The Financial Times has released its ranking of the fastest-growing African countries. The ranking, now in its fourth year, revealed that Nigerian and South African companies dominate the list, with 79 businesses from both countries featured. This speaks to the size and entrepreneurial depths of both economies, according to the FT. It also shows that businesses from smaller countries are struggling to build a continental presence. Nigerian companies on the list The top three companies on the list are Nigerian: Omniretail Inc., PalmPay Ltd, and Remedial Health Inc. PalmPay is
Workplace surveillance in the Global South is on the rise, according to a new report by Coworker.org, a labor rights nonprofit based in New York. Technologies for tracking and managing staff workers are expanding in scale and sophistication in more than 150 startups and regional companies based in Kenya, Nigeria, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, and India, researchers said. The term “Little Tech” was made popular by the VC firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), which argues that excessive regulation was stifling innovation. The Coworker.org report found that the Little Tech ecosystem, which primarily consists of unregulated, venture
A group of West Michigan Black-led economic development organizations has received a $300,000 state grant to continue serving Black businesses in the area. The West Michigan Black Economic and Business Development Group was established during the COVID-19 pandemic and comprises Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses, Battle Creek-based Sisters in Business, Black Wall Street Kalamazoo, and Black Wall Street Muskegon. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. manages the Trusted Connector Grant program, which gives 23 organizations across the country a total of $6.8 million. A $300,000 grant The $300,000 grant will maintain
Baltimore’s Mayor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development (SMBA&D) is working with US Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC) to support small, minority, and women-owned businesses. The new partnership will provide these entrepreneurs with access to certification programs, contracting opportunities, and business development support. With 102,000 Black-owned businesses in Maryland, this program will significantly benefit Black-business owners in the area. SMBA&D collaborating with USBC The USBC supports a network of African American Chambers of Commerce and business organizations by providing them with resources and initiatives, and this collaboration will
Nahom Worku, a 21-year-old Ethiopian student at York University, is one of Apple’s Swift Student Challenge winners thanks to his innovative educational application, Access Ed. His app provides students in Ethiopia with consistent internet access, enabling them to utilize educational tools, according to Apple. Worku’s inspiration Growing up in Ethiopia, Worku frequently experienced unreliable internet access and observed the scarcity of quality education among many students. His app, Playground AccessEd, has solutions for both issues. So, he created an application that stores all user data and learning materials locally on
Serena Williams has joined an initiative created by Reckitt to support up to 200 health and hygiene start-ups founded by women and under-represented entrepreneurs. The initiative, called Reckitt Catalyst, is a five-year commitment with up to £10 million ($13.7 million) to provide entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and expertise from Reckitt leaders and Serena Williams. Since 2020, the company has helped 60 entrepreneurs across 13 countries, allowing business owners to unlock access to health, clean water, and sanitation for one million people, as stated in a press release. What is Reckitt
Hartbeat, the global entertainment company founded by Kevin Hart, and Sundial Media & Technology Group (SMTG), the parent company of ESSENCE, AFROPUNK, and Refinery29, have partnered to launch an ESSENCE-branded FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channel. This partnership comes at a crucial time, as Black viewership on Connected TV (CTV) and FAST platforms is experiencing significant growth; however, programs specifically targeted at Black women on major streaming platforms are limited. “We’re proud to introduce an ESSENCE-branded FAST channel that elevates the voices, experiences, and culture of our audience, offering access
Revolt’s parent company, Offscript Worldwide, has acquired Black-owned gaming and digital media company 3BlackDot (3BD), marking its entry into the $347 billion global gaming market, as first reported by Variety. The acquisition brings together two influential Black-led companies. The financial details of the deal have not been disclosed. 3Blackdot joins Offscript With over 128 million YouTube subscribers, 3BlackDot has lent its hand to producing entertainment IPs, including “Gaming While Black” and “Alpha Betas,” the feature film “Queen & Slim,” and the book series “The Proudest Blue” and “The Kindest Red.” CEO Reginald Cash
According to some estimates, 80% of medical bills contain errors; Avelis Health utilizes AI to help Americans save money on these bills. The startup recently raised $500,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by Y Combinator. Founded in February 2025 by Angel Onuoha and Ahmad Shehu, Avelis Health utilizes AI agents to scan users’ medical bills, identifying common errors and helping Americans save thousands of dollars. Onuoha’s personal experience with a chronic knee injury prompted his decision to build the company. “Over the past decade, I’ve had to fight down
Fewer Black professionals are entering venture capital, and even fewer are rising through the ranks, a new report has found. The Black Venture Report 2025 On Juneteenth, BLCK VC released the third edition of its Black Venture report. Its first edition was promoted by a question between the co-founders: Where are we, really? That question expanded into a critical report that highlights the link between Black representation and power in venture capital. “Our research continues to expose a stark truth: Black investors remain severely underrepresented, especially in senior roles,” it
