Suffolk SEED

The Need for SEED

At a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce CEO roundtable in November 2023, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey shared a sobering statistic: While Black and Latino individuals make up over 25% of the Massachusetts population, they own just over 13% of businesses, according to a 2023 U.S. Census survey.

Suffolk University President Marisa Kelly, a Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee Board member, took to heart Governor Healey’s call to address this disparity. She assembled a cross-functional leadership team to create the Suffolk Entrepreneurship and Educational Development (SEED) Collaborative. This initiative, driven by Suffolk’s talented students, leverages the expertise of faculty mentors, alumni professionals, and top business practitioners to provide a first-of-its kind, multidisciplinary business support clinic at the University.

Launching in spring 2025, SEED aims to bolster small business owners from marginalized communities that have historically faced systemic barriers to funding and growth. SEED will provide technical and consulting support to empower these entrepreneurs across Greater Boston and Massachusetts.

How SEED Works

SEED combines the interdisciplinary expertise of the SEED leadership team alongside Suffolk faculty, alumni, and students to offer comprehensive services across six key areas: resource acquisition, marketing, accounting, HR, IT, and legal.

Guided by seasoned professionals, student teams deliver tailored solutions to uplift clients. Throughout the process, students gain an immersive, real-world learning experience while directly supporting emerging entrepreneurs.

SEED Scholars

SEED’s clinical directors select a cohort of students to act as consultants, creating an immersive, dynamic experience. Under the supervision of industry professionals, students develop real-world business skills while directly supporting emerging entrepreneurs.

Through SEED, students will:

• Master complex problem-solving. Students tackle business challenges through hands-on instruction in cutting-edge methods to address issues and formulate actionable solutions.
• Explore immersive learning. SEED promotes non-siloed, contextual learning by allowing students to develop cross-functional plans for real clients facing real challenges in real time.
• Make a positive impact. SEED provides students the opportunity to exemplify how education, inclusion, and engagement can positively impact communities. In doing so, SEED helps mold the next generation of empathetic business leaders who understand the importance of doing good with their work.

Cultivating Success

Since 2021, Suffolk University has successfully partnered with a diverse range of for-profit and nonprofit organizations across technology, healthcare, media, and service industries through the Suffolk Consulting Clinic. Staffed with the University’s top MBA and Honors students and directed by leading business executives, the Clinic has delivered tangible results that have helped these businesses thrive.

Through SEED, Suffolk is expanding our capacity to ensure continued support for underserved businesses. This evolution will further our mission of helping students and clients rise together.

Planting SEED with Strong Partners

SEED is partnering with organizations and institutions including Jaylen Brown’s Boston Xchange, the Jrue & Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund, the City of Boston, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Harvard University, MIT, Roxbury Community College, Motta Financial, Foley & Lardner LLP and Lando & Anastasi, LLP. These partnerships help expand SEED’s reach and resources for elevating underserved small businesses.