It began not in a high-rise boardroom or Silicon Valley incubator, but on the campus of Howard University—a quiet, intellectual spark between two minds that changed the trajectory of a life. DeMarcus Edwards, fresh off completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia, found himself immersed in a spontaneous conversation about adversarial machine learning. His conversation partner? Dr. Danda B. Rawat is the associate dean for research and graduate studies and one of the most dynamic forces in AI mentorship in higher education.
That brief exchange would lead Edwards to join Rawat’s lab, earn a master’s degree, and later complete a Ph.D. in computer science. But the academic accolades tell only part of the story. Under Rawat’s mentorship, Edwards gained access to real-world experiences—residencies and internships at Netflix, Apple, Meta, and Google X—where he sharpened his expertise and learned to apply AI in ways that would resonate far beyond the classroom.
Today, Edwards is the co-founder of DARE Labs, an AI security firm based in Atlanta that brought in over $1.2 million in contracts its first year, working with major clients like the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy. It is an extraordinary achievement, not just because of the numbers, but because of what it represents: a Howard-trained, Black-led company at the forefront of AI innovation and government contracting. In a sector often criticized for exclusion, Edwards is carving out space—and bringing others with him.
His journey is a testament to what happens when mentorship is intentional and culturally grounded. As Dr. Rawat aptly put it, supervision is about research. Mentorship is about life. And in that distinction lies the power of what HBCUs like Howard have long offered: a nurturing, intellectually rigorous environment where Black brilliance is not only encouraged but expected.
At SOLE, we spotlight stories like this because they reveal deeper truths about the moment we’re in. Edwards is not an anomaly—he is part of a rising wave of HBCU-trained leaders reshaping the tech landscape with purpose, precision, and vision. His story shows what’s possible when belief, access, and preparation align. It also serves as a quiet indictment of a tech industry still playing catch-up to talent that’s always been here.
There’s a reason Silicon Valley is paying attention to Howard. There’s a reason DARE Labs are based in Atlanta. And there’s a reason mentorship remains one of the most valuable—and undervalued—currencies in the development of AI talent.
DeMarcus Edwards didn’t stumble into this success. He was cultivated for it. And the world is beginning to notice.
This article is based on original reporting at The Dig.
