Natasha Sideris, the restaurateur behind Tashas Group, and DJ Black Coffee are teaming up to create a premium agave spirit label in South Africa, according to Bloomberg. The label, Leonista, is set to launch at the end of the year. Sideris and Maphumul will source agave from the Karoo, a semi-arid region known for its premium lamb products. Black Coffee launching a spirit brand Leonista will be similar to tequila, meaning that it is distilled from the same plant genus. But tequila can only be made in specific regions of Mexico
will.i.am has completed his first semester teaching agentic AI at Arizona State University, as reported by Fox 11. The course is a credit-bearing, 15-week class open to all students; a second semester is in the works for later this year. will.i.am teaching an AI course During the course, students created their own personal companion called an agent. They presented their AI projects at the end of the course, with one student using his work to support veterans. Another student wrote a song related to the healthcare journey. “This professorship marks
Black-owned AI grocery startup Vori has raised $22 million in a series B round led by Cherryrock Capital, led by former TaskRabbit CEO Stacy Brown-Philpot, according to Fortune. Brandon Hill launched the company in 2024, with a family history in groceries. His grandparents ran a small store in Oklahoma, and his parents worked in a grocery store during their early career years. His mother currently works at Vori. When Hill visited his parents in Minnesota in 2020, he saw how they were still using paper invoices and wholesale catalogs. This
Uncle Nearest receiver Phillip G. Young Jr. has rejected a request to provide an emergency bankruptcy appeal filed in Uncle Nearest’s name, according to the Moore County Observer. Fawn Weaver filing for bankruptcy Fawn Weaver tried to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy petitions for Uncle Nearest Inc., Nearest Green Distillery Inc., and Uncle Nearest Real Estate Holdings LLC. on March 17. But the bankruptcy court dismissed the cases two days later, stating that Weaver lacked the power to file them because the receivership order vested that power in Young. Farm Credit
On May 6th, the NAACP filed a request for a preliminary injunction to stop air pollution from Elon Musk’s company, xAI, and its parent company, MZX Tech. The request comes after the organization filed a Clean Air Act enforcement last month. The Clean Air Act requires major sources of pollution to obtain air permits, which include stringent pollution limits and require the use of pollution controls before being constructed or operated. xAI violating the Clean Air Act The NAACP informed xAI and MZX Tech that their personal power plant, comprising 27 gas-fired
A judge has ordered Adwoa Beauty to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, meaning the company must cease operations and turn over its intellectual property and assets to a court-appointed trustee for sale. The beauty brand filed for Chapter 11 protection in October, while its lender, Aurous Financial Services, filed a lawsuit, according to Business of Fashion. Speaking to BOF, Adwoa Beauty founder Julian Addo said, “For me, conversion at this stage was the best outcome. I fought a really long, hard battle alone, and it just takes too many resources
A group of Historically Black Colleges and Universities has launched the Association of HBCU Research Institutions (AHRI) to address key societal issues. AHRI will bring together 15 HBCUs to work towards achieving R1 status, the highest level of research activity under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This will be achieved by improving policy influence and boosting transformative discoveries at scale, according to a press release. “Today is not just an announcement, but a declaration that HBCUs are not only contributors to research and innovation, but also leaders
Braze is the leading customer engagement platform that empowers brands to Be Absolutely Engaging™. Founded in 2011 and working with 2,600+ brands, Braze helps brands deliver great customer experiences that drive value for both consumers and their businesses. From cross-channel messaging and journey orchestration to AI-powered decisioning and optimization, Braze enables companies to turn action into interaction through autonomous, 1:1 personalized experiences. POCIT sat down with Madison DeJesus, a Strategic Customer Success Manager at Braze, at the company’s headquarters in New York City to discuss her role, career journey, and
Emma Grede recently announced on her book tour why she didn’t invest in Diarrha N’Diaye’s company, Ami Colé. On the “She’s So Lucky” podcast with host Les Alfred, Grede shared that she doesn’t back first-time founders unless she sees something “extraordinary” about both the person and the company, explaining she didn’t see that with Ami Colé. Emma Grede hiring Diarrha N’Diaya at SKIMS Whilst Grede did not think Ami Colé was worth supporting, she evidently thought she was worth hiring. After Alicia Scott of Range Beauty introduced N’Diaye to Grede,
Saint Augustine’s University, a historically Black college, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to Bloomberg. Founded in 1867, Saint Augustine’s is one of the oldest historically Black colleges in the US, but has faced financial struggles in recent years. Earlier this month, the board of directors at the Raleigh, North Carolina-based school voted unanimously in favor of initiating the bankruptcy process, as per a resolution included with court documents. On Monday, the college listed liabilities of $50 million to $100 million and assets of $100 million to $500
