Morehouse College and Georgia Institute of Technology recently co-hosted the Platform Summit, a two-and-a-half day event that explores how to diversify the innovation economy and connect underrepresented entrepreneurs and futurists. 

“The current ecosystem seems to be based largely on meritocracy. But, the fact is that people from underrepresented backgrounds almost never have access to the networks, resources, and support necessary to create homerun success,” said Hank Williams, founder and CEO of Platform. “That’s why creation of indispensable social capital for and within our community has always been core to our mission at Platform and why we created the Platform Summit three years ago.”

During the Platform Summit, five innovation topics were presented, and each topic featured four to six distinguished speakers, including Ayanna Howard, professor in Georgia Tech’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The topics included:

• Go Ahead, Fix Education…I Dare You
• Living Happy, Healthy, and Maybe Forever
• The Problem with the Economy Is It Doesn’t Need You Anymore
• The New Capital Is Social
• WOW! What’s Next…Now!

On the first day of the Platform Summit, Georgia Tech hosted a reception for more than 400 attendees in the Student Center Ballroom, where several Georgia Tech students showcased their inventions that were InVenture Prize finalists or winners. These inventions included Better Walk, Haplit, Shortweb, and WISH for Wash.

“It was an honor to co-host this year’s Platform Summit with Morehouse College and host the Platform Summit Reception. Our partnership with Morehouse College has spanned decades, and we all share a passion for technology and ‘what is next,’” said Georgia Tech’s Institute Diversity Vice President Archie Ervin.

Since 1969, Morehouse College students have had the option to study engineering through a cooperative agreement with Georgia Tech. This partnership has helped Georgia Tech become the No. 1 school for awarding bachelor’s degrees in engineering to all minority students and doctoral degrees in engineering to African-American students.

For more information on the Platform Summit, visit www.platform.org.