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
With a toy makeup kit, Kristen Wells-Collins, a Dallas-based scientist, is redefining pathways into the beauty industry for young girls with science and technology. Black To The Lab Makeup Kit Recognizing the decline in girls’ interest in science around age 11, a statistic cited by Microsoft, Wells-Collins launched “Black to the Lab” in 2020. This innovative $30 toy makeup kit is an educational tool that teaches children as young as six the science behind beauty product formulations. Wells-Collins’ journey started at Prairie View A&M University, initially pursuing a career in pharmacy. However, she
Black duo Estelle Agyeman and Temi Olusanya, the co-founders of KARR, are using their platform to make it easier for businesses to fight parking fines. KARR’s Journey The B2C parking fine technology platform KARR was born out of a need to simplify the often-tedious process of managing parking fines for businesses operating with multiple vehicles. The pair’s journey kicked off at a London startup weekend in 2022 when they won £10,000 in a pitch competition. The inception of KARR was driven by Agyeman’s personal experiences with parking fines at the university. “Back when I
Robinhood, the renowned trading and investing platform, has partnered with Rich Paul, the founder of KLUTCH Sports Group and LeBron James’ agent. Robinhood ventures into sports and entertainment Robinhood is a stock brokerage that allows customers to buy and sell stocks, options, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies with zero commission. Announced on Thursday, this collaboration marks Robinhood’s ambitious venture into the realms of sports, entertainment, and media. The fintech firm prides itself on introducing a diverse range of first-time investors to the market, aligning with Paul’s impactful history in sports management. Meet
Altro, a leading credit-building and financial literacy platform, has raised $4 million in a strategic funding round, gaining support from figures such as Tinashe, Quavo, Marshawn Lynch, and Chris Paul. Altro Founded in 2019 by Michael Broughton and initially known as Perch, Altro has been instrumental in helping users enhance their credit scores. It ingeniously integrates everyday payments and subscriptions into its credit-building mechanism, including Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime, and Starz. Beyond this, Altro extends educational resources to all its members, even those with a baseline free membership. These resources encompass Altro’s Convo, featuring short
Conducive Capital, a newly formed South African venture capital firm, has launched a $50 million fund for early- and growth-stage tech startups across Africa. Meet The Team The fund is headed by Clive Butkow and Mitchan Adams. Butkow is the founder and former CEO of Kalon Venture Partner and former COO of Accenture South Africa. Alongside Adams, the co-founder of Ozow and current CEO of Aions, the two have collectively invested over R300 million, with an internal rate of return of more than 30% over the past seven years. Their combined expertise is set to invigorate the African
Tennis star Venus Williams has brought her design talents to Palazzo, a generative AI-based interior design platform bridging the gap between design and personalization. The service, co-founded by Williams, Raffi Holzer, and Edward Lando, allows users to reimagine their living spaces with the help of advanced technology. Palazzo Palazzo introduces a new approach to interior design, blending the ease of technology with design expertise. Users can upload photos of their rooms and, through a conversation with an AI chatbot, witness a convincing transformation of their space. Palazzo, currently in beta, holds vast
The Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), a pivotal hub for Black entrepreneurs in Atlanta, announced a $2 million grant from Truist Foundation and two Truist Trusteed Foundations. RICE positions itself as Atlanta’s home for Black entrepreneurs and an economic mobility engine for the community. Its stakeholders have created hundreds of jobs, generated over $100 million in revenue, and spurred $450 million in total economic activity. This financial endorsement by Truist comes at a critical time. It is set to accelerate RICE’s expansion efforts and elevate the stature of Atlanta-based Black entrepreneurs within and
