As the U.S. sees an alarming rollback of funding, resources, and support for Black businesses, Madam Nselaa Ward, J.D. is creating a financial Underground Railroad-an internal network dedicated to funding and elevating Black entrepreneurs. Through the Madam Nselaa Ward, J.D. Black Business Pitch Competition at Yale University, held in collaboration with Yale’s Black Solidarity Conference on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at the Yale Afro-American Cultural Center, Black entrepreneurs will receive cash prizes, mentorship, and access to a private network of investors, business leaders, and wealth-building strategists committed to closing the racial wealth gap.