Onyeka
Obiocha

Onyeka Obiocha has built a dynamic career dedicated to driving societal transformation and economic empowerment, leveraging his expertise across public, private, philanthropic, and academic sectors. Onyeka has collaborated with leading organizations, including Yale University, the United Nations, the World Bank, the Boston Federal Reserve, and the National Science Foundation. In his current role as Director of the Global Accelerator Program at Yale’s Center for Green Chemistry & Green Engineering, Onyeka leads green chemistry accelerators in Jordan, Indonesia, Peru, Ukraine, Serbia, and Uganda, building a global entrepreneurial ecosystem to advance sustainable innovation and scalable green chemistry solutions.

As Executive Director of Connecticut’s Office of Innovation (CTNext), Onyeka crafted and led statewide strategies to foster economic innovation, elevating startups and the venture community. His tenure at CTNext followed a series of impactful entrepreneurial ventures, including co-founding Sharelogical, an e-commerce platform enabling charitable donations through affiliate marketing; co-founding Breakfast Lunch & Dinner, a community venture-building studio in Hartford; and co-founding and successfully exiting A Happy Life Coffee, a socially driven coffee company. Through his work at A Happy Life Coffee, Onyeka played a pivotal role in advocating for and successfully organizing the passage of a new law allowing Benefit Corporations in Connecticut, for which he was awarded an official citation by the Connecticut General Assembly.

At Yale, Onyeka served as the inaugural Director of Innovation at the Yale Center for Public Service and Social Justice, the nation’s oldest student-led university-affiliated service organization. There, he launched the Social Innovation Lab, Yale’s first entrepreneurship incubator for students and community members. Later, as Managing Director of the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale (Tsai CITY), he deployed capital, developed programming, and attracted resources to support students in launching and scaling both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Onyeka also served on the Advisory Council for the College Street Innovation Fund, a $3.75 million initiative investing up to $100,000 in qualifying Yale startups. Following his tenure at Tsai CITY, Onyeka joined the Heron Foundation as Director of Integrated Capital and Learning, where he managed the deployment of a $350M+ endowment through strategic investments aimed at driving equity and sustainability. He integrated Heron’s principles into partnerships and initiatives, designing innovative frameworks to foster community support and sustainable development.

Driven by a commitment to continuous learning and growth, Onyeka was accepted to the Summer Institute in Inclusive Economies for a Just and Sustainable Planet at Universidad de Los Andes, where he explored innovative approaches to equitable and sustainable economic development with global leaders. He also holds a certification in Inclusive and Sustainable Cluster Development from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, where he developed expertise in fostering collaboration among businesses and stakeholders to advance private-sector-led growth aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Beyond his professional endeavors, Onyeka is a trusted advisor, sought-after speaker, and relentless advocate for equity and innovation. His contributions have been recognized by Connecticut Magazine’s 40 Under 40, the Next City Vanguard, the National Retail Federation, and the 100 Men of Color awards, among others. 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. Whether mentoring founders, moderating conversations with changemakers like Arlan Hamilton, and Michael Seibel or exploring the world of wine, Onyeka’s work and life are united by a singular belief: bold ideas can transform systems—and through them, lives.