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
Recently, REVOLT, a prominent Black-owned multimedia company, announced the launch of Black Shift. Developed by its creative agency, Six Zeros, Black Shift is an AI-powered research platform designed to help brands better understand and engage with Gen Z, particularly within the Black community. This initiative dives into the aspirations, values, and behaviors shaping one of the most culturally influential generations. A Data-Driven Approach to Understanding Gen Z Black Shift combines over 500 hours of interviews with insights from 700 Gen Z participants across the US. Using personalized AI tools, the
Joanna Smith-Griffin, founder of the education-focused AI startup AllHere Education, has been charged with fraud and identity theft after allegedly misrepresenting her company’s financial health and customer base. Smith-Griffin, 33, reportedly secured nearly $10 million in investments by inflating revenue figures and claiming non-existent contracts with major school districts, including New York City Public Schools. Misrepresentation and Personal Gain Launched in 2016, AllHere Education aimed to combat absenteeism in schools using an AI chatbot named “Ed.” By 2021, Smith-Griffin asserted that her technology was adopted by eight major districts. However,
Ada Ventures, a prominent early-stage venture capital firm, has launched AdaGPT, an AI tool designed to assist startup founders in perfecting their pitch decks. The free and anonymous platform promises to provide instant feedback on pitches, helping entrepreneurs address potential gaps and align their materials with investor expectations before formal submissions. Addressing the Challenges of Pitch Feedback The traditional startup pitching process often leaves founders waiting for extended periods, only to receive feedback that may highlight fundamental errors. AdaGPT seeks to eliminate this inefficiency by offering immediate, actionable insights. Founders
Legal AI innovator Robin AI has raised an additional $25 million in a unique extension of its Series B funding round. This fresh infusion of capital reflects growing confidence in Robin’s AI-driven solutions, with customers like Cambridge University joining existing backers to support the company. Customers Turned Investors: A Vote of Confidence Robin AI, which serves 13 Fortune 500 companies, has carved out a leading position in the enterprise market. Its high-profile clients include UBS, Pfizer, and PepsiCo, underscoring the versatility of its AI-powered legal tools. Notably, some of its
The Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy has launched a $100 million fund to remove the financial barriers that often stall clean energy projects in Native American communities. The Indigenous Power & Light Fund for Energy Sovereignty is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and other philanthropic organizations. Tackling Energy Inequities Many Native American communities still lack access to electricity. A 2022 report from the Department of Energy revealed that nearly 17,000 tribal homes remain unelectrified. On the Navajo Nation, the
Visa has announced investments in four African fintech startups that recently graduated from its Africa Fintech Accelerator program. While Visa did not disclose specific investment amounts, the initiative reflects its ongoing efforts to drive financial inclusion and support digital innovation in Africa. Supporting Fintech Innovation Across Africa The four startups—Oze, Workpay, OkHi, and ORDA—each offer digital solutions tailored to address key financial and logistical challenges in African markets. By backing these companies, Visa is betting on a diverse range of technologies to enhance access to financial services for small businesses,
Kenya’s Communications Authority (CA) has directed telecom operators to suspend access to Telegram during specific hours, aiming to prevent students from sharing answers during national exams. The move follows Kenya’s ongoing efforts to curb exam-related misconduct using encrypted messaging platforms, with CA pointing to Telegram’s lack of full cooperation in its regulatory requests. Why Is Telegram Targeted? Telegram, which has over a billion users worldwide, has become a tool for communication in Kenya, thanks to its encryption and ability to host large chat groups. However, the CA argues that this
Research Grid, an AI-driven company dedicated to automating clinical trial administration, has raised $6.5 million in seed funding to streamline trial workflows and reduce costly delays. The funding round, led by Fuel Ventures and including backers like Ada Ventures, Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab, and Arāya Ventures, will help Research Grid expand its engineering, R&D, and marketing efforts, with a focus on US and Asian markets. This investment supports Research Grid’s mission to cut down on the labor-intensive administrative tasks that can hinder the speed and success of medical research.
TECNO, a leader in smartphone technology, has launched the #ToneProud campaign to combat skin tone bias in AI-driven imaging systems. This initiative aims to promote inclusivity in imaging technology by ensuring accurate representation of diverse skin tones, especially in emerging markets often overlooked by larger tech players. 268 Skin Tones Database: A Technological Milestone for Inclusive Imaging The foundation of TECNO’s #ToneProud campaign is its new 268 skin tone database, a collection developed to improve how AI-driven imaging systems capture various skin tones. By assigning specific color codes to skin
