NBCUniversal and Group Black has launched ExcellencE!, a new content collection on Peacock, bringing thousands of hours of diverse, inclusive programming to the streaming platform. ExcellencE! – Black-Led And Cross-Cultural Content This partnership aims to highlight Black-led and cross-cultural content, making it a key destination for multicultural stories. Subscribers can now access ExcellencE!, which includes popular shows like Bel-Air, Martin, and The Real Housewives of Atlanta. NBCUniversal plans to expand the offering with additional original content in 2025. This launch is part of a broader initiative, expanding on the 2023
London-based fintech unicorn Zepz, formerly known as WorldRemit, has raised $267 million from new and existing investors to expand its global cross-border payments platform. Zepz’s fundraising round was led by Accel, with participation from Leapfrog, TCV, and Coller Capital, as first reported by Bloomberg. The International Financial Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, has also committed to invest up to $20 million. Zepz not disclose its valuation in this round but was valued at $5 billion after its $292 million Series E round in 2021. Simplifying Money Transfers
The rapid rise of AI is reshaping the workplace, and many Black and Latine professionals worry about falling behind. More than half (54%) feel overwhelmed by the pace of change, and 49% worry about being left behind as AI makes current skills obsolete, according to LinkedIn data shared with POCIT. LinkedIn Career Expert Andrew McCaskill says the solution isn’t to panic but to pivot, embracing continuous learning to stay competitive in this fast-evolving job market. AI: A New Opportunity, But With Risks While AI offers the potential for new job
Yamilée Toussaint, founder of STEM From Dance and an MIT-trained engineer, has been named a CNN Hero for her efforts to bridge the gap between young girls of color and STEM careers. Through her nonprofit, Toussaint combines dance and STEM education to inspire and equip the next generation of innovators, especially those who might not see themselves represented in these fields. “It’s an honor to be selected as a CNN Hero,” Toussaint said. “I’m proud of the work we do to connect girls of color with STEM in a joyful and
AMAKA Studio has successfully raised $2 million in seed funding, led by Equitane Ventures, with contributions from Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab, Silverbacks Holdings, and several angel investors. The social publishing platform is on a mission to empower Black and African creators to reach a global audience and earn through subscriptions and gigs. Fueling Growth and Innovation The funds will primarily support the expansion of AMAKA Gigs, a platform that connects Black and African creators with brands for commissioned work, streamlining the process and ensuring fair compensation. AMAKA also plans to
Everyone in my team is a person of color (POC). Before joining this company, I had unconsciously dimmed my ideas, opinions, and a huge part of myself. Working in an industry that’s 94% white, I’d absorbed the belief that stories about race and identity didn’t always need to be told— or perhaps I was making too big a deal of them. My all-POC team changed that for me. It set a new standard for what I expect from the workplace. Feeling Like I’m “Too Much” As a journalism student at
A new R300-million ($15.6 million) Seed Fund of Funds has been launched to provide crucial early-stage capital for South African tech startups. This initiative, backed by the SA SME Fund, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), and impact investor E Squared Investments, aims to fund at least 50 technology-driven startups. The fund seeks to address a gap in South Africa’s venture capital landscape, which has historically favored later-stage investments. By focusing on seed capital, it will help budding entrepreneurs transition their ideas into viable
BlackDoctor.org (BDO) has introduced an AI-powered chatbot, designed to offer culturally relevant health guidance to Black Americans. This new feature provides round-the-clock support and draws from BDO’s repository of over 17,000 articles, ensuring that users receive tailored information related to chronic conditions, mental health, and healthy living. As a leading platform offering health content specifically for Black communities, BDO’s chatbot stands out for its focus on culturally sensitive, condition-specific support. Tailored Health Information At Your Fingertips The BlackDoctor Chatbot claims to be the first of its kind, offering personalized, culturally
David Steward, founder and chairman of World Wide Technology (WWT), is now recognized as the wealthiest Black man in the US, with an estimated net worth of $11.4 billion. Steward ranks at No. 84 on Forbes’ recently released 2024 Forbes 400 list, a definitive ranking of the wealthiest Americans. This year, individuals needed a minimum of $3.3 billion to make the cut, with the list reflecting a total net worth of $5.4 trillion—an increase of $1 trillion from the previous year. David Steward’s Rise in the Tech World Steward, 73,
OpenAI recently launched an advanced voice mode for ChatGPT, enabling users to hold natural, real-time conversations in a wide range of languages and dialects. Clips of the chatbot speaking in Jamaican Patois, Nigerian Pidgin, and Trinidadian creole have taken the internet by storm, impressing some users while leaving others skeptical. A Voice Feature with Global Reach OpenAI began introducing its voice feature earlier this year, but its latest update brings a richer and faster audio experience to premium subscribers. This enhanced voice mode, launched in late September 2024, not only
