Founder and CEO Britney Robbins witnessed entrepreneurship and innovation firsthand as her parents worked hard to build businesses and generate wealth. But because of gaps in access to funding, mentorship, and insider networks, entrepreneurship for many in her community wasn’t a fast track to success. It was survival.

 

She deepened her understanding of these systemic gaps while working at venture capital firms and nonprofits in Chicago. The cornerstones of what it means to be authentically Black – creativity, innovation, and culture – were powerful business drivers. Yet few tables were set for leaders who looked like her.

 

So, she built a new one.

 

The Gray Matter Experience was created to close the support and access gap; and, to amplify the intelligence, originality, and leadership already alive in overlooked communities. Inspired by the brain’s gray matter – where thinking, memory, and innovation live – the name reflects the brilliance often ignored, and the belief that young people already have what they need inside them to lead.

 

Since 2016, Gray Matter has helped more than 2,000 students step into their potential – launching ventures, discovering purpose, and shifting what’s possible in their communities. 

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And we’re just getting started. We’re creating a future where entrepreneurship is more than a career path; it’s a catalyst for generational change.