Onyeka
Obiocha

Onyeka Obiocha has built a dynamic career at the intersection of commerce and culture, leveraging his expertise across public, private, philanthropic, and academic sectors. As a consultant, angel investor, and public speaker, Onyeka is committed to driving societal transformation and economic empowerment.

Currently, Onyeka serves as Director of the Global Accelerator Program at the Center for Green Chemistry & Green Engineering at Yale. In this role, he leads green chemistry accelerators in Jordan, Indonesia, Peru, Ukraine, Serbia, and Uganda, fostering a global entrepreneurial ecosystem to advance sustainable innovation and scalable green chemistry solutions. This program, a collaboration between Yale's Center for Green Chemistry, the Global Environment Facility, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), is at the forefront of sustainable development worldwide.

Previously, Onyeka was Executive Director of CTNext, Connecticut’s Office of Innovation, where he provided strategic leadership to bolster entrepreneurship and innovation across the state. In close collaboration with government agencies, academic institutions, and industry leaders, he spearheaded the development and implementation of programs, initiatives, and policies aimed at stimulating the growth of startups, small businesses, and innovation ecosystems. 

Prior to his role at CTNext, Onyeka held several positions focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and social change. During his time at the University of Connecticut, he co-founded Sharelogical, an e-commerce platform that empowered consumers to make charitable donations through affiliate marketing channels. Seeking to make a tangible impact, he embarked on a micro-consignment economic development initiative in Cape Town through the Social Entrepreneur Corps. Returning to the United States, Onyeka spearheaded a corporate social responsibility program for a foodtech startup in Hartford and launched community venture-building studio Breakfast Lunch & Dinner.

In 2013, Onyeka co-founded "A Happy Life," a coffee roasting company and coffee shop in New Haven with a mission to create a happier world for all. He served as the Chief Operating Officer and was recognized by the National Retail Federation for establishing a retail outlet that epitomized excellence in careers, community, and innovation. Through his work at A Happy Life Coffee, Onyeka played a key role in advocating for and successfully organizing the passage of a new law allowing Benefit Corporations in Connecticut. For his efforts, Onyeka was awarded an official citation by the Connecticut General Assembly.

After three and a half years of rapid growth, Onyeka sold the coffee business when he was selected as a Social Entrepreneurship Fellow at the Yale Center for Business and the Environment. This fellowship opened doors for him to become the first-ever Director of Innovation at Dwight Hall, the Center for Public Service and Social Justice at Yale University. At Dwight Hall, he launched the Social Innovation Lab, Yale's inaugural entrepreneurship incubator for Yale students and New Haven community members.

In 2017, Onyeka joined the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale (Tsai CITY) as a Associate Director, later becoming Managing Director. In this capacity, he deployed capital, developed programming, and attracted resources to assist students in launching and scaling both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Additionally, he served on the Advisory Council for the College Street Innovation Fund, a $3.75 million fund that invests up to $100,000 in qualifying Yale startups.

After Tsai CITY, Onyeka joined the Heron Foundation as the Director of Integrated Capital and Learning. As a key member of the Integrated Capitals team, he focused on fostering community support, deploying capital effectively, and creating innovative frameworks for sustainable development. Helping to steward a $350M+ endowment, Onyeka led the integration of Heron's principles into strategic partnerships, investment strategies, and initiatives. He guided the design and deployment of various forms of capital and formulated strategies for organizational learning and integration.

Onyeka's exceptional contributions have garnered recognition, including Connecticut Magazine's “40 Under 40” award, the Next City Vanguard distinction, Nantucket Project Scholar, a fellow at the Inclusive Economies for a Just and Sustainable Planet Summer Institute, and inclusion among the "100 Men of Color" honorees. As part of his commitment to supporting entrepreneurs, he served as a finalist judge for the Echoing Green Fellowship and consulted for entrepreneurship service organizations in New York City, Budapest and Beijing. A renowned speaker, Onyeka has been a keynote, moderator, podcast guest, and panelist at numerous conferences and events worldwide. Most notably, he has hosted intimate discussions with esteemed individuals such as Arlan Hamilton, Iddris Sandu, and Michael Seibel. His work has been featured in publications such as Fast Company, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and AfroTech. 

Onyeka holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Connecticut and resides in New Haven. Outside of his professional endeavors, you can find him exploring natural wines, embarking on a long bike ride, and passionately following UConn basketball.

If you're looking for him, he can be found on Instagram and Linkedin.