Michael Seibel, one of Silicon Valley’s most influential Black entrepreneurs and investors, announced on Wednesday that he is transitioning to a “partner emeritus” role at Y Combinator (YC) after more than 12 years with the startup accelerator. “This role allows me to continue to do office hours with the 1000+ companies I’ve worked with in the past decade while giving me the free time to explore new adventures,” he shared on X. “It also means that the W25 batch was my last batch funding new YC companies.” Garry Tan, CEO
Kenyan logistics startup Leta has secured $5 million in seed funding to expand its AI-powered platform, which helps businesses move goods more efficiently across Africa, TechCrunch reports. The round was led by European venture capital firm Speedinvest, with backing from Google’s Africa Investment Fund and Africa-focused climate tech fund Equator. Streamling Logistics with AI Founded in 2021 by Nick Joshi, Leta is tackling Africa’s logistics challenges by streamlining supply chains, reducing inefficiencies, and helping businesses save time and money. Its platform integrates with businesses’ sales and ordering systems, pulling real-time data
Megan Garcia is seeking to hold Google and AI firm Character.AI responsible for the death of her 14-year-old son, Sewell Setzer III. Character.AI, an interactive chatbot platform, lets users design or select lifelike personas with which to communicate. Sewell developed a deep attachment to a chatbot he named “Dany,” inspired by Game of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen. His mother alleges that his obsessive use of the chatbot, along with the platform’s addictive design, worsened his mental health and led to his suicide in February 2024. “The inventors and the companies, the corporations that
The Nigerian parliament recently passed a resolution banning pornographic websites with immediate effect. The decision follows a motion presented by lawmaker Dalhatu Tafoki, who raised concerns about the accessibility of explicit content and its perceived impact on societal values, particularly among youth. Concerns over moral decline According to Peoples Gazette, Tafoki highlighted the psychological and social risks he believes are linked to exposure to pornography, citing global research by psychologists and sociologists. “Renowned psychologists and sociologists worldwide have issued strong warnings about the psychological, sociological, and mental consequences of consuming pornographic content,”
Elon Musk’s Starlink is facing significant backlash in Lesotho over local equity. A rights group called Section 2 wants Starlink to give 30% of its ownership to Basotho citizens before obtaining a license to operate, according to TechPoint. The group voiced its concerns to the Lesotho Communications Authority, stating that the licensing deal is unfair since there is no local ownership. They also highlighted that other telecom providers in Lesotho, like Econet and Vodacom, have local shareholders, so why should Starlink receive special treatment? Starlink faces similar issues in South
Create Labs Ventures is collaborating with TONL, a Black-owned stock photography company, to launch the first-ever AI-powered image-generator exclusively trained to create a Black-owned stock photo library, Femi Magazine reports. This partnership aims to tackle biases in AI image generation, where models trained on white-dominated datasets often produce inaccurate or offensive depictions of Black, Brown, and other marginalized communities. communities. By leveraging TONL’s diverse collection, it aims to create more authentic, representative images. Black Representation in Stock Photography TONL was founded by Nigerian-American social entrepreneur Karen Okonkwo and Ghanaian-American Joshua
This week, hosts Abadesi and Michael discuss the state of the economy—how politics, layoffs, and shifting trends are hitting both new grads and seasoned pros. They chat about smart investing, changing consumer habits, and why building your brand matters more than ever. Plus, they explore hidden opportunities, sustainable growth, and the future of DEI. Chapters 00:00 The Economy A Mess and Everybody’s Struggling?07:09 Investment Strategies For Uncertain Times11:07 No-Buy Year: Getting Thrifty in 2025 14:23 Industry Trends and Opportunities Listen to the episode You can find the Techish podcast on Spotify, Apple,
Cheersy, a digital platform connecting engaged couples with quality day-of wedding coordinators, secured $550,000 in a pre-seed financing round led by Kerry Washington. Other angel investors and advisors include Jennifer Gilbert, Founder of Save the Date®, Elizabeth Cutler, Co-Founder of SoulCycle and Peoplehood, and Christina Tosi, Chef and founder of Milk Bar. A digital wedding marketplace for couples Cheersy Founder and CEO Amy Shack Egan founded Modern Rebel, a NYC-based full-service wedding planning business. After it received strong demand, she wanted to build a digital marketplace where couples could experience the unique wedding
Latine workers in California are at high risk of losing their jobs due to growing automation, the use of technology to perform repetitive tasks without human involvement. According to a new report by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Latine workers are overrepresented in occupations most vulnerable to automation, such as agricultural laborers, construction laborers, landscaping workers and cooks. “Latino workers face significant challenges as their job responsibilities become more technical and analytical,” the report states. “Digital literacy and skills are low among Latino workers, and many
In 2024, US startups with Black founders received just 0.4% of total funding, the lowest share in recent years and down more than two-thirds from just three years ago. According to Crunchbase data, overall startup funding increased to $314 billion last year, but only $730 million went to Black founders. Which Black startups received the most funding last year? Twelve picked up a $200 million Series C in September, led by Capricorn Investment Group, Pulse Fund, and TPG. The startup converts carbon dioxide into jet fuel and other practical products. The company also
