In this episode, Abadesi and Michael talk about the realities of layoffs, sharing personal experiences and tips on spotting the warning signs, preparing for them, and handling the aftermath. They discuss the importance of mental health, financial planning, and side hustles to help diversify income. It’s a practical and helpful conversation for anyone dealing with job uncertainty or recovering from a layoff. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Layoffs and Personal Experiences06:13 Understanding Job Security in Different Roles15:04 Immediate Steps After Being Laid Off Listen to the episode You can find the Techish podcast on Spotify, Apple,
Robin AI, a Black-owned legal AI startup, has won second place on the Startups 100 index. The startup uses AI to automate contract reviews, slashing costs and freeing up legal teams. Last year, it raised $25 million in a unique extension of its Series B funding round. The company was founded in 2019 by former Clifford Chance lawyer Richard Robinson and machine learning researcher James Clough. “Robin AI are truly ground breaking in their innovation, aiming to cut down legal processing times. Despite the challenges, the UK is still a
Fundment, a Black-owned all-in-one tech platform for financial advisers, raised £45 million ($55.4 million) in Series C led by Highland Europe, as per Tech Funding News. The investment will scale the team, develop the product, and achieve future growth. Financial advisers are under more pressure than ever, which is why the global financial planning software market is set to amount to $18.1 billion in the next decade. For this reason, Fundment aims to create innovative solutions for financial advisers that will allow a smooth experience for their clients. “Financial advice is
After 20 years, Mellody Hobson will leave her board role at Starbucks. Hobson’s career at Starbucks began after she was recruited to serve on the Board by Howard Schultz in 2005; she became vice chair, chair, and independent director. “On behalf of everybody at Starbucks — and every partner who has gone before — thank you, Melody, for your leadership, your tremendous care, your passionate support, and for being a loyal shareholder,” Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccol said in a statement to partners. Hobson at Starbucks Hobson spent
Lidiane Jones will step down from her role as CEO of Bumble Inc. and Founder and Executive Chair; Whitney Wolfe Herd will step in Jones’ place. Herd will transition to Chief Executive Officer, effective mid-March 2025. Jones said she is leaving her role due to personal reasons, according to a press release. “Bumble has made tremendous progress over the past year in building a platform for renewed, sustainable growth, and I will be forever proud of the work we’ve done for this beloved global brand,” Jones said. Whitney Wolfe Herd
Africa-focused venture capital firm Oui Capital returned its $4 million debut fund after the sale of some shares in Nigerian fintech unicorn Moniepoint, as Techcrunch reports. Oui Capital’s Investment in Moniepoint Last year, the Nigeria-based fintech company successfully raised $110 million in a Series C funding round. That raise gave the company a valuation of at least $1 billion for the first time, according to the Financial Times. When Moniepoint first launched its fund, Oui Capital invested $150,000 in the company, but it has now accumulated an $8 million return, which
The London-based venture capital firm Black Seed VC has won the prestigious 2025 Startups 100 DEI Award. Black Seed VC aims to address the funding gap between white and Black founders. The company was also ranked 41st in the 2025 Startups 100 Index, the UK’s longest-running index of the most promising new businesses. When and why was Black Seed VC founded? Black seed VC was founded by Karl Lokko in 2021, who spent a decade campaigning and advocating for a fairer and more inclusive business ecosystem. After the death of George Floyd, businesses and brands
Wini University, an AI-focused university, is set to open in Epe, Lagos, as first reported by Voice of Nigeria. As the first university of its kind in Nigeria, Wini University aims to equip Nigerian youth with hard-hitting skills in artificial intelligence and make Africa a hub in the global AI market. The university draws inspiration from Qatar’s AI university, which takes top talent worldwide; this Nigerian project has been in the pipeline since 2016. A group of people from Boston and Nigeria started establishing the foundation for the university. After
In 2024, African startups saw fewer investors financing deals of over $100,000. 850 startups received funding over $100,000 in 2021, but this number decreased to around 520 last year, according to findings from Africa: The Big Deal. The report also found that investors are less active than before, as 28 were involved in over ten $100,000 deals in 2022, but this number dropped to 8 in 2024. Who were the top investors in Africa in 2024? 54 Collective was the only investor participating in more than 20 $100,000 deals. The
Last year, Nigeria’s position on the Global Threat Index moved from the 35th position to the 13th position between May and December. Additionally, the country’s normalized risk index skyrocketed from 46.5% to 62.3% during the same time. These figures highlight an increase in cyberattacks in the country. The Global Threat Index is a monthly report collected by Check Point Securities. They are one of the leading cybersecurity solutions that examines the global cyber threat landscape based on reliable threat intelligence. Which other African countries were vulnerable to cyberattacks? The latest report found that
