Global advertising agency 72andSunny is facing backlash after launching a new app that critics say mimics Spill, a Black-owned next generation social platform designed to put culture first. According to Kenya T. Parham, Spill’s Chief Growth Officer, 72andSunny’s Amsterdam office unveiled an app called SPIL*, which shares striking similarities with Spill. In a now-deleted LinkedIn post, the agency described SPIL as “a new type of news brand, made specifically for Gen Z in Europe.” Several Spill community members voiced their disappointment directly on the agency’s LinkedIn post before it was
Introducing BUILT DIFFERENT: a panel and mixer for product and cybersecurity professionals happening in London on October 2, 2025. Hosted by us at POCIT in partnership with GitLab, this event brings together industry leaders to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: building at speed without sacrificing trust. A panel and mixer For today’s product and cybersecurity leaders, the stakes couldn’t be higher. On one hand, teams are under pressure to ship faster, experiment more, and stay ahead of competitors. On the other hand, threats to data
Career Karma, the app and community that has helped thousands transition into tech careers, has been acquired by New York-based student platform Climb Credit. Ruben Harris founded Career Karma in 2018 alongside twin brothers Artur and Timur Meyster, building on the success of their earlier podcast that introduced newcomers to the tech industry. With this acquisition, Career Karma’s mission to expand access to tech careers takes on a new scale, helping prospective students gain training programs and career opportunities before and after they graduate. About Credit Karma Before launching Career Karma,
ICE will have access to Israeli-made spyware that can hack into any phone and view encrypted messages. The Department of Homeland Security first entered into a contract with Paragon Solutions in 2024. But the Biden Administration put the $2 million deal on pause as it faced compliance reviews related to privacy and security concerns. The Guardian reports that the pause has now been lifted, allowing ICE to have access to the tool. Paragon’s Graphite software will enable agencies to infiltrate smartphones, access encrypted applications such as WhatsApp, extract data, and
Serena and Venus Williams are launching the Williams Family Excellence Program, a new initiative to support under-resourced communities with academic support, career pathways, and mentorship. Launched in partnership with the USTA Foundation, the program will help young people prepare for their lives both on and off the court. “This initiative stands as a living legacy to the Williams family—a tribute not only to Venus and Serena’s extraordinary achievements on the court, but to the unwavering determination, sacrifice, and resilience that define their family’s journey,” Kathleen Wu, President of the USTA
SRE.ai, an AI-powered automation platform, announced that it raised $7.2 million in a seed round led by Salesforce Ventures and Crane Venture Partners. The company will provide users with natural language AI agents that can perform complex enterprise DevOps workflows, such as continuous integration and testing, according to TechCrunch. “Instead of stitching together different low-code tools for enterprise applications like Salesforce, compared to products built on AWS, GCP, or Azure, teams can now move faster with context-driven, chat-like experiences that work across all of them,” CEO Raj Kadiyala said. How does
Gilbert Family Foundation announced that it will grant over $4 million to Black Leaders Detroit (BLD) and the Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA). The announcement made during Black Business Month detailed that the capital will be allocated towards several programs for Detroit business owners, including increasing access to capital, technical assistance, business coaching, and more. “These investments will ensure Detroit developers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses have the resources and opportunities needed to shape the future of our city and state,” Darnell Adams, Vice President of Detroit Community Initiatives, Gilbert Family
Lagos and San Francisco-based Compound AI has launched KidGPT, an AI agent specifically designed for children aged five to thirteen and their parents. The AI agent assists children in studying and learning various topics, including math, English, and even language learning. It gives children questions and additional prompts rather than giving them answers. “I’ll help you think through how to write the essay yourself first. What do you already know about bees? What do you want to include in your essay? Let’s start with a plan,” it says on their website. AI
Black Tech Street (BTS) is bringing transformative AI innovation education to Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District with the help of microchip maker NVIDIA. The partnership aims to help Tulsa become a national model for tech-driven economic empowerment and community advancement. NVIDIA, the world’s most valuable company, will collaborate with the organization to lead efforts in integrating cutting-edge technologies, according to The Black Wall Street Times. “NVIDIA is powering the AI revolution—likely the most impactful leap in human history,” Tyrance Billingsley II, founder and CEO of Black Tech Street, said. “To have
Kai Cenat recently confirmed plans for his Nigerian school after months of speculation and criticism from fans. In 2024, the streamer visited the Makoko Children Development Foundation School and Orphanage in Lagos, where he saw the dire conditions of the students and staff. After seeing the school’s sinking building, limited space, and the struggle to provide a learning environment for its 385 students, Cenat wanted to help. Cenat announced plans to construct a new school in the Makoko community. In the announcement, he asked people living in Nigeria or on the African
