“We end up working in our businesses, as opposed to running the business. Technology provides us with a capacity to not only actualize our ideas and make them accessible to more people but it gives us the capacity to automate and save some of our time and labor so that we can get more output with less work,” says Amanda Spann, founder of the App Accelerator.
For Black entrepreneurs, this approach is critical. Many spend their time trapped in the daily grind of service-based work, unable to scale their businesses because they don’t have the resources or knowledge to automate key processes. Spann’s experience transitioning from entertainment publicity to tech entrepreneurship inspired her to address these setbacks in her App Accelerator program. It was designed specifically for non-technical founders, those without coding or software backgrounds, to help turn ideas into scalable products.
Non-technical founders face an uphill battle in the tech world. Without software expertise, many often struggle to manage developers, wasting time and money along the way. Research shows that new tech founders can lose up to $50,000 during the app development process simply because they don’t know how to navigate a digital landscape. For Black entrepreneurs who already face obstacles in accessing funding and mentorship, the stakes are even higher.
Spann’s mission is to change that. Clark Atlanta University, an HBCU with a rich history of nurturing Black excellence, plays a vital role in Spanns’ mission, along with the support of PNC Bank. Her App Accelerator provides Black entrepreneurs with resources to find success in the tech industry. She’s helped clients from diverse sectors and internationally, partnering with entities like the United States Virgin Islands Department of Economic Development.
With Clark Atlanta University on board, there can be more of a push for digital equity in education. Spann believes that HBCUs have a unique role to play in preparing entrepreneurs for the future of tech, also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Through CAU’s Southeast Regional Center for Entrepreneurship and with the support of PNC Bank, The App Accelerator offers a 15-week, low-cost program called “Idea to App” that helps non-technical founders bring their app ideas to life. The program focuses on everything from validating ideas to mastering the basics of app design and learning how to collaborate effectively with developers.
As Dr. Silvanus J. Udoka, Dean of CAU’s School of Business, says, “This partnership aims to bridge the technological divide by making innovative business practices accessible through workshops and seminars, ultimately increasing the success of Black-owned businesses.”
But Spann’s vision extends even further. She sees tech education as a way for HBCUs like Clark Atlanta to generate new streams of revenue. “Our HBCUs are so dependent on federal funding and grants,” Spann explains. “What if they could create their own innovation funds, invest in the ideas of their students and alumni, and generate revenue for the future of the university?” This idea represents a shift in how these institutions can leverage tech talent, not only to benefit communities but to ensure their own financial sustainability.
The App Accelerator program is a blueprint for institutions that can benefit from how Black entrepreneurs incorporate technology into daily life.
Why is this so critical for Black communities? It provides the opportunity to create jobs and contribute to the future of technology in ways that reflect black communities’ unique needs and perspectives. Through beneficial partnerships, Amanda Spann is helping business owners not just work in their businesses but also run them and even schedule some time to rest.
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