University of Delaware graduate student Garry Johnson placed first at the Startup Tech Conference and Pitch Competition at Prairie View A&M University on Feb. 22, 2018. The competition was hosted by A&M student group HBCU.vc, a not-for-profit organization that connects and equips the next generation of black and brown tech innovators and investors. The prize is an opportunity to interview for the DivInc Accelerator Program.

At the competition, Johnson introduced TalentPool, his newest iteration of a previous startup ColorCoded.  Previously, Johnson focused his efforts into helping and teaching those young men and women of color who want to learn how to code or join the tech industry in general. TalentPool, however, broadens this scope. Now Johnson seeks to bring a greater scale of diversity to both the tech and entrepreneurial world.

Getting there isn’t such an easy journey, but Johnson said he was prepared from the very beginning.

“I was definitely prepared for success through several opportunities like VentureOn, Startup eXperience, NSF I-Corps Sites program, student-led pitch parties,” Johnson said. “I was ready to show out. Horn is my competitive advantage for sure.”

With the development of TalentPool, he hopes to establish an educational platform that empowers entrepreneurs, engineers, designers, venture capitalists and more to get out into the world to start changing it.

Johnson will continue to build the concept and has returned to the customer discovery phase because of his growing customer base. Graduating in May with a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship & Design, he will dedicate the entire summer to building out TalentPool.

“Before the summer is over, this platform will be ready,” Johnson said. “I believe people want it and need it. The entrepreneurial ecosystem needs it, too, an equal playing field for all people to succeed.”

Johnson is a social entrepreneur and community leader with a passion for utilizing design thinking to build a better world. He currently serves as a course instructor for Horn’s Ideas to Action curriculum where he empowers the next generation of high school entrepreneurs.

About Horn Entrepreneurship

Horn Entrepreneurship serves as the University of Delaware’s creative engine for entrepreneurship education and advancement. Built and actively supported by successful entrepreneurs and thought leaders, Horn Entrepreneurship empowers aspiring innovators and entrepreneurs as they pursue new ideas for a better world.