HJ Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Launching in 2019, honoring the great legacy and visionary business leadership of Herman J. Russell, Sr., The Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (“RCIE”), will be the largest center in the Americas driven by community impact and devoted to empowering African American entrepreneurs and small business owners. 

The only initiative of its kind in the region, RCIE will be part incubator, part accelerator, part innovation lab and even part museum, changing the narrative by telling the untold stories of African American entrepreneurs and business leaders of past and present, while offering access to place and space, resources, mentorship, and educational opportunities. It will be Atlanta’s nexus between community, institutions, and enterprise, RCIE ultimately will build a talented and prepared pipeline of entrepreneurial leaders and sustainable businesses that will raise the collective prosperity of Atlanta—just as Mr. Russell did in so many ways.

RCIE will include over 50,000 SF of affordable coworking, convening, meeting and makerspace; along with a robust offering of educational, mentoring, networking, and capital resources; dedicated to inspiring ideas, creating jobs, scaling companies, and increasing wealth in the community.

Our Mission:

The Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is an economic mobility engine for the underserved; driving entrepreneurs and small business owners to innovate, grow, create jobs and build wealth.