Support like that helped Venture for T.H.E.M. scale up, not slow down. With activations across the country and a star-powered advisory network, Bush and his executive team—Jewel, Clay, and Jeff—have no plans of hitting pause.
“In the next 3-5 years, I’m confident that our team will celebrate our goal of investing in over 100 entrepreneurs,” he says. “We’ll have launched various products beyond Fund.FWD—some of which will be acquired—and we’ll use that capital to continue our programming for founders.”
For Bush, the mission is deeply personal. “I have a beautiful 1-year-old daughter, and if she decides to attend an HBCU when the time comes, I want her to have an abundance of resources at her disposal to be innovative. I don’t want us to trauma bond over the same issues decades later—I want her to thrive. I want us to thrive.”
Bush’s story is one of resilience and perseverance. From hitting up every pitch competition for support, to rooting with other organizations like TMCF Hennessy Fellows program, Base 11, Black Ambition, and his alma mater, Morgan State, to receive the necessary knowledge, network, and capital to launch his organization. Bush credits every organization, along with the support of his wife and family with helping him bring his dream to fruition. Now, Venture for T.H.E.M. is leading the charge in helping fuel HBCU innovation, one step at a time.
To learn more about Bush and connect with the Venture for T.H.E.M. team in person, you can check them out at their HBCU Brunch during AfroTech this October or at their HBCUniverse Summit at Morgan State University next year in February 2026. Until then, follow the company on socials at @venture4them, tap in at venture4them.com, or connect with Kiante personally on LinkedIn to support.
“The highest human act is to inspire,” Bush says, quoting Nipsey Hussle. And through every pitch, product, and platform, that’s exactly what he’s doing.
MVEMNT is proud to highlight leaders like Kiante — creatives who not only dream big but build boldly, always bringing their people along for the ride.
Cover photo: P.G. County Native Kiante Bush Is Fueling HBCU Innovation With Venture for T.H.E.M./Photo credit: Kiante Bush/Venture for T.H.E.M.