Founders + senior tech leaders, don’t miss these two exclusive events. Free entry, limited spaces. RSVP today! This October, as the tech and startup world descends on Houston, POCIT is hosting two exclusive events designed to deepen connections, foster leadership, and elevate voices across the tech ecosystem: the Breaking Bread Founder Dinner and the INNOV8 Tech Leadership Brunch. Whether you’re a founder building the future or a senior leader shaping it, these events are for you. Breaking Bread: Founder + VC Dinner On Monday, October 28, Breaking Bread will bring together 25 Series A and seed-stage
Solange Knowles’ Saint Heron has launched a free digital archival library of literature by Black and brown authors, poets, and artists. Readers can borrow rare and out-of-print books for up to 45 days, creating new pathways to access historically significant works. Improving access to Black archives Many historically significant Black material survives only in fragile, localized collections, such as archives, small presses, or personal holdings. Even when preserved by larger institutions, access is often restricted to vetted researchers with the right networks or affiliations. Saint Heron offers an alternative. By
Her Fake LinkedIn Profile Exposed Hiring Bias, Now She’s Turning Her Viral Series Into A Documentary
Aliyah Jones went viral after going undercover on LinkedIn as a white woman named Emily to expose racial bias in corporate hiring. The digital storyteller documented the eight-month experiment in her Corporate Catfish docuseries, which resonated with hundreds of thousands online. Now, she’s expanding that work into a full-length documentary exploring what it truly means to be Black in corporate America. A One-Time Experiment That Sparked a Movement “I made that fake white LinkedIn profile out of frustration but also out of grief,” Jones wrote on Kickstarter. “Because no matter
This article is sponsored by Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures. Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures (MSISV) is supporting the future of innovation by backing early-stage startups and nonprofits with the capital and tools they need to scale. Building on the momentum of the Inclusive Ventures Lab and Sustainable Solutions Collaborative, MSISV has already distributed over $30 million in capital to over 130 ventures in the last eight years. MSISV is home to two tailored accelerator programs: a Lab for tech-driven startups and a Collaborative for emerging nonprofits. Both programs
The temporary surge in funding for Black startup founders after George Floyd’s murder was driven largely by investors who had never previously backed a Black entrepreneur, and most showed only surface-level support, new research from Cornell University shows. Funding returned to prior levels within two years. Cornell researchers analyzed PitchBook data on venture funding from 2020 to 2023, using algorithms and manual review to classify the race of 150,000 founders and 30,000 investors. Surge in funding in the wake of Black Lives Matter The researchers found that at the height
Rebundle, the first US-based, plant-based braiding hair company, now has a patent for its flagship innovation. In June, the brand’s founder, Ciara Imani May, announced that the company learned the United States Patent and Trademark Office approved Rebundle’s patent for its hair extension line called braidbetter. “The patent protects the core innovation behind braidbetter, giving it its unique texture, durability, and scalp comfort,” May said in an Instagram post. “For our community, it’s further proof that this product is protected, scalable, and here to stay.” Rebundle solving a solution After May
Black-owned whiskey brand Uncle Nearest has been hit with a $100 million lawsuit for allegedly not paying back its loans, as stated by court documents. Nearest Green Distillery, which sells Uncle Nearest premium whiskey across the US, has been accused of breaching loan agreements with its lender, according to a suit obtained by WSMV. The lawsuit has been filed by Louisville-based Farm Credit Mid-America, which accuses the company’s founders, Fawn Weaver and her husband, Keith Weaver, of breach of contract, stating that they defaulted on multiple loans, totaling $108 million, including interest. It also alleges
Right-wing influencer Robby Starbuck has been appointed as an AI bias advisor at Meta to help the company’s chatbot be less “woke.” The announcement came after Meta settled a lawsuit filed by Starbuck, claiming that he was part of the Jan. 6 insurrection, according to MSNBC. “Since engaging on these important issues with Robby, Meta has made tremendous strides to improve the accuracy of Meta AI and mitigate ideological and political bias,” Meta and Starbuck said in a joint statement to Advocate. Who is Robby Starbuck? Starback is a former Hollywood director
SpreeAI, the fashion tech startup redefining virtual shopping experiences, has reached a $1.5 billion valuation after a recent funding round led by The Davidson Group. The AI-powered fashion app allows users to virtually allows users to try on clothes in an experience so lifelike it feels like you’re in a real dressing room. Designed for use both in-store and online, SpreeAI blends cutting-edge technology with real-world retail to transform how consumers shop and how brands sell. SpreeAI valued at $1.5 billion Co-founded and led by CEO John Imah, SpreeAI has
Google has removed 58 nonprofit organizations associated with DEI from a list of organizations it funds, according to a new report by tech watchdog The Tech Transparency Project. The report references the most recent public list of organizations that receive the “most substantial contributions” from Google’s US Government Affairs and Public Policy team. The majority of the groups taken away from the list had mission statements that included he words “diversity, “equity,” “inclusion,” or “race,” “activism,” and “women.” It remains unclear whether the tech giant has ended the funding or
