A new augmented reality (AR) app, Looking Glass, is offering Pittsburgh residents and visitors a unique way to explore the city’s rich Black history. The Looking Glass Launched this summer by technologist Adrian Jones, the Looking Glass app turns historical archives into interactive, location-based experiences. Users can explore various Pittsburgh neighborhoods and uncover the stories that have shaped these communities over time. The app’s first focus is East Liberty, a neighborhood that has undergone changes over the decades as it faced a sharp decline in the 1960s due to an
R&B artist Brent Faiyaz and his business partner Ty Baisden have invested more than $100,000 in Black women-led STEM companies, according to Billboard. Investing Music Profits Into Black Women-Led Businesses Under their Lost Kids label, Faiyaz and Baisden operate a 50/50 business partnership that reinvests profits from Faiyaz’s music career into various ventures. Their primary focus is on Black women-led businesses, particularly in the STEM fields. “Those projects and his tours are the financial seeds for Brent and me to go out and make individual investments,” said Baisden. The duo’s
Score, a dating app designed for singles with good to excellent credit scores, has officially shut down after six months in operation. Score’s Limited Run Black-owned financial literacy startup Neon Money Club launched Score last February as a 90-day pop-up to start a broader conversation about financial health and dating, However, unexpectedly high user interest led the founders to extend its service. During its brief existence, Score managed to attract approximately 18,000 users and was responsible for about 8,000 matches. Despite these numbers, the app’s creators, Luke Bailey and Jackie
Today, August 12, marks International Youth Day 2024, celebrated under the theme “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.” With the expansion of technologies like mobile devices, digital platforms, and AI, young people—often dubbed “digital natives”—are at the forefront of this transformation. Here are some young Black and Brown individuals making waves in their communities and beyond. Taylor Denise Richardson, 20 – STEM Advocate and Future Astronaut Richardson, also known as “Astronaut StarBright,” is from Jacksonville, Florida, and has been advocating for diversity in STEM (Science, Technology,
Grammy-winning R&B artist Eric Bellinger announced a partnership with Hooky, a music startup known for its “artist-first” Voice AI solutions. Hooky has just launched its online subscription platform, offering creators, artists, and labels an all-in-one tool for music creation, licensing, and distribution. Bellinger Collabs With Hooky Bellinger, known for his innovative approach to music, is embracing artificial intelligence (AI) to elevate his creative process and empower fellow musicians. As one of the first artists to collaborate with Hooky, Bellinger is lending his voice to the platform’s AI models, allowing creators
August is National Black Business Month, a time to honor and support the economic contributions of Black entrepreneurs. As we acknowledge the role these businesses play we have highlighted platforms that make it easier for consumers to discover and support Black-owned businesses. Here are some of the top Black business marketplaces and directories you should know about. WeBuyBlack WeBuyBlack is the largest online marketplace for Black-owned businesses, offering a wide range of products from clothing to home essentials. Founded by Sharif Rasheed, this platform is often referred to as the
Shakea Miller made history by becoming the first Black woman to establish a degree-granting technical college in Alabama. The opening of 1 on 1 Technical & Theological College in Phenix City marks a milestone in the pursuit of diversity and inclusion in the educational landscape. A Pioneering Achievement in Education With 1 on 1 Technical & Theological College, Miller joins a prestigious group as the sixth Black woman in the United States to establish a degree-granting institution. “1 on 1 T&T aims to provide biblical and comprehensive educational opportunities with
Myavana, a pioneering Black-led haircare technology company, has successfully raised $5.9 million in a recent funding round, bringing its valuation to $50 million, according to Forbes. The Atlanta-based startup uses AI to offer personalized haircare solutions, focusing primarily on the needs of Black women. Pioneering AI in Haircare Myavana is the brainchild of computer scientist Candace Mitchell. Mitchell founded the company in 2012 with the aim of revolutionizing personal and professional textured hair care through data-driven science and technology. With a deep understanding of the unique hair challenges of women
Idris Elba has been allocated land in Zanzibar, a Tanzanian archipelago, to establish a film studio. The British actor, with roots in Sierra Leone and Ghana, has announced several ambitious projects to highlight Africa’s potential on a global scale. These include a film studio in Ghana and a smart eco-city in Sierra Leone. Expanding the African Film Industry with New Studios Elba’s investments are particularly focused on tourism and entertainment, areas he believes can significantly boost the continent’s economic growth. One of his most significant projects is the development of
African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) has successfully closed its fourth pan-African infrastructure fund, African Infrastructure Investment Fund 4 (AIIF4). The fund reached its hard cap with $748 million in commitments and an additional $206 million in co-investments, totaling $954 million. “Given the challenging global fundraising environment, we are delighted to have outperformed the targeted fund size,” said Paul Frankish, AIIM’s Head of Strategic Initiatives according to Shoppe Black. “We received strong support from our existing investor base with a high level of re-ups from the supporters of our previous mandates
