The Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy has launched a $100 million fund to remove the financial barriers that often stall clean energy projects in Native American communities. The Indigenous Power & Light Fund for Energy Sovereignty is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and other philanthropic organizations. Tackling Energy Inequities Many Native American communities still lack access to electricity. A 2022 report from the Department of Energy revealed that nearly 17,000 tribal homes remain unelectrified. On the Navajo Nation, the
BET has partnered with Cistus Media to launch Shop With BET, a curated online marketplace that celebrates Black-owned and inclusive brands. Celebrating Black Businesses Unveiled just in time for the holiday season, Shop With BET offers an exclusive selection of culturally inspired products, showcasing the creativity and entrepreneurship of Black founders and small businesses. “This partnership is about more than just commerce; it’s about creating a platform that celebrates diversity and empowers our communities,” Candi Carter, CEO of Cistus Media, said in a statement. “We are committed to curating an experience
Bozoma Saint John, one of the industry’s highest-profile marketing executives, is launching Eve by Boz, a wig and haircare brand, as first reported by Fortune. The independently funded venture promises to cater specifically to Black women and address gaps in the wig industry that Saint John says have been overlooked for too long. Filling a Gap in the Market Saint John made history in 2020 as Netflix’s first Black C-suite executive and previously held marketing leadership roles at Uber, Apple, and PepsiCo. Since stepping down from her Netflix role in
Since 2016, JaMichael Mitchell’s digital marketing agency, EraBright, has been helping Black-owned businesses succeed in a competitive digital landscape. With a mission rooted in cultural understanding, EraBright provides tailored strategies—like SEO, social media marketing, and targeted ads—to help Black businesses reach the right audiences and grow sustainably. From Corporate Marketer to Black Business Advocate Mitchell’s experience spans over a decade in digital marketing, beginning with roles at top national agencies and campaigns for high-profile brands. With degrees from Fayetteville State University and Full Sail University, and certifications in Google Analytics,
SocialCrowd, co-founded by Raphael Akinsipe, has successfully raised $2.5 million in a seed funding round led by Bread and Butter Ventures and Augment Ventures. This latest investment, which also saw participation from VC 414, Serac Ventures and FullCircle will support SocialCrowd’s expansion, following a $1.6 million pre-seed round in February. The startup seeks to elevate performance and engagement among frontline and shift-based workers across industries. “Fitbit for work” Platform Founded in 2022, SocialCrowd has carved a niche in helping industries with high turnover rates, such as retail, manufacturing, and hospitality,
Visa has announced investments in four African fintech startups that recently graduated from its Africa Fintech Accelerator program. While Visa did not disclose specific investment amounts, the initiative reflects its ongoing efforts to drive financial inclusion and support digital innovation in Africa. Supporting Fintech Innovation Across Africa The four startups—Oze, Workpay, OkHi, and ORDA—each offer digital solutions tailored to address key financial and logistical challenges in African markets. By backing these companies, Visa is betting on a diverse range of technologies to enhance access to financial services for small businesses,
Black Veterans for Social Justice (BVSJ), a Brooklyn-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans, has teamed up with Microsoft to provide tech skills training to over 5,000 veterans preparing to transition into civilian careers. The training program, launching in December 2024, is part of Microsoft’s Nonprofit Tech Acceleration for Black and African American Communities initiative. It will help veterans build skills in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, coding, artificial intelligence (AI), and game development. Addressing the Skills Gap for Veterans in Tech Microsoft’s collaboration with BVSJ addresses a key gap for
This week, Techish hosts Michael and Abadesi dig into Gen Z politics, focusing on why some young men are shifting conservative. They chat about how social media and creators fuel toxic views on women and masculinity, the need for healthier masculinity, and the struggles young men face today. Plus, they tackle ageism in startups, questioning stereotypes about younger and older workers. Gen Z men are more conservative (00:17) Are online creators grooming boys to hate women? (06:55) The need for healthy masculinity (12:55) Should startups hire over 30s? (17:45) Listen
Whoopi Goldberg is launching All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN), a dedicated 24/7 global sports network exclusively for women’s sports. The EGOT-winning actress and longtime advocate announced the launch on the Jimmy Fallon Show. Women’s Sports Finally Get Full-Time Coverage In an industry where women’s sports receive less than 20% of total coverage, Goldberg’s network arrives to bridge the gap. Unlike traditional channels that occasionally cover women’s events, this platform will spotlight women’s sports continuously, offering professional basketball, soccer, and growing sports like skateboarding and surfing. Goldberg’s network goes beyond game
Kenya’s Communications Authority (CA) has directed telecom operators to suspend access to Telegram during specific hours, aiming to prevent students from sharing answers during national exams. The move follows Kenya’s ongoing efforts to curb exam-related misconduct using encrypted messaging platforms, with CA pointing to Telegram’s lack of full cooperation in its regulatory requests. Why Is Telegram Targeted? Telegram, which has over a billion users worldwide, has become a tool for communication in Kenya, thanks to its encryption and ability to host large chat groups. However, the CA argues that this
