Michael Feldstein developed an AI Learning Design Assistant (ALDA) as part of a broader project aimed at addressing the needs of educators with the aid of AI. The project included a course that used AI tools to transform online course creation and was sponsored by D2L, VitalSource, and Engageli. Feldstein was the chief accountability officer at e-Literate, a publication dedicated to explaining educational technology (edtech). Now, he serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at 1EdTech, a leading member of a nonprofit edtech partnership dedicated to transforming the digital learning landscape. ALDA
The NAACP is demanding an immediate shutdown of Colossus, a Memphis-based supercomputer built by Elon Musk’s AI company xAI, citing violations of environmental regulations. NBC News reported that a letter was sent to the Shelby County Health Department and Memphis Light Gas and Water from the civil rights group on Thursday, May 29. In a letter addressed to Dr. Michelle Taylor, director of the Shelby County Health Department, leaders from the NAACP criticized the organization’s “lackadaisical approach to the operation of this dirty data center.” They urged them to “issue
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is investigating the alleged illegal use of Starlink in the country. On Wednesday, Icasa stated that it has formally engaged with SpaceX and is currently awaiting a response, according to Bloomberg. “Icasa has taken note, with serious concern, of recent reports alleging that Starlink may be offering its services within the Republic of South Africa without the requisite authorization,” the sector regulator said. It adds: “To this end, Icasa has published a general notice reiterating that all entities offering electronic communications services
Stackwell and the Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA) released a report that examined how access to investment, education, and behavioral tools affects the financial outcomes of Black small business owners. The new report, titled “Building Personal Wealth: Empowering Black Small Business Owners Through Investing,” was published by the Financial Health Network. The report builds on findings from the 2024 Small Business Investing Program (SBIP), where eligible MBBA members received funded investment accounts through the Stackwell investing platform, along with educational resources. How barriers block wealth for Black entrepreneurs Small Black-business owners face significant
The Black Opportunity Fund (BOF), a community-led charity in Toronto, Canada, has announced the launch of BOF Capital. The initiative has two primary fundraising objectives: a $100 million private equity growth fund to support Black-owned businesses and a $50 million shared equity housing fund to help Black Canadians get on the property ladder, according to a press release. “We are creating innovative and sustainable pathways to economic empowerment by directly addressing the funding and opportunity gaps that have historically limited Black Canadians and those across the diaspora from building generational wealth,”
Melissa Butler, founder and CEO of The Lip Bar, shared that sales have declined by 30% since the boycott of Target began earlier this year. The boycott is in response to Target’s decision to roll back its DEI efforts, which include a commitment to increasing Black representation by 20% and a program to feature more products by Black- and minority-owned businesses. Butler is now calling on consumers to support Black-owned businesses through other channels, including buying from them directly. The Lip Bar’s sales declining In a video posted on social media,
Construction tech startup Litehaus has raised €1.46 million ($1.58 million) in a pre-seed round co-led by Cornerstone VC and Explorer Fund. Claster Group and angel investor Pascal Levy also participated in the pre-seed round. The fund will help simplify the home-building process in Europe. Husband-and-wife duo Thibault and Simi Launay set out to buy a house in Portugal nearly five years ago. However, they faced a 14-month delay, 20% budget overruns, and mismanagement involving over 10 subcontractors. “We realized if we’re struggling with this, so are millions of others,” Thibault told
Nigerian fintech startup, Carrot Credit, has raised $4.2 million in seed funding to expand its credit platform across Africa. The startup offers users loans backed by digital investment assets, including stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and cryptocurrencies. The funding round was led by US-based MaC Venture Capital, with participation from Authentic Ventures, as reported by TechCabal. What does Carrot Credit do? Carrot Credit is a digital lending platform that enables individuals to borrow money without selling their investment portfolios, including ETFs, bonds, or cryptocurrencies. It was founded by Bolu Aiki-Raji in
The Detroit-based tech meetup for creatives has received a $1 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The funding will be used to grow its workshop across the state, according to Crain’s Detroit Business. It’s the largest single grant out of $6.8 million that the MEDC is giving to 23 organizations as part of the Trusted Connector Grant program, the MEDC announced on Wednesday. The $1 million grant Black Tech Saturdays will run a pilot program in Detroit and Lansing, featuring 25-30 micro workshops that provide focused programming for
AAPI, Black, and Latine entrepreneurship made durable gains in 2024, a new report by payroll manager Gusto has revealed. Additionally, many people were laid off from their jobs last year, but the percentage of entrepreneurs who started a business because they or their partner lost a job rose 67%. The findings come from a survey of 1,000-plus new business owners who launched businesses in 2024 by the Gusto Insights Group. Want to find out how well entrepreneurship did in 2024? Keep reading. AAPI, Black, and Latinx entrepreneurship have made durable
