The tech industry in India is one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in the world, reporting a growth rate of 12.2%. The southern Indian tech hub of Bangalore is also home to the most significant number of high-growth companies in India. It ranks fourth overall among Asian cities, according to the FT’s latest ranking of High Growth Companies in Asia-Pacific, compiled by research company Statista. Twenty of the top 500 companies on the list are based in Bangalore, representing four percent of the total. India’s financial capital, Mumbai, is Bangalore’s
Black-owned blockchain platform, Lumachain, has raised $28.3 million in a Series A funding round. The funding round, which VC Bessemer Venture Partners led, will help the organization revolutionize how beef, chicken, and pork products are produced globally. Perseverance, hard work, and ambition Lumachain is a testament to the perseverance, hard work, and ambition of its founder, Jamila Gordon. Gordan, who was selected as one of the world’s most inspiring and influential women in 2021, has won significant accolades for her work in the industry. Not only was Gordons selected as
A new Chicago Business Bulletin report has revealed that not enough has been done to support Black and Latinx startups. Compared to other top startup ecosystems, Chicago has higher share capital deals. Additionally, Chicago leads significant startup ecosystems in the share of venture capital funding garnered by underrepresented founders. Since 2019, 5.1% of Black and Latino-founded companies have participated in a venture capital deal, compared to 2.5% nationally. “This report is intended to raise awareness of the strategic movement underway in Chicago to drive greater, more equitable investment by and among VCs
Rapper, Zoey Dollaz, has launched a new “Uber service but with bulletproof vehicles” in response to the deadly shootings of entertainers and athletes. In an interview with Radar Radio, Zoey Dollaz opened up about the business initiative he says had been brewing before his own experience in a drive-by shooting. Zoey Dallaz isn’t the first musician to be a drive-by shooting victim, a long line of stars in hip-hop have also been a victim of such attacks, including legendary rapper Notorious B.I.G who died after being shot to death at
To help bridge the gap between Black homeowners and their white counterparts, Ashley D. Bell and Dr. Bernice A. King have partnered up to launch a new initiative to make the path to homeownership more accessible. Fintech platform, Ready Life offers consumers a new path to buying a home that does not include credit score requirements. Instead, the clever move aims to equip communities with the tools needed to help them advance economically. Continuing her father’s legacy Dr. Bernice King, daughter of civil rights legend, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is following in her father’s footsteps
American clothing company, Old Navy, will donate $500,000 to the Fifteen Percent Pledge to support the growth of Black creative entrepreneurs. The collaboration, an expansion of the Old Navy’s Project WE series, marks the first product collaboration for the Pledge to support diverse artists as they enter the retail industry on a national level. Project WE, launched in 2021, has helped create a space for diverse and talented artists to gain visibility and equitable access. “Old Navy is proud to amplify and celebrate diverse voices through our Project WE initiative
Nigeria-based fintech startup, Anchor has received over $1M in investment to help expand its workforce and services. The startup fund program is backed by fund program, Y Combinator, and other venture capital firms, including Byld Ventures, Luno Expeditions, Niche Capital, Mountain Peak Capital, and angel investors such as the founder of SeamlessHR, Emmanuel Okeleji. Co-founded in 2021 by Segun Adeyemi, Olamide Sobowale, and Gbekeloluwa Olufotebi, the banking-as-a-service platform, allows consumers to embed accounts, cards, payments, lending, and other financial features to their products within minutes. “We’re now seeing a new development where businesses want to
Since its launch in 2009, WhatsApp has intensified instant messaging and made communicating easier for families, friends, and companies. But in most recent years, particularly during the pandemic, it’s being used for much more. Teachers in Africa took advantage of the platform during the lockdowns when schools were shut. Data from a study conducted by Sabinet analyzed a WhatsApp group of 24 economics teachers and three lead teachers (heads of departments) from 15 schools in Kwazulu-Natal province, South Africa and a focus group interview was thematically analyzed to present findings.
Some of the people working diligently behind the scenes to develop thought-provoking media coverage and memorable experiences are publicists or public relations (PR) professionals. They are the incredible minds that develop branding strategies, implement marketing ideas and help create experiences for clients’ customers, followers, and their own clients. Tech companies rely on a steady stream of public relations to introduce their products, explain new and emerging concepts, and act fast when crises strike. Here, we’ve made a list of leading tech’s rising PR stars bringing diverse stories to the forefront of the
In a recent TikTok video, former Beauty and Style Editor at Essence magazine, Blake Newby, opened up about her journey into venture capital after spending many years working within the editorial and digital realm. After one year as Beauty and Style Editor at Essence magazine, Newby has set her sights on a new journey: helping small Black beauty brands excel to new heights. “So, as of Friday, I am no longer a Beauty and Style Editor. I know that I have detailed the volatility of the editorial industry – I’m
