Trying to get your foot in the door in the corporate world as a Black woman isn’t easy. This becomes way more difficult when you’re also disabled. The employment rate for people with disabilities in the US reached 22.5% in 2023; the tech sector appears to have a lower rate. A survey of the global AWS community found that only 11% of respondents had a disability or neurodiversity. Additionally, disabled people the unemployment rate for disabled people is reportedly twice as high as that of the general population, even though companies that are
A hair-braiding robot invented by a startup has won a Harvard Innovation Labs competition. Harvard Business School inventors Yinka Ogunbiyi and David Afolabi, the creators of Halo Braid, aim to halve braiding time. With their innovative braiding robot, they hope to help both braiders and clients save time and money, making the process faster and more efficient. The 2025 President’s Innovation Challenge The 2025 President’s Innovation Challenge named Halo Braid as its latest winner. Hosted at Harvard, the competition invites students and alumni from its 13 schools to showcase groundbreaking
Fawn and Keith Weaver, the founders of the Uncle Nearest whiskey brand, are opposing efforts to add more of their businesses that are already placed under judicial control. Nearest Green Distillery and the flagship Uncle Nearest whiskey brand have been under a receiver’s management since September, after lender Farm Credit Mid-America claimed the Weavers defaulted on more than $108 million in loans. The weavers opposing efforts Receiver Phillip Young asked US District Judge Charles Atchley Jr. to decide if other Weaver-affiliated businesses should be included in the receivership, including a
Black and other minority-owned businesses are being severely affected by the federal government shutdown. A recent survey conducted by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) reveals that these firms are being adversely affected by the economic downturn caused by the shutdown. The closure, which began on October 1, is expected to be one of the longest in US history. Additionally, new analysis by Creative Investment Research estimates that the shutdown could result in losses ranging from $400 million to $450 million for minority business enterprises (MBEs). Black businesses affected
Target is spotlighting its partnership with Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), a program supporting Black small business founders with access, education, and community, amid ongoing boycotts over its decision to rollback DEI initiatives. In a press release published on October 20, 2025, Target detailed its partnership with RICE, which began in 2020 and was renewed in 2024. The release comes just months after CEO Brian Cornell stepped down, following low foot traffic and sales. Target’s partnership with RICE The RICE’s Retail Readiness Academy (RRA) has allowed Black founders to expand
Ebony Women Health Corp, a Charlotte-based health equity firm, has launched the EchoHer Community App, a new digital platform that amplifies the experiences of Black women and birthing people navigating pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. The app aims to turn those stories into data that can drive accountability and change in healthcare systems. A digital space for Black women and birthing people Founded by health equity advocate Neshé Conley, Ebony Women Health Corp works to transform how institutions serve women of color. Through culturally grounded consulting and community-informed training, the
Women make up 47% of STEM graduates in Africa, according to a recent McKinsey study —a higher share than in Europe (42%), Asia (41%), and South America (41%). Additionally, in sub-Saharan Africa, as much as 30% of roles in STEM sectors are held by women. However, less than 20% of top tech roles are held by women in Africa. “Our research found that less than 20 percent of publicly listed companies in Africa with C-suite tech roles had a woman in that role,” the study’s authors wrote. “Furthermore, just 3%
Elly Savatia, a Kenyan inventor and social entrepreneur, has won the Africa 2025 Engineering Innovation Prize founded by the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering. He won the award for Terp 360, an AI-powered app that translates speech into sign language using lifelike 3D avatars, along with a £50,000 ($67,000) grant. Terp 360: A Sign Language Translation App Terp 360 offers real-time sign language interpretation, facilitating smooth communication between deaf and hearing individuals across both physical and digital settings. Using 3D avatars and motion-capture technology, it delivers natural, accessible, and immersive interactions. Terp
The Nigerian government is working with Google and Apolitical, a global learning platform for government innovation, to launch a training initiative for public servants. The initiative, called the AI Government Campus, will be implemented through the Apolitical Government AI Campus. It aims to train thousands of public servants and government leaders to understand and apply artificial intelligence in public administration effectively, as reported by Techpoint Africa. The initiative is a joint effort between Google, the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), and Apolitical. “We see artificial intelligence as
Cactus Jack Foundation, a non-profit founded by rapper Travis Scott, has launched a new initative for students with Space Center Houston. As reported by Complex, the program will allow Houston Independent School District students to engage in a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-enriched curriculum. Cactus Jack Foundation’s new initative The program will teach students the necessary skills to pursue careers in engineering, design, and exploration. Students will analyze real-world challenges such as water scarcity, space habitation, and power generation and discuss solutions through virtual and in-person workshops at Cact.Us Design
