New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux has been named a venture partner in The Collectiv, a new $20 million venture capital fund focused on early-stage sports tech companies and emerging leagues. Strategic Investment for Life After Football Thibodeaux’s partnership with The Collectiv reflects his broader ambition to establish a strong business presence while still actively competing in the NFL, as first reported by Spotico. The fund, which aims to raise $20 million over the next six months, includes a consortium of athletes, sports executives, and industry leaders from major
The California Court of Appeals has upheld a deal between Sony Music Group and the estate of Michael Jackson, allowing the music giant to acquire a substantial portion of the late artist’s catalog for $600 million. According to Billboard, the court’s decision, finalized on August 21, 2024, permits the sale of half of Jackson’s publishing and recorded masters catalog, despite objections from his mother, Katherine Jackson. Court Ruling Dismisses Katherine Jackson’s Objections The legal dispute centered around whether the estate’s executors, John Branca and John McClain, violated the terms of
Vista Equity Partners (Vista), under the leadership of Robert F. Smith, has acquired JAGGAER, a global leader in enterprise procurement and supplier collaboration software. This acquisition comes on the heels of Vista’s recent milestone—a record $20 billion raised for its eighth flagship fund, marking the largest fundraising in the firm’s history. A Strategic Acquisition in the AI-Driven Procurement Space JAGGAER, known for its AI-enabled procurement solutions, serves over 1,400 customers worldwide, offering a platform that optimizes sourcing, spend management, and supply chain visibility. This acquisition aligns with Vista’s strategy of
WealthMore, the fintech startup founded by Mical Jeanlys-White, has secured over $1 million in pre-seed funding according to Forbes. The company aims to make financial advice more accessible and affordable, particularly for individuals who have been historically underserved by traditional wealth management firms. Bridging the Wealth Gap with Hybrid Financial Solutions Wealthmore is a premium wealth advisor-ed, tech-enabled investing and planning service and community, launched in August 2023. The company’s approach to wealth management combines the efficiency of fintech with the personal touch of traditional financial advisors. This hybrid model
Kenyan HR tech startup, Workpay, has successfully raised $5 million in a Series A funding round, spearheaded by Norrsken22. This new investment will bolster Workpay’s expansion across Africa, enhance its AI-driven performance management tools, and stabilize its financial services, TechCrunch first reported. The funding follows a $2.7 million pre-Series A round in 2023. Strategic Funding to Accelerate Growth Founded in 2019 by Paul Kimani and Jackson Kungu, Workpay has quickly positioned itself as a leading workforce management platform in Africa. The cloud-based solution offers a suite of HR services, including
Rapper and Atlanta native Gunna is launching a $500,000 guaranteed income program aimed at helping families in his hometown, as first reported by Billboard. Set to kick off on September 18, the Gunna x BMAC 30349 Guaranteed Income Program will provide 30 families in the 30349 zip code with $1,000 monthly stipends for a year. Addressing Economic Challenges Head-On In a move to tackle economic inequality, Gunna has teamed up with the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) to create a program that offers direct financial support to those who need
Black and underserved farmers in Georgia now have access to a program offering free training and technology to boost farm profitability. TEAM Tilley, launching this fall, provides hands-on financial management education and customized tech tools designed to enhance decision-making and increase productivity across farms in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Unlocking Profitability Through Data-Driven Decisions TEAM Tilley’s program utilizes farm-specific data to teach participants how to make informed financial decisions. Farmers can run real-time risk scenarios, receive financial scorecards, and generate loan documents tailored to their operations. The initiative, funded
The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is investing $200 million CAD ($140 million USD) in Indigenous and Black-led businesses to promote inclusive economic growth. The government-owned bank is also launching a $50 million ($36 million USD) financing and training program for women, Indigenous, and Black entrepreneurs. Investing in Indigenous and Black entrepreneurs This investment is part of the BDC’s strategy to address longstanding barriers faced by underrepresented entrepreneurs and to promote a more diverse and resilient entrepreneurial landscape in Canada. The $200 million CAD investment will be channeled through two
Shaquille O’Neal, the basketball star turned business mogul, is at the center of a class-action lawsuit linked to the Astrals NFT project. The case, which has captured public and legal attention, has recently moved forward following a ruling from the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The court’s decision granted partial progress for the plaintiffs, while dismissing other claims. Lawsuit Moves Forward with Mixed Results The core of the lawsuit revolves around O’Neal’s promotion of Astrals, a project featuring 10,000 3D NFT avatars and a decentralized autonomous
Democrats are leveraging AI to strengthen their outreach to Latine and Black voters as the 2024 election looms, according to The Guardian. Facing a challenging electoral landscape, progressive organizations and Latine and Black-led Democratic groups are adopting novel AI-driven tools to connect with voters on platforms they frequent, such as Discord and WhatsApp. These efforts are particularly focused on younger voters, who are often harder to reach through traditional methods. AI-Powered Outreach: Engaging Voters Where They Are One tool being used is Vote-E, an AI-powered chatbot developed by NextGen America,
