Sage, the leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology for small and medium-sized businesses, has contributed $100,000 to Morehouse College, the nation’s only historically Black liberal arts institution dedicated to educating and developing men. The funds will support the launch of a new entrepreneurship course, which will train enterprising students how to succeed as business owners with a focus in technology.
The goal of the initiative is to help increase the number of Black-owned businesses in the tech ecosystem.
The innovative, 15-week “Micropreneurship” course, co-designed by Sage and Morehouse, will immerse students, known as "Sage Fellows,” in many facets of entrepreneurship—from the idea stage and market research to financial planning and legal considerations. Fellows will receive customized Sage software training and exclusive access to long-term mentoring opportunities with trailblazing Morehouse alumni working as tech executives, as well as Sage’s extensive network of successful business leaders and entrepreneurs. The course will be available in the Fall 2024 Semester as the latest offering of the Morehouse Center for Broadening Participation in Computing.
The Sage-Morehouse partnership expansion comes at a critical time when only 8% of workers and just 3% of executives in the U.S. tech industry are Black, according to a 2023 study by the Computing Technology Industry Association. Sage and Morehouse are committed to working together to address this disparity by developing and promoting a diverse talent pool for the tech industry.
“Morehouse College has an unwavering commitment to developing transformative leaders who thrive as innovators, agitators, and entrepreneurs in existing and emerging fields,” said Hodan Hassan, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Morehouse. “Our ongoing relationship with Sage is an example of the kind of partnership of purpose that Morehouse establishes with bold industry leaders who are willing to collaborate with our esteemed faculty, invest in our students, and equip our classrooms with the tools and networks necessary to elevate our academic programs and help rising Morehouse Men excel in a dynamic business environment.”
The Micropreneurship course is a significant expansion of Sage’s and Morehouse’s ongoing collaboration to introduce students of color to lucrative careers in technology. Beyond awarding academic credits and providing mentors, the Micropreneurship experience will also offer networking and career opportunities for students. The initiative supports Sage’s commitment to promoting economic development and nurturing a diverse talent pipeline through continued investment in Atlanta, the company’s North American headquarters.
“Our goal is to not just educate, but to empower the next generation of business leaders and founders,” explained Mark Hickman, Managing Director of Sage in North America. “By fostering entrepreneurial talent and breaking down barriers, we stimulate economic growth and prepare emerging entrepreneurs who are poised to make meaningful impacts on our economy and society.
“This important partnership with Morehouse reinforces our continued commitment to support the broader Atlanta communities in which we live and work.”
In addition to the $100,000 gift to establish the Micropreneurship course, Sage has also set up a Student Assistance Fund, which will provide financial support for Morehouse students in need of resources to ease the burden of the rising cost of higher education.
Sage’s $100,000 gift to Morehouse is its second contribution in two years to teaching and learning at the Center for Broadening Participation in Computing. Sage made an $80,000 investment in Morehouse last year during the Center’s launch to help expand Morehouse’s software engineering program and provide students with more opportunities to use and study emerging technologies.
“The initial support from Sage had made Morehouse a leading HBCU—if not the leading HBCU—in the space of Generative AI,” said Kinnis Gosha, the Hortenius I. Chenault Endowed Professor of Computer Science at Morehouse, who directs the Center for Broadening Participation in Computing. “The course is a game-changer for Morehouse. Not only are students exposed to the skills learned from the course, but we have a faculty that has been trained to teach the course. We anticipate the same type of impact in the space of entrepreneurship.”
Working alongside Morehouse’s academic staff, Sage and Morehouse developed and delivered Morehouse’s first Generative AI course during the 2024 Spring Semester. It is being supported by executive and technical lectures from Sage, in-person events, and student competitions. An expanded version of the course will be offered in the Fall 2024 Semester in addition to the new Micropreneurship curriculum.
“Morehouse students have been immersed in the bespoke Sage GenAI program in its inaugural year,” said Aaron Harris, chief technology officer at Sage. “Sage is one of very few companies that has dedicated expert resources working alongside students, intentionally designed to positively impact their preparedness for technology of the future. We’re investing in these students and the quality of their education. Through the curriculum we’re building, Morehouse students are learning skills to prepare them to be the next generation of leaders in AI-related careers.”
To learn more about the expanded partnership and course offerings, please visit the Morehouse Center for Broadening Participation in Computing or contact Sage’s website.
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Partnerships of Purpose