Black people are strong but even more powerful when they come together. This is a statement Nia-Tayler Clark, founder of BLACKLIT, can heavily relate to. After receiving an unexpected eviction notice, social media users united to help Nia-Tayler Clark save her bookstore from closure. The online book community founded in 2019 initially began as a project in Clark’s tiny one-bedroom apartment. In a short time, the project blossomed and became the first Black-owned bookstore in Dallas, Texas. “BLACKLIT started in 2019, in my tiny one-bedroom apartment, with my toddler on my
Is your sportswear impacting your vulval health? There is no denying that workout wear has provided gym-goers with great comfort. The flexibility of the fabric used in activewear has made exercising a seamless experience for all. The tight and non-breathable fabric designed to hold in sweat has been prone to throw off many women’s vaginal health, ultimately triggering yeast infections and other vaginal irritations. After dealing with constant vaginal health issues, Mitchella Gilbert learned that the leggings she wore daily as an athlete triggered her vaginal health issues. After taking
South African startup Carry1st has raised $27 million in latest funding round to tap into the gaming industry in Africa. Carry1st’s funding round The funding round, led by gaming-focused VC firm BITKRFT Ventures, also included VC Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), TTV Capital, Lateral Capital, Alumni Ventures, and Kepple Ventures. The investment will help Carry1st create a steady financial infrastructure to prepare for Africa’s fast-paced gaming space. “We’re delighted to partner with BITKRAFT, one of the world’s top gaming VC firms, alongside a16z and other existing investors as we continue on our
Female and Latinx-founded fintech company, Mendoza Ventures, has taken a massive step in its move to invest in underrepresented startups. Bank of America’s Investment Mendoza recently achieved a first close on its third $100M fund to further their work to support startups founded by diverse founders. The fund, led by Bank of America (BofA), included Grasshopper Bank alongside multiple other investors. The anchor funding comes from BofA’s commitment to making capital much more accessible to founders often overlooked by investors. “Mendoza Ventures is at the forefront of supporting innovation and
We love to see history being made! Sara Hood, teamed up with Edward Madnogorere and Emmanuel Acho – to form the Houston Hyenas team ownership group in the SimWin sports league, making her the first Black woman to own a digital sports team. Who is Sara Hood? Sara Hood is a venture capitalist and CEO of Sara Belay Inc. Hood can be described as a woman working to create space for Black women in tech, by any means necessary. To date, the tech entrepreneur has sat on the advisory board
The idea of running a business is exciting, but there is no denying that being a startup founder can be an overwhelming experience. From managing finances to staying on top of social media trends, many business owners wear multiple hats to keep their business functioning. According to The Plug’s analysis of Census Bureau data, approximately 10% of businesses that employed less than 20 people were forced to close in 2020. Likewise, statistics have shown that 45% of entrepreneurs have reported feeling stressed, which has led to mental health issues such as anxiety or depression.
Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a $30 million pre-seed and seed matching fund program to help early-stage startup companies. The funding for the program will come from the State Small Business Credit Initiative to provide extra support to small businesses owned by historically marginalized individuals, including Black and brown entrepreneurs and traditionally disadvantaged individuals. The initiative, part of New York’s $500 million federal investment, aims to help small businesses recover from the pandemic and rebuild local economies. As a part of the program, Governor Hochul will offer early-stage startup companies
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the biggest federal climate deal in history and is great news for Black-owned carbon transformation startup Twelve. According to reports, the IRA contains $500 billion in funding to boost clean energy, reduce healthcare costs, and increase tax revenues. The Act follows negotiations on President Biden’s Build Back Better Act and is welcome news for climate startups like Twelve. “The Inflation Reduction Act, that’s been really amazing. We’re so excited about that,” said Twelve co-founder Ethosa Cave in an interview. “There’s so many provisions in there:
Black-owned startup Suvera has been named one of the world’s most promising digital health companies. The UK-based virtual care platform made CB Insight’s Digital Health 150 – a list of 150 companies transforming healthcare using digital technology. The 150 winners were selected from a pool of over 13,000 companies. What is Suvera? Suvera uses a dedicated remote care team and in-house technology to reduce the workload and waiting times at doctors’ clinics. From tracking blood pressure readings to administering prescriptions, the platform supports people with chronic health conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.
If you don’t know Nelly Cheboi yet, now is the time to start doing your research. Nelly Cheboi, the founder of Kenyan recycling company, TechLit Africa, has been named CNN’s Hero Of The Year for her revolutionary work across Africa. Who is Nelly Cheboi? Nelly Cheboi, who grew up in a poor rural village in Kenya, redistributes recycled technology to rebuild computer labs in African schools. At a very young age, Cheboi was exposed to the struggles of poverty. Yet, despite having no computer access, Cheboi landed a scholarship to study computer
