Brand new Techish! This week, hosts Abadesi and Michael break down: Diddy gets arrested (00:10) Red Lobster’s new 35-year-old Black CEO (06:30) The job market is a mess (13:35) Is entrepreneurship too safe now? (20:00) Listen to the episode You can find the Techish podcast on Spotify, Apple, and all good podcast apps. Watch On YouTube
Vista Equity Partners, led by billionaire Robert F. Smith, is partnering with Blackstone to acquire Smartsheet, the popular enterprise work management platform. The all-cash deal values Smartsheet at approximately $8.4 billion, marking one of the largest recent acquisitions in the software space. Under the terms of the agreement, the two firms will pay $56.50 per share, a 41% premium to Smartsheet’s 90-day average stock price. Smartsheet’s Continued Growth With New Partners Smartsheet has been a key player in the enterprise work management sector, serving millions of users, including 85% of
Wells Fargo has closed and emptied the business accounts of Beautiful Curly Me without warning, according to its 12-year-old CEO Zoe Oli and her mother, Evana. Zoe Oli founded the company at age seven to boost confidence in young Black girls through dolls and other products and recently became the youngest CEO to have a toy line at Target. Account Closure Leaves Business in Crisis The closure of Beautiful Curly Me’s three business accounts has put a severe strain on the company’s operations. According to Zoe and Evana, Wells Fargo
This article is sponsored by Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab The Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab (MSIVL) is proving that inclusion really does fuel innovation. Since 2017, Morgan Stanley’s in-house startup accelerator has helped over 100 companies raise over $200 million and reach a collective valuation of more than $1 billion. MSIVL provides early-stage technology and technology-enabled startups with $250,000, handpicked mentors, custom curriculums in finance, sales, and marketing, and a coveted opportunity to pitch to investors following their five-month accelerator participation on a Demo Day, setting founders up for
Workers of color made up 40.1% of the high tech workforce in 2022, comprising a share similar to the total US workforce, according to a new report from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). However, Black and Hispanic workers remain significantly underrepresented in the high tech workforce and sector, especially in senior roles, depsite growing numbers. The high tech workforce The high tech workforce refers to workers in 56 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations regardless of industry, for example, an engineer working at a nonprofit. Black high tech
Atlanta-based venture capital firm Fearless Fund has permanently closed its Strivers Grant program, which provided $20,000 grants to Black women entrepreneurs. This decision follows a settlement with the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER), a group led by conservative activist Edward Blum, the man behind the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling. Nevertheless, Fearless Fund remains committed to empowering historically overlooked entrepreneurs and plans to launch a new debt fund to continue supporting those in need of capital. Fearless Fund’s Legal Battle In August 2023, AAER sued Fearless Fund, claiming the
In this episode of Techish Podcast, Abadesi and Michael discuss Ticketmaster is corrupt Finding balance as a content creator Serena Williams investments – 14 out of 60 are now unicorns Founder Mode and more! Listen to the episode You can find the Techish podcast on Spotify, Apple, and all good podcast apps. Watch On YouTube
TIME has unveiled its second annual TIME100 AI list, recognizing 100 of the most influential figures shaping the future of artificial intelligence. The 2024 edition features leaders across a wide range of industries, from tech and business to entertainment. Among those highlighted are Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, Jensen Huang of NVIDIA, and actor Scarlett Johansson, showcasing how AI is influencing sectors beyond traditional tech. Accompanying the list are exclusive interviews with industry pioneers like Google CEO Sundar Pichai and author Ray Kurzweil, underscoring the far-reaching impact of AI on
Slauson & Co, an early stage venture capital firm rooted in economic inclusion, has announced the close of its $100 million Fund II. The fund is significant increase from its previous $75 million fund and signals continued investor appetite for inclusive venture capital despite economic challenges. Focus on Representation and Inclusion Founded by Ajay Relan and Austin Clements in 2020, Slauson & Co. has always championed diversity, backing early-stage companies across sectors such as SaaS and consumer technology. “We invest in everybody,” Relan told TechCrunch, adding that the firm wants
WealthMore, the fintech startup founded by Mical Jeanlys-White, has secured over $1 million in pre-seed funding according to Forbes. The company aims to make financial advice more accessible and affordable, particularly for individuals who have been historically underserved by traditional wealth management firms. Bridging the Wealth Gap with Hybrid Financial Solutions Wealthmore is a premium wealth advisor-ed, tech-enabled investing and planning service and community, launched in August 2023. The company’s approach to wealth management combines the efficiency of fintech with the personal touch of traditional financial advisors. This hybrid model
