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
Kisha A. Brown, an award-winning civil rights attorney and speaker, is the founder of Justis Connection, a Black-owned legal tech platform. Justis Connection enables individuals to connect with trusted Black lawyers across various legal practices. It has recently announced its plan to prepare 1,000 Black lawyers ready to serve 1 million Black households across the United States. Black lawyers are still a minority Even though Black people in the US make up 13% of the population, Black lawyers represent approximately 5% of the legal profession, a figure that has remained
Ankor AI, a startup founded by Kyle Rowley, has just raised $1.3 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Upfin, according to Tech Funding News. Juni, Pleo, Moss, and Klarna also participated in the funding round. Former basketball player Rowley founded the Swedish fintech company after spending four years working with different finance teams. During this time, he observed the challenges of accessing financial data, particularly for e-commerce brands seeking credit or a precise cash flow. “I met smart operators who knew exactly what needed to be done, but
Since returning to office in January, President Trump has ramped up efforts to increase the deportation of immigrants, setting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a goal of arresting at least 3,000 migrants a day. In response, ICE raids have surged across the country. High-profile workplace operations in cities like Los Angeles have led to widespread protests and federal deployments. According to The Independent, demonstrations have erupted in more than 40 cities. Many of the recent detentions involve individuals with no prior criminal record. Immigrants now face the risk of arrest in
The Redemption Holding Company, a Black-led investment group, has completed its acquisition of Utah-based Holladay Bank and Trust, a woman-led bank that’s operated one brand in Salt Lake City since 1974. The acquisition marks the first time a bank has been owned by a Black-led investment group in the Rockies and Mountain West and also the first time Black investors have acquired a white-owned bank. The first Black-owned bank west of Texas The newly formed Redemption Bank will also be the first Black-owned financial institution to be located outside of
