The Gathering Spot (TGS) co-founders Ryan Wilson and TK Petersen have announced an expansion of the platform, marking a new chapter in their journey. TGS is Atlanta’s Black-founded and centered private membership club that recently became independent after being acquired by Greenwood in May 2022. Over the years, TGS has become a cultural epicenter, hosting figures such as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Their influence also went beyond politics as brands such as Nike, Amazon, and Google and celebrities like LeBron James and Tyler Perry began to show their support. The Gathering Spot Comes To Texas However, as they celebrated their eigth anniversary at
Women’s History Month 2024 shines a spotlight on ‘Champions of Change,’ celebrating women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). This month-long observance in March honors the role of women in American history and acknowledges their ongoing efforts to create a more equitable world. This year’s theme particularly resonates with the tech industry, where women, especially Black women, are significantly underrepresented, undermined, and excluded. In this context, we have spotlighted some Black women in tech whose startups are breaking barriers, building bridges, and making the world a more equitable place. Laura Weidman Powers – Code2040
Uber Technologies Inc. has officially led a $100 million Series B funding round for Moove, an African mobility fintech company. This investment propels Moove’s valuation to an impressive $750 million and marks Uber’s first foray into African continent investment. Moove Founded in Lagos in 2020 by British-born Nigerian entrepreneurs Ladi Delano and Jide Odunsi, Moove has revolutionized vehicle financing. It operates with a business model that provides access to vehicle ownership for mobility entrepreneurs who traditionally face barriers in accessing financing. Moove’s model allows drivers to own vehicles by paying a portion of their weekly income, which
Lagos-based blockchain payments startup Zone has raised $8.5 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round. Nigerian Startup Zone Zone’s fundraising success is part of a growing trend in Africa’s fintech sector, which has recently seen companies like Cleva and Zuvy secure significant investments. Founded in 2008 by Emeka Emetarom, Obi Emetarom, and Wale Onawunmi in Lagos, Nigeria, Zone positions itself as Africa’s first regulated payment blockchain network. Its blockchain-based decentralized payment infrastructure caters to financial service providers across the continent and beyond. The startup has collaborated with over 15 of Africa’s top banks and fintech companies,
Westbound Equity Partners, formerly Concrete Rose Capital, has raised an impressive $100 million to invest in Black, Latine, and diversity-focused founders. Westbound Equity Partners Spearheaded by Sean Mendy, a former Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula director, Westbound’s mission is to channel resources into startups that demonstrate potential while embodying a commitment to diversity and equitable culture. Mendy’s vision was to create a fund to break the homogeneous investment and entrepreneurship cycle and foster a more diverse and inclusive tech ecosystem. The uniqueness of Westbound lies in its dual approach. On the one
Usher’s New Look (UNL) and IBM have embarked on a groundbreaking collaboration to foster career readiness in AI and professional workplace skills. UNL is a 501c3 organization founded by Usher Raymond IV in 1999 that supports a vision that all youth should be afforded the chance to unlock their full potential. Transforming under-resourced youth IBM SkillsBuild is a free education program focused on underrepresented communities in tech. The partnership with UNL is set to transform the lives of thousands of high school and college students, especially those from underrepresented communities in technology. “Joining
The 2024 Tech Equity Collective (TEC) Impact Fund has announced a stride towards tech industry equity by introducing its 20 grantees. Since its 2021 inception, Tech Equity Collective has been dedicated to accelerating Black innovation and representation in tech. It works alongside tech giants and community organizations to create new career opportunities for Black tech innovators. The 2024 Tech Equity Collective Impact Fund The chosen organizations exemplify innovation and commitment to fostering an inclusive tech ecosystem. They focus on reskilling, upskilling, and training programs for aspiring Black technical talent. This year’s grantees, chosen for their pioneering
Recent findings from a comprehensive review have highlighted biases in commonly used medical devices and technologies that can harm people of color. These include optical medical devices like pulse oximeters, AI-assisted devices, and polygenic risk scores (PRS) in genomics. Biases In Medical Devices The review was initiated by the UK’s former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, and conducted by a panel of experts. “Making sure the healthcare system works for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, is paramount to our values as a nation,” Junior Health Minister Andrew Stephenson told The Guardian. “It supports our
Trez, the first U.S. Latine payroll platform company, is reshaping the financial landscape for Latine businesses in America. Trez Recognized by notable institutions like Techstars, Forbes, Inc., and Stanford GSB, Trez provides specialized payroll, benefits, and financial services solutions. The platform is specifically designed to support the burgeoning Latine business community. Trez emerges at a crucial time when Latine-owned businesses, contributing $500 billion in annual sales and millions of jobs, are becoming vital in the U.S. economy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hispanics will constitute 78% of the new workforce entrants between 2020 and
Mellody Hobson’s rise to co-CEO of Ariel Investments, a history-making firm with over $14.9 billion in assets, is a tale of ambition, foresight, and resilience. Meet Mellody Hobson In 1991, as a student at Princeton, Hobson was on the brink of launching her career in the high-stakes world of finance. With offers from major New York City firms in hand, she found herself in a moment of reflection in the basement of the then Woodrow Wilson School. It was then that she made a pivotal decision. “And I thought, ‘What am I
