Joey Taylor, a 2024 graduate of Oakwood University, an HBCU in Huntsville, Alabama, recently won first place and a $15,000 prize at the HBCU Founders Initiative’s (HBCUFI) 2025 Better Futures Competition for his groundbreaking brain-computer interface, Mycelium.
Launched in 2021 by Nex Cubed, HBCUFI is dedicated to closing the wealth gap by helping HBCU students and alumni launch tech-driven ventures. Since starting the Better Futures Competition in 2023, HBCUFI has awarded more than $75,000 to 11 founders, according to data the organization shared with AFROTECH.
Taylor’s win was the culmination of a journey that began with limited access to technology in Costa Rica, where he built his first computer from recycled parts. Today, his work bridges neuroscience, AI and innovation.
Building Confidence Through Opportunity
Before launching Mycelium, Taylor built an impressive resume as a freelance data engineer and worked in research labs. But it was his time at NASA, where he began working at just 18, that changed his path…