How a Chance Encounter at Howard Helped Launch a Rising Black Tech Leader

DeMarcus Edwards, co-founder of Atlanta-based AI security startup DARE Labs, is emblematic of Howard University’s rising influence in tech innovation and its growing pipeline to Silicon Valley.

After earning his undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia in 2018, Edwards had a life-changing conversation with Danda B. Rawat – Howard’s associate dean for research and graduate studies, and a leading mentor in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Within weeks, Edwards joined Rawat’s lab as a master’s student.

Under Rawat’s mentorship, Edwards gained hands-on experience in AI and machine learning, eventually helping lay the foundation for DARE Labs. The startup, which has secured over US$1 million in contracts, builds AI tools that help government agencies transform unstructured data into actionable intelligence.

Edwards credits Howard’s rigorous research environment and industry connections for his success. “People in the Valley have a lot of respect for Howard,” he said.

“There are tons of great computer scientists I know who came out of Howard.”

His story highlights how mentorship and academic excellence are driving a new wave of Black leadership in tech—and reshaping the future of innovation.