Minority-owned startups are getting support from Rutgers University and New Jersey-based venture capitalists. Rutgers University’s Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CUEED), will host a Black and Latino Tech Initiative Launch (BLT) on Thursday, March 2. The free event will take place at Newark Venture Partners offices on Washington Place.

The BLT event offers funding advice and opportunities for black and Latino technology entrepreneurs and investors from New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

“Less than 2 percent of all technology start-ups are led by black or Latino individuals.” CUEED Executive Director Lyneir Richardson said. “The reasons for this are two-fold: black and Latino entrepreneurs have difficulty securing capital and they also have challenges building business teams that get accepted into top tier accelerators. Our BLT Launch event will seek to remedy this situation by providing scientists, inventors, and technology innovators with essential info that will give their ideas a chance to be developed, funded, and launched into the marketplace.”

Startup founders interested in registering for the event can visit the organizations website.