Black Leaders Detroit has announced the fifth annual Ride for Equity—an ambitious 1,645-mile cycling journey from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to New York City. The multi-state event pays tribute to the legacy of historic Black business districts and will also raise funds to support Black entrepreneurs, BridgeDetroit reports. “We’re riding from Black Wall Street in honor of the legacy of Greenwood,” Dwan Dandridge, founder and CEO of Black Leaders Detroit, told BridgeDetroit. “And we’re going to Wall Street because it’s another place where Black people had a huge hand in creating the
Costo is standing firm on its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments despite activist investors pushing for the company to make changes in line with those seen at Walmart, John Deere, and McDonald’s. Activist investors target DEI efforts Forbes reported that a proposal from a shareholder, put forward by a conservative think tank, challenged Costco to evaluate and openly share the harm linked with its DEI policies and goals. The proposal states that the firm DEI’s plans present financial, reputational, and litigation threats that could negatively affect shareholders. In the
This year, we’ve witnessed the ripple effects of the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action in college admissions with mounting conservative pressure against DEI initiatives across industries—from retail and banking to venture capital and nonprofits. Amid these challenges, the stories that resonated most with you this year were those of resistance and resilience: stories about Black women securing capital, launching funds, and building unicorn companies. You loved the stories about employees holding their employers to account—in words and deeds—and the investors, influencers, and innovators raising the bar in their respective
In 2024, Black-owned businesses faced significant challenges, from rising costs and gentrification to limited access to funding. Amid these obstacles, communities around the world rallied to provide crucial support. Through flash mobs, crowdfunding, and organized shopping events, they helped Black-owned businesses weather financial hardships and highlighted the power of collective action. Here are four examples of communities stepping up to make a difference. The Sistah Shop – Atlanta Facing potential closure due to financial difficulties, The Sistah Shop, a retail space showcasing over 100 Black women-owned brands, received a lifeline from
Carlos Watson, the founder of Ozy Media, was sentenced on Monday to 116 months in prison for defrauding investors and misrepresenting the company’s finances. The decision comes after Watson’s conviction in July for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that included falsifying contracts and fabricating deals to gain investor trust, according to Reuters. Fraudulent Deals And Fabricated Contracts The sentencing, delivered by US District Judge Eric Komitee in Brooklyn federal court, marks the culmination of a high-profile case. Prosecutors accused Watson and his now-defunct media startup of inflating revenue projections and audience
Latina-owned fintech platform Hello Alice has announced it has distributed more than $50 million in grants to small businesses across the US since 2020. Founded by Carolyn Rodz and Elizabeth Gore, the digital platform has become a cornerstone of support for entrepreneurs nationwide, providing funding, mentorship, and tools to help their businesses grow. Empowering Entrepreneurs Nationwide Hello Alice was born out of co-founder and CEO Carolyn Rodz’s struggles as an entrepreneur. A former JPMorgan investment banker from Bolivia, Rodz told American Banker she faced significant hurdles when raising capital for
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
This week on Techish, Michael and Abadesi tackle UK and US politics—covering Kemi Badenoch, budget hits for small businesses, and tax headaches for high earners. They also chat about Big Tech’s stance on the US elections, the tech industry’s broken promises, and wrap up with a look at catfishing in online dating. Kemi Badenoch Is Now the UK Conservative Party Leader (00:20) Is the New UK Budget Anti-Business? (04:55) 6-Figure Salaries, Childcare, and the Tax Debate (09:37) US Elections and Big Tech (16:40) Sweet Bobby and Catfishing (26:22) Listen to
This week, Techish hosts Abadesi and Michael talk about the challenges of promoting yourself on social media while staying authentic. They dive into gender norms, entrepreneurship, pricing strategies, and balancing personal vs. business branding—all while navigating the pressures of social media. Promoting yourself on social media (00:00) Zero to a million: How to make (and keep) money as an entrepreneur (09:50) Building a personal vs business brand (17:35) Navigating social media, vulnerability, and business exposure as a woman (21:15) Listen to the episode You can find the Techish podcast on Spotify,
Women’s health company Perelel has acquired LOOM, a sexual and reproductive health information platform co-founded by Erica Chidi. Chidi, a doula and health educator, joins Perelel as a strategic advisor, where she will use her expertise to advance the shared mission of supporting women and people with uteruses through their reproductive health journeys. LOOM’s Journey In 2017, Erica Chidi and Quinn Lundberg founded LOOM to fill gaps in reproductive health education, particularly for diverse communities. LOOM offers regulatory-compliant guidance and personalized support throughout different phases of sexual and reproductive health,
