The Forbes 30 Under 30 North America 2025 list is out, showcasing exceptional talent across industries. This year, we’re highlighting some of the young Black people in tech who are driving progress through innovation, equity, and leadership. Jordan Taylor, 29 | Founder, Vizcom Jordan Taylor is the creative force behind Vizcom, a startup that uses AI to turn sketches into 3D designs. The former Nvidia industrial designer launched Vizcom in 2021 with cofounder Kaelan Richards, helping companies like Ford and New Balance streamline product development. Today, Vizcom boasts 65 enterprise
Each year, the BBC honors 100 inspiring and influential women from around the globe, celebrating their contributions to society across various fields. This listicle highlights the women of color in tech who have earned a spot on the BBC 100 Women list this year. Gabriela Salas Cabrera, Mexico Gabriela Salas Cabrera is a programmer and data scientist whose work bridges technology and cultural preservation. When her mother tongue, Náhuatl, was missing from Google Translate, Salas took action. Collaborating with the tech giant, she helped integrate Náhuatl and other indigenous Mexican
November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich traditions, cultures, and contributions of Native American communities across the United States. In tech, Native Americans are making groundbreaking strides, breaking barriers, and inspiring future generations. Here we shine a spotlight on five trailblazers who are redefining success. Aaron Yazzie: Developing Tools for Mars Exploration As a mechanical engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Aaron Yazzie, a Diné (Navajo) Nation member, designs critical systems for space missions. His work on the Mars Perseverance Rover, particularly the drill bits
Former NASA aerospace engineer and future Blue Origin astronaut Aisha Bowe has raised $2.5 million for LINGO, her EdTech company focused on enhancing STEM education. This funding round, led by Pinnacle Private Ventures LLC, is a step towards a venture capital aimed at supporting women and minority-led startups. Expanding Access to STEM Education LINGO offers project-based coding kits and curricula designed for students aged 13 and up, covering subjects such as artificial intelligence, space systems, and environmental monitoring. The funding will enable LINGO to expand its reach, scaling programs that
Justin Lee, an aerospace engineer and Tuskegee University alumnus, has created a device to support people with hearing loss. Inspired by his close friend, Kenneth Tissot, a Vietnam veteran who struggled with hearing the television, Lee founded Quantum Senses in 2021. The company’s flagship product, Earcoustic headphones, is a battery-free hearing amplifier that enhances sound for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. At a highly affordable price of just $19.99, the product is designed to bridge the gap for those who may not have the means to afford expensive
Myles Garrett, the Cleveland Browns’ defensive end, is investing in Johnson Energy Storage (JES), a company founded by former NASA scientist and National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Lonnie Johnson. JES focuses on developing energy storage solutions, particularly a solid-state battery designed to outperform traditional lithium-ion technology. Garrett’s unexpected move into the tech world is driven by a shared vision with JES to innovate and make a long-lasting impact on environmental sustainability. “It’s a privilege to partner with Johnson Energy Storage to support their mission of transforming energy storage,”
Enerpoly, a cutting-edge battery technology company led by Eloisa de Castro, has opened the world’s first zinc-ion battery megafactory. This new facility, located in Rosersberg, near Stockholm, is a massive step in the global efforts to transition from reliance on fossil fuels to renewable energy. Safer, Greener Batteries Batteries are vital to the transition away from fossil fuels, but energy storage needs to increase six-fold to meet COP28 goals of tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030. The new 6,500m² Enerpoly Production Innovation Center (EPIC) aims to produce 100 MWh of
Today, August 12, marks International Youth Day 2024, celebrated under the theme “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.” With the expansion of technologies like mobile devices, digital platforms, and AI, young people—often dubbed “digital natives”—are at the forefront of this transformation. Here are some young Black and Brown individuals making waves in their communities and beyond. Taylor Denise Richardson, 20 – STEM Advocate and Future Astronaut Richardson, also known as “Astronaut StarBright,” is from Jacksonville, Florida, and has been advocating for diversity in STEM (Science, Technology,
On July 19, NASA honored Vivian Ayers Allen, 101, the mother of actors Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad, for her contributions to the Apollo 11 mission. The ceremony, held at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, celebrated the women who played crucial roles in the success of the historic moon landing in 1969. The building was renamed the “Dorothy Vaughan Center in Honor of Women of Apollo,” acknowledging the legacy of these pioneering women. A Legacy of Excellence and Perseverance Ayers Allen, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated poet, activist, and
NASA has made history by transmitting the lyrics of Missy Elliott’s iconic song, “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” to Venus. This event marks the first time a hip-hop song has been beamed into space. A Hip-Hop Song In Space On July 12 at 10:05 a.m. PDT, the lyrics were sent from NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN) Goldstone complex in California. The DSN, known for its large and sensitive array of radio antennas, facilitates deep-space communication, supporting missions from the Moon to far-reaching planets. The transmission traveled approximately 158 million miles (254
