25 innovative African startups have been selected for the third cohort of Google for Startups’ Black Founders Fund. Head of Startup Ecosystem, Sub Saharan Africa, Folarin Aiyebusi wrote, “we’ve seen firsthand how the startups in Africa are embracing the limitless possibilities of tomorrow, and it’s truly inspiring.” Africa’s population is rapidly increasing, with projections indicating that by 2050, one-third of Africans will be under 35. This demographic wave offers many opportunities for startups to cater to a booming market. Now in its third year, the Google for Startups Black Founders
Today marks 75 years since more than 800 passengers from the Caribbean travelled to the UK onboard a ship called the Empire Windrush. These passengers had been recruited to help rebuild Britain after WWII and became known as the ‘Windrush generation.’ Windrush Day has been celebrated in the UK every year since 2018, and it has become a time to appreciate the cultural, social, and economic contributions that were made to the UK. One such contribution can be seen in fintech app Pardna. What is Pardna? Pardna, or pardner, is
Squire, the Black-owned all-in-one barbershop management platform, has surpassed $1 billion in payments processed, according to co-founder Songe LaRon. “It took two years to reach our first $1 million, 5.5 years to $100 million, and now we surpassed $1 billion,” said LaRon. “Every dollar reflects the hard work of our team and the dedication of the barbers we serve, and I’m deeply grateful to every shop owner, barber, and team member who’s been part of this journey.” What is Squire? Founded in 2015 by Songe LaRon and Dave Salvant, the
A new report by Dropbox DocSend has shed light on the funding divide in the tech industry, particularly regarding race and gender disparities among founders. While 2021 witnessed record-breaking levels of VC funding and increased engagement with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, 2022 proved to be more challenging for historically underfunded founders. Turning tides In 2021, VC funding for early-stage founders experienced a significant boost, with record-breaking funding levels. Historically underrepresented founders also experienced a surge of investor interest driven by DEI-related investment initiatives in response to the murder
Co-founder and CEO at Heex Technologies, Bruno Mendes Da Silva, has announced that his startup has signed a public contract with US Authorities. We previously wrote about Heex’s smart data management platform helping carmakers sift through the sea of data required to put autonomous vehicles on the road. Now, this new partnership will see the team provide their software solution to process data from Autonomous Vehicles and Mobility operators as part of the Automated Driving System program in California. The data will foster safety standards and rulemaking of autonomous vehicles
Company and executives’ mentions of DEI or sustainability during earning calls have decreased after a peak in 2022, according to data from financial research firm AlphaSense. But this DEI- and “green-hushing” doesn’t necessarily mean companies have stopped doing the work – they’re just not talking about it. Are companies still talking about DEI and sustainability? According to data from financial-research platform AlphaSense, executives at the U.S.-listed companies mentioned “environmental, social and governance,” “ESG,” “diversity, equity and inclusion,” “DEI” or “sustainability” on 575 earning calls from April 1 to June 5.
Horizon Media – reportedly the largest US media agency – has joined Burst Premium Network to create the first-ever network featuring a DEI content experience that amplifies the work and voices of local storytellers across more than 150 broadcast stations. Burst is a leading mobile video technology company aiming to transform how broadcasters, publishers, and media companies manage and monetize user-generated and controlled video content. The aim is focused on community-based DEI storytelling to amplify the work and voices of local storytellers across more than 150 broadcast stations. “We are
The Migrant Accelerator (TMA), a Germany-based, early-stage startup accelerator for founders with a migration background, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), has just announced its first cohort of 10 startups. TMA aims to create a softer landing and sense of belonging for BIPOC founders who encounter discrimination on a structural and individual basis. “Migrant founders in Germany are overlooked and underfunded,” said Laila Zohaib, Stuttgart-based startup coach and investor relations manager. “Since the 1960s, migrant led-businesses have served as the backbone of the local German economy and are
Asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border are struggling with CBP One app due to several conditions, such as unreliable access to Wi-Fi and smartphone access and software bugs and glitches. Refugee advocates, however, say the problem goes deeper than that, claiming it violates the internationally recognized right to seek asylum. What is CBP One App? The CBP One app was launched in October 2020 to streamline the scheduling of immigration appointments for travelers. But in January of this year, President Joe Biden announced he intended to expand the app’s use
This Juneteenth, we want to celebrate some Black startups that have set out to uplift and support the Black community. What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned that slavery had been abolished – two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The first Juneteenth was observed in 1866 and has been celebrated by Black Americans ever since. It is often referred to as the country’s second independence day and became an official
