Lava Payments, a fintech startup founded by Mitchell Jones to transform AI-driven transactions, has secured $5.8 million in seed funding. The round was led by Lerer Hippeau and supported by Harlem Capital, Streamlined Ventures, and Westbound. Lava is a digital wallet that lets merchants use usage credits to facilitate transactions, according to TechCrunch. Why Lava Exists Jones launched the startup after leaving his previous Y Combinator-backed fintech startup, Lendtable, where he began experimenting with AI. While building a basic form-filling agent, he continued to experience the same issues. “I was using
Steven Bartlett is using AI to create and host his latest podcast. The Diary of a CEO star has launched “100 CEOs with Steven Bartlett,” an animated documentary-style series hosted by Bartlett’s AI voice clone. The series features high-profile business figures like Richard Branson and Elon Musk. While Bartlett writes the initial scripts, the rest of the production is handled by AI, Business Insider reports. His company, FlightStory Studio, used tech from AI firms Runway, ElevenLabs, and Wondercraft. Creating hosts using AI The “100 CEOs” show doesn’t shy away from the fact
Howard alumni Lawrence Blackmon and Roger Roman are the founders of LegalEase, a justice‑tech startup helping people find their expungement eligibility and file court petitions within minutes. Their Expungement.ai platform provides users with a conversational experience to discover their expungement through voice, web chat, or SMS text. Helping people find jobs and housing In the US, nearly 8% of adults and around 33% of African American men have a felony conviction, according to a 2010 study by the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs. Additionally, a report by
Clay, an AI tool for sales representatives and marketers, has raised $100 million with a $3.1 billion valuation. CapitalG led the round with involvement from Meritech Capital Partners and Sequoia Capital, according to The New York Times. “This funding will helps us more deeply invest in our product and community, to whom we owe our deepest gratitude. Thank you to our partners, our team, and our customers,” Kareem Amin, Clay’s co-founder and chief executive, said in a LinkedIn post. About Clay Founded in 2017 by Kareem Amin and Nicolae Rusan,
SpreeAI, the fashion tech startup redefining virtual shopping experiences, has reached a $1.5 billion valuation after a recent funding round led by The Davidson Group. The AI-powered fashion app allows users to virtually allows users to try on clothes in an experience so lifelike it feels like you’re in a real dressing room. Designed for use both in-store and online, SpreeAI blends cutting-edge technology with real-world retail to transform how consumers shop and how brands sell. SpreeAI valued at $1.5 billion Co-founded and led by CEO John Imah, SpreeAI has
Career growth doesn’t end in your 30s or even in your 40s. While it’s easy to assume that major professional milestones are reserved for the young, the reality tells a different story. This year’s Forbes 50 Over 50 list is a testament to that, spotlighting leaders and entrepreneurs who have reached new heights later in life. Among them are Black women who have not only broken barriers but have remained at the top of their game more than 25 years into their careers. Here are four Black women who made
The Trump Administration has cut funding for the Digital Equity Act (DEA), which was designed to address disparities in digital access across the US. The DEA aimed to tackle digital equity gaps by supporting state and local efforts to build inclusive digital infrastructure and skills programs. It encouraged comprehensive digital equity plans across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, as well as grassroots projects led by communities and coalitions. #BlackTechFutures Loses $12M Grant Fallon Wilson, the founder and executive director of the #BlackTechFutures Research Institute, received
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Proparco, a member of the World Bank Group, announced an equity investment of up to $50 million in Helios Sports and Entertainment (“HSEG”), an investment vehicle dedicated to sport, media and entertainment across Africa. HSEG aims to foster a more dynamic sport and entertainment ecosystem in Africa by collaborating with its four partners: NBA Africa, The Malachite Group (Afro Nation), PFL Africa, and Zaria Group. IFC and Proparco invest in African sport The IFC commited $30 million of the equity investment,
Browzwear, a digital apparel design software firm, has acquired Lalaland, an AI fashion model startup, to boost its AI capabilities and broaden Lalaland’s global reach. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, WWD reports. “And it’s a WRAP. Absolutely surreal Lalaland has been acquired by Browzwear. It’s the end of a wild era and the start of an even bigger one,” Michael Musandu, Co-Founder and CEO of Lalaland, said in a LinkedIn post. Browzwear acquiring Lalaland. Amsterdam-based Lalaland aims to make fashion more inclusive by allowing retailers to
Google has removed 58 nonprofit organizations associated with DEI from a list of organizations it funds, according to a new report by tech watchdog The Tech Transparency Project. The report references the most recent public list of organizations that receive the “most substantial contributions” from Google’s US Government Affairs and Public Policy team. The majority of the groups taken away from the list had mission statements that included he words “diversity, “equity,” “inclusion,” or “race,” “activism,” and “women.” It remains unclear whether the tech giant has ended the funding or
