The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) has partnered with Urban Strategies Inc. (USI) to enhance opportunities and access for minority businesses across the US. Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development at the MBDA, Eric Morrissette, and USI President, Esther Shin, marked the partnership with the signing of a memorandum of understanding. Expanding Access to Resources for Minority Entrepreneurs The USI’s federally designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) fund aims to promote racial and economic equity by offering resources and capital. By working together, the the MBDA and
Goodie Nation, an organization dedicated to empowering Black tech professionals, has secured over $150,000 in grants from the Kapor Center, Emory Philanthropy Lab, and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s GoATL Economic Inclusion Fund. This funding will enhance the ATL BLK TCH program, which aims to foster a robust and interconnected Black tech community in Atlanta. Building Bridges in the Black Tech Community The ATL BLK TCH program is designed to help Black tech professionals in Atlanta, offering a platform for networking, mentorship, and growth. With the new influx of
Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in Durban South Africa, has made history by appointing Prof. Nokuthula Sibiya as its first female vice-chancellor. A Collective Victory for Women Professor Sibiya began her education at Tholisu and Sawela Primary Schools and continued at Velabahleke and Vukuzakhe High Schools in Umlazi Township. She pursued higher education at the University of Zululand, where she earned a degree in nursing. Furthering her studies, she obtained a Doctor of Technology in Nursing from the Durban University of Technology. As a C-rated researcher – an established researcher
In recent years, the African tech startup ecosystem has seen steps towards greater gender diversity a new report has found. The report by Disrupt Africa, in partnership with the Africa-focused pre-seed investment program Madica, reveals these advancements while underscoring the need for more substantial efforts to achieve gender parity. Slow but Steady Progress Disrupt Africa’s latest publication, the 24th report and second edition of “Diversity Dividend: Exploring Gender Equality in the African Tech Ecosystem,” offers an analysis of gender diversity among African startups. This report includes both quantitative and qualitative
Beautiful Curly Me, an Atlanta-based toy, media and STEM company founded by 12-year-old Zoe Oli, is expanding with the launch of a new line of plush dolls in Target stores nationwide. This expansion makes Zoe the youngest CEO to introduce a toy brand at Target. The new line, called The Curly and Confident Crew, features unique dolls with natural curly hair that can be styled. Promoting STEM and Empowerment In addition to their design, the Curly and Confident Crew dolls comes with a message that encourages girls to explore their
Elon Musk, owner of social media platform X, is facing widespread criticism after sharing a deceptively edited video of Vice President Kamala Harris. The video, which makes it appear that Harris is disparaging President Joe Biden and boasting about being the “ultimate diversity hire,” was reposted by Musk without any disclaimer that it was a parody. This action seemingly violates X’s own policy on manipulated media. A Violation of Platform Policies? The controversial video originally posted by @MrReaganUSA was labeled as a “parody” by the creator. However, Musk’s repost, accompanied
Intuit is hiring on POCIT. Dishanta Kpatrick is a Full Stack Software Engineer at Intuit Mailchimp with an unconventional career journey. When she’s not at work, she’s learning to roller skate, renovating her house, and finishing her Cybersecurity degree at Kennesaw State University. Dishanta first discovered her computing talent in high school but explored other paths before returning to it in 2012. She taught herself web design and development online, starting in Intuit’s tech support team and working her way up to an engineer. Now, she balances her job with
Jackson State University (JSU) has become the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and the first institution in Mississippi to receive the prestigious Founders Award from the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). A Landmark Achievement for JSU and HBCUs JSU’s journey with the National Academy of Inventors began in 2011 as a charter member. Over the years, multiple faculty members have been inducted as NAI fellows, with groundbreaking inventions that have impacted both society and the economy. For example, Dr. Ernest Izevbigie, the first NAI fellow from JSU, was
Intron Health, a clinical speech-recognition startup, recently raised $1.6 million in a pre-seed round led by Microtraction, with participation from several other venture firms. Founded by Tobi Olatunji, the company aims to bridge the gap in speech-recognition tools for speakers of minority languages, those with thick accents, or speech disorders. Bridging the Speech Recognition Gap Voice recognition technology is increasingly integrated into modern living, yet it often fails to serve those with thick accents or speech disorders. Olatunji, founder and CEO of Intron Health, is addressing this issue as he
The African startup ecosystem has witnessed a surge in investment, crossing the $1 billion mark in 2024, according to The Big Deal. This milestone was achieved faster than anticipated, due to several significant deals announced in July. Notably, d.light secured a $176 million securitization facility, and MNT-Halan raised $157.5 million for its expansion efforts. These, along with NALA’s $40 million Series A and other smaller deals, have pushed July 2024 to become the most successful month in African startup fundraising in over a year, amassing nearly $400 million. This figure
