Brothers Raees and Ameer Cajee promised patrons they could make small fortunes off Bitcoin using their company, Africrypt. But in 2021, the brothers fled South Africa, claiming criminals had hacked the platform. According to angry investors, they fled with $3.6 billion in Bitcoin. The brothers were accused of carrying out the biggest Bitcoin heist in history. Local media, including Independent Online and ITWeb, were the first to report on the case. In 2019, Ameer Cajee and his younger brother, Raees Cajee, founded the crypto investment app Africrypt. The company claimed it used a trading
Justin Samuels, the CEO of Render Atlanta and qualified engineer, is on a mission to build on that influence by making Atlanta a true power player in the world of technology, essentially blending software engineering with culture. What does his company Render Atlanta do? It’s a software engineering experience; where tech meets culture, inclusion, and accessibility. RenderATL is a four-day software engineering conference & music festival featuring your next career opportunity with 50+ expert speakers in tech covering upcoming and current best software engineering practices, web3, engineering leadership, accessibility practices, and more.
Over in Los Angeles, Jonathan Moore, 25, left his Wall Street career to work as an analyst at TCG Capital Management. He pitched the idea for the firm to launch a crypto fund, believing the intersection of web3 and the creator economy could tap a generation of untapped talent. Since launching the fund in September 2021, he has closed over 20 deals and says the outlook for this year is equally promising. He’s not the only young person getting into the VC scene. Gen Zs are getting into the space
LifeTagger, a business with the aim of transforming an organization’s information, service, and experience delivery, has announced its partnership for the third consecutive year with NOLAvate Black’s 5th annual Black Tech NOLA conference, to provide attendees with exclusive content. Black Tech NOLA is the largest convening of tech creatives in the south celebrating the intersection of tech, art, and culture. It was first launched in 2018 but in 2020, Black Tech NOLA received over 1100 registrants and participants from around the globe for its first-ever virtual event with talks, panel discussions, virtual
Last year Google for Startups launched a $2 million grant fund to help tackle the racial inequality in the European tech industry. That Google for Startups Black Founders Fund ended up doubling to $4 million (£3 million), and now 40 Black-led tech startups across Europe will receive grants from the fund. Prior to the fund’s launch in 2021, less than 0.25% of venture capital (VC) funding went to Black-led startups in the UK. How does the fund work? Each startup will be given $100,000 in non-dilutive cash awards, up to
Small businesses are feeling the pressure of economic challenges, from navigating inflation to supply chain management and beyond, placing an increased need for financial relief. According to a survey conducted in January 2022, Black-owned businesses hit record levels of lower sales, with more than half reporting lower sales than in the previous year. To combat the issues experienced by their businesses, the Coalition to Back Black Businesses (CBBB) was established by American Express and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in September 2020 to support the long-term success and resilience
FoodLama has just announced it has been selected for Google’s second-ever Black Founders Fund cohort. But how does the startup work? FoodLama is a free-to-install-and-use browser extension that makes online grocery shopping with preferences simple. By taking into account your household’s individual allergies, preferences, and needs, FoodLama provides a personalized shopping experience as you scroll through your favorite grocer. So, you see the products to avoid as you shop and easily discover the best alternative recommendations. Following its launch in 2021, Google’s Black Founders Fund will provide its 2022 cohort
ANJEL Tech, a Black-owned cloud-based application that turns any smartphone into your personal body cam, has announced a historic partnership with 1 Million Madly Motivated Moms (1M4), an organization led by African American moms to address police brutality through legal action and legislative policy education. We previously interviewed the founder of ANJEL Tech, who told POCIT that he’d struggled to get attention from mainstream reporters and investors when it came to his app. The app in question has been described as an initiative that “could help protect minorities.” When activated, the
The nation’s largest beauty retailer, Ulta Beauty, is now accepting applications for its MUSE Accelerator, an inaugural program dedicated to supporting early-stage BIPOC beauty brands to launch and thrive in retail. Officially starting in September, eight successful applicants will receive $50,000 in financial support to propel brand development in addition to resources designed to prepare each for retail readiness and long-term success. This will include opportunities to learn from experts across various industries such as merchandising, supply chain, legal, and marketing, as well as brand founders and industry leaders’ engagement
This month, the city will be opening the Atlanta Blockchain Center (ABC) – its first blockchain startup incubator. Opening in Buckhead, the headquarters — founded by serial tech entrepreneur Marlon Williams — will welcome anyone interested in learning more about blockchain technology. The center is looking to bring together the growing Blockchain-related community and put Atlanta on the map for the development of crypto, Blockchain, and Web3.0 technologies. Fully funded and operated by Starter Labs, ABC is set to feature a coworking space and training center, according to the press release.
