Global music icon Shakira has partnered with Amazon and Code.org, through her non-profit, Fundación Pies Descalzos, to expand computer science education for Hispanic students worldwide. The collaboration will help young people learn to code through an interactive music experience that uses Shakira’s Spanish-language hits and also provide computer science education training to teachers across Colombia. Learning to code through music Shakira has long worked to enhance educational opportunities for underserved communities in Latin America. In celebration of the partnership, Shakira has donated songs like “Amarillo” and “Chantaje” to Code.org’s Music
London-based fintech unicorn Zepz, formerly known as WorldRemit, has raised $267 million from new and existing investors to expand its global cross-border payments platform. Zepz’s fundraising round was led by Accel, with participation from Leapfrog, TCV, and Coller Capital, as first reported by Bloomberg. The International Financial Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, has also committed to invest up to $20 million. Zepz not disclose its valuation in this round but was valued at $5 billion after its $292 million Series E round in 2021. Simplifying Money Transfers
Yamilée Toussaint, founder of STEM From Dance and an MIT-trained engineer, has been named a CNN Hero for her efforts to bridge the gap between young girls of color and STEM careers. Through her nonprofit, Toussaint combines dance and STEM education to inspire and equip the next generation of innovators, especially those who might not see themselves represented in these fields. “It’s an honor to be selected as a CNN Hero,” Toussaint said. “I’m proud of the work we do to connect girls of color with STEM in a joyful and
A new R300-million ($15.6 million) Seed Fund of Funds has been launched to provide crucial early-stage capital for South African tech startups. This initiative, backed by the SA SME Fund, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), and impact investor E Squared Investments, aims to fund at least 50 technology-driven startups. The fund seeks to address a gap in South Africa’s venture capital landscape, which has historically favored later-stage investments. By focusing on seed capital, it will help budding entrepreneurs transition their ideas into viable
David Steward, founder and chairman of World Wide Technology (WWT), is now recognized as the wealthiest Black man in the US, with an estimated net worth of $11.4 billion. Steward ranks at No. 84 on Forbes’ recently released 2024 Forbes 400 list, a definitive ranking of the wealthiest Americans. This year, individuals needed a minimum of $3.3 billion to make the cut, with the list reflecting a total net worth of $5.4 trillion—an increase of $1 trillion from the previous year. David Steward’s Rise in the Tech World Steward, 73,
The first-ever NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator Demo Day has crowned four African startups as champions. The event, held in New York City at the NBA headquarters, saw four standout companies—Festival Coins, Salubata, HustleSasa, and UBR VR—win financial awards and mentorship opportunities to help scale their businesses. Top Startups Rise from Over 700 Applicants The NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator, launched in April 2024, aims to fuel growth for African startups operating in sports and creative industries. By providing capital, mentorship, and connections, the initiative supports early-stage companies that focus on event
Lorenzo Lewis, a Black entrepreneur born in prison, has overcome challenges to build a $20 million company focused on mental health advocacy. Despite facing tremendous challenges, including his own incarceration at 17, Lewis now leads a $20 million company, inspiring others through his story of resilience and success. From Incarceration to Entrepreneurship Despite facing difficult circumstances early in life, Lewis pursued higher education, earning degrees in Human Services and Public Administration. After his release, he founded The Confess Project of America (TCPA), a nonprofit organization aimed at breaking the stigma
Barry Lawson Williams, founder of the Black Corporate Board Readiness (BCBR) progam, has been honored with a $10 million endowment to advance Black representation on corporate boards. Increasing Black representation on corporate boards At a gala event on Friday, September 27, 2024, honoring Barry Lawson Williams’ efforts to increase Black representation on corporate boards, Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business announced a $10 million endowment for the BCBR program. The $10 million capital campaign will establish the Barry Lawson Williams BCBR Program Endowment Fund, ensuring the program’s sustainability, and
Carver Bancorp, one of the nation’s oldest and largest Black-owned banks, has announced Donald Felix as its new president and CEO, effective November 1, 2024. Felix, a 25-year veteran of the banking industry, steps into this leadership role following a challenging year for the institution, which included a hostile takeover attempt. The announcement, made September 16, 2024, comes as Carver looks to stabilize and grow under Felix’s guidance. A New Chapter in Leadership Donald Felix succeeds Craig MacKay, who served as interim CEO since October 2023 following the departure of
Reddit is bringing its AI-powered translation tool to more than 35 new countries, with plans to rollout the feature across Latin America in the coming weeks. Following a successful introduction in France earlier this year, users in Brazil and Spain are now able to translate posts and comments with a simple click, making Reddit more accessible to non-English-speaking communities. Seamless Translation Across Platforms This new feature allows Redditors to translate posts and comments into their preferred language across all platforms—mobile web, apps, and desktop. A translation icon in the overflow
