MeVitae, a UK-based Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) startup, has successfully secured a $1.8 million (€1.7 million) seed round spearheaded by Apex Black. MeVitae Founded by Oxford University alumni, Neuroscientist Riham Satti and Computer Scientist Vivek Doraiswamy, MeVitae specializes in offering a comprehensive DEI ecosystem of HR tools. These tools, developed from a blend of AI ethics and neuroscience perspectives, are designed to detect and mitigate biases, to enhance smarter, faster, and fairer hiring decisions. “Growing up, I never considered that my gender or skin color might impede opportunities. It
Actress, author, and entrepreneur Malinda Williams has launched the ESTEAM Project for women at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The coding bootcamp emerges from her Arise And Shine Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering women from diverse backgrounds. “As a professional actress and someone who has experienced first-hand the support of my community, I understand the value of collaboration and paying it forward,” said Williams in a press release. “The Arise and Shine Foundation exists to empower women to reach their goals, and coding is a powerful
NASA plans to focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education for a future diverse workforce. NASA’s Mission Equity This week, the agency published its Equity Action Plan 2023, which included new commitments to continue removing inequitable barriers and challenges facing underserved communities. In line with the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to racial equity (Executive Order 14091), NASA’s plan represents a contribution towards a more equitable society. The 2023 Equity Plan includes increasing the utilization and integration of contractors and businesses from underserved communities to expand equity in NASA’s procurement process. It
As Black History Month unfolds, BlackPast.org is offering a Civil Rights Black Power Timeline to showcase significant developments in the Black Freedom Struggle from 1905 to 1975. Founded on February 1, 2007, BlackPast offers in-depth reference information about people of African ancestry in the United States and worldwide. Now, it marks its 17th anniversary amidst growing acclaim, having welcomed nearly 60 million visitors since its inception. Celebrating the Civil Rights Movement: 1905-1975 This year, BlackPast shines a spotlight on the 20th-century Civil Rights Movement, covering the period from 1905 to
Beta Boom, a US-based venture capital firm, has announced the closure of its $14.5 million Fund II. Founded in 2017 by Kimmy and Sergio Paluch, Beta Boom is committed to bridging the funding gap experienced by underrepresented founders, particularly in areas beyond the major tech hubs. Beta Boom’s Fund II Beta Boom’s Fund II, raised by the duo, alongside Ally Bank, Melinda French Gates’ Pivotal Ventures, and Bank of America, signifies a pivotal shift in the venture capital landscape. The fund aims to support early-stage startups that cater to the
Black Americans consume more media than any other US population, but almost 70% wish they saw better representation, a Nielsen report has found. Black Audiences Consume The Most Media Nielsen’s “The Global Black Audience” report highlights Black America’s significant engagement with media and their perspective on representation in content and advertising. Black Americans remain today’s core audience, spending more time with media than any other US population, 81 hours weekly. Black audiences 18 and older in the US spend the most time on media daily – nearly 12 hours. The
Ingenium has opened applications for its new Black and African Canadian Scientific and Technological Innovations Fellowship. Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation Ingenium, Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, is responsible for Canada’s national scientific and technological collection, which includes over two million archival items and more than 150,000 artifacts. It also oversees three national museums in Ottowa, including the Canada Science and Technology Museum, where the fellowship will occur. The fellowship was developed in partnership with the Black Canadian Studies Association with the help of founding donors Dr. Gervan Fearon
Paul Judge And Marcelo Claure Are Raising $200M For Their Open Opportunity Fund For Diverse Startups
After buying SoftBank’s Open Opportunity Fund, Paul Judge and Marcelo Claure have announced plans to raise a $200 million fund. SoftBank Group is a Japanese multinational investment holding company focusing on investment management. Judge and Claure recently acquired the firm’s $100 million Open Opportunity Fund 1, $150 million Fund 2, and the entire portfolio. They initially planned to increase Fund 2 to $200 million, which they are now doing. A New $200M Fund The two are now raising the second Open Opportunity Fund, as they want to replicate the same winning recipe with an eye toward
After Elon Musk’s comments criticizing diversity initiatives, Tesla has removed language about having a majority-minority workforce. Tesla has omitted a line from its latest Securities and Exchange Commission filing. In its 10-K filing last month, a comprehensive report on Tesla’s activities throughout 2023, the company removed a line it used a year ago. The original line read, “With a majority-minority workforce, empowering our employee resource groups to take charge in driving initiatives that attract, develop, and retain our passionate workforce is vital to our continued success.” What Has Musk Said?
Snap and Zoom’s mass layoffs have impacted workers in various roles across the company, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) teams at both tech companies. Snap’s Layoffs Snap, the maker of Snapchat and Bitmoji, has laid off around 500 employees this month. The layoffs were most often conducted over brief video calls. According to Business Insider, engineers, content moderation teams, and a small number of people doing trust and safety work were impacted. This included several people working on a team within HR that helped with internal employee analytics, including surveys
