Fresh Bourbon wins the appeal to have the right to say that they distilled the first Black-produced bourbon in Kentucky, at least for now, according to the Lexington Herald Leader. Black-owned Louisville-based Brough Brothers sued Fresh Bourbon’s marketing, alleging that the claim from Fresh Bourbon “to be the first Black-owned distillery in Kentucky” was false advertising because they didn’t have their own distillery at the time. The appeal Sean and Tia Edwards released a bourbon in 2017, distilled at Hartfield Distillery in 2018. The Kentucky General Assembly recognized the brand
BKR Capital, previously known as Black Innovation Capital, recently announced that its Fund II has closed CA$20 million (around $14.5 million), as reported by TechCrunch. The Fund II Managing partner Lise Birikundavyi told TechCrunch that the fund, which is close to reaching its CA$50 million target, will support “high-growth technology companies led by founders from the Black community, building solutions for the future of work, living, and global connectivity.” It will focus on backing companies in Canada, but will also consider supporting companies worldwide. Companies will receive $250,000 and $1.5 million
The event and ticketing platform Posh has raised $37 million in Series B funding, according to Fortune. The round was led by FirstMark Capital, with participation from Causeway Ventures, Goodwater Capital, Companyon Ventures, and Epic Ventures. New York University students Avante Price and Eli Taylor‑Lemire founded Posh in 2019 after experiencing the limitations of Eventbrite. Speaking to Fortune, Price said, “I was using Eventbrite and other products to manage events, and then realized that the technology components were missing a ton of the capabilities that I needed.” About Posh Price and Taylor-Lemire, both rooted
Farm Credit is accusing Uncle Nearest of fraud, which includes an attempt to conceal a $20 million loan from Jay-Z, as stated by the Lexington Herald Leader. Nearest Green Distillery and the flagship Uncle Nearest whiskey brand have been under the management of a receiver since September, after lender Farm Credit Mid-America claimed the Weavers defaulted on more than $108 million in loans. Farm Credit Mid-America claims that Fawn and Keith Weaver have “egregiously mischaracterized” a $20 million loan from Jay-Z’s venture capital firm, MarcyPen. Jay-Z loan to Uncle Nearest being questioned
Nigeria’s federal government launched the iDice Startup Bridge, a two-track program giving idea-stage founders grants of up to ₦10 million ($7,215) and equity investment of $100,000 for post-MVP startups, according to Techcabal. The initiative will be executed by the Bank of Industry, with financial support from the African Development Bank, the Agence Française de Développement, and the Islamic Development Bank. iDice will be part of the wider Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) program, a federal initiative aligned with Nigeria’s digital economy agenda. “Founders Lab is a bridge that
Applications for the Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures 2026 cohort are open through March 31. Apply here. Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures (MSISV) provides early-stage innovators with access to capital and resources. During the five-month program, founders receive mentorship and networking with experienced industry leaders. The accelerator’s mission is to catalyze innovation and impact by supporting startups and nonprofits building a more inclusive and sustainable future. Meet the founders Miho Shoji, co-founder of Moodbit, developed autonomous AI agents that act as digital teammates and seamlessly integrate with enterprise
Anifa Mvuemba, founder of the fashion brand Hanifa, has announced that the brand will pause production. “I don’t want to rush just to prove resilience. I don’t want to pretend everything is fine just to keep momentum,” Mvuemba said in an interview with The Cut. “Right now, I’m reflecting. I’m protecting what matters to me in this season. And I’m allowing myself to be human in the process. I don’t know exactly what the future of Hanifa looks like at this very moment. And for the first time in 14
Uncle Nearest Property Listed for Sale Before Judge Decides on Receivership Expansion or Termination
Uncle Nearest is awaiting a decision on whether the company’s receivership should remain in place or be expanded to include Uncle Nearest and the current defendants, according to the Moore County Observer. Nearest Green Distillery and the flagship Uncle Nearest whiskey brand have been under a receiver’s management since September, after lender Farm Credit Mid-America claimed the Weavers defaulted on more than $108 million in loans. Uncle Nearest’s property listed for sale Receiver Phillip G. Young Jr listed the business’s Martha’s Vineyard property for sale. Farm Credit Mid-America alleges that Uncle Nearest
Pat McGrath Labs is being marketed to prospective buyers through bankruptcy proceedings, only days after GDA Luma said it had secured a controlling stake, The Business of Beauty reports. A bankruptcy judge chose Gordian Group as Pat McGrath Labs’ investment bank, which is seeking an “investment and acquisition opportunity” for the brand, as stated in a presentation viewed by BoF. Pat Mcgrath looking for a new investment During the presentation, prospective buyers were told that any transaction must repay debtor-in-possession claims totalling over $60 million, with an additional estimated $70 to
Makeup artist label Pat McGrath Labs has secured a $30 million financing package from the financial firm GDA Luma, according to Business of Fashion. The company filed for bankruptcy in a Miami court earlier this year to restructure its debts. The debt came from a loan obtained in April 2025 from GDA, according to the filings. The package was approved by a Miami, Florida bankruptcy court, which approved $10 million in new debtor-in-possession financing for the makeup brand, plus an additional $20 million in post-emergence working capital, according to a
