Howard University will launch an “Intro to Artificial Intelligence” course in spring 2026, partnering with CodePath and with financial support from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, according to a press release shared with AfroTech. Howard faculty and CodePath’s faculty network will jointly teach instruction spanning data structures, AI literacy, and agentic workflows, the release said. The program positions applied AI-assisted software development inside a core academic setting rather than treating it as an extracurricular credential. “Our work is rooted in the idea that HBCUs are not only equipping students for
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened investigations into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at several major companies, including Google and Verizon, The Wall Street Journal reports. The DOJ is using the False Claims Act to assess whether companies misrepresented their hiring or promotion practices while receiving federal funds. DOJ Targets DEI Using Fraud Law In a May memo from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche instructed prosecutors to investigate and pursue cases against federal funding recipients that knowingly engage in “preferences that create benefits or burdens based on
Flutterwave, Africa’s largest payments technology company, has acquired Nigerian open banking startup Mono in an all-stock deal valued between $25 million and $40 million, TechCrunch reports. The acquisition brings one of Africa’s most prominent open banking companies under the Flutterwave umbrella, as the payments giant looks to expand its infrastructure beyond transactions into data and financial services. According to a press release, Mono will continue to operate independently under its existing leadership team. Mono: Africa’s Answer To Plaid Founded in 2020 and backed by investors like Y Combinator, Mono builds
Rent is often the largest monthly expense for American households, yet for decades it counted for little when it came to building credit. Esusu, a Black-owned fintech company, is working to change that. Founded in 2018, Esusu partners with large property owners to report renters’ on-time payments to credit bureaus. The approach allows millions of renters to build credit without taking on new debt, creating clearer pathways to homeownership and long-term financial stability. The company has now raised $50 million in a Series C funding round, bringing its total funding to more than
Two Black women are leading rival robotaxi programs that could define the future of autonomous transportation in the US. Aicha Evans, CEO of Amazon subsidiary Zoox, and Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Alphabet subsidiary Waymo, have been named to Forbes’ “Women to Watch in 2026” for their influence in one of tech’s fastest-moving sectors. Alphabet’s Waymo: Tekedra Mawakana Tekedra Mawakana, 54, has been co-CEO of Waymo since 2021, overseeing the company’s strategy and the commercial rollout of its autonomous driving technology. Before taking on the top job, she served as Waymo’s COO and previously held leadership roles at eBay, Yahoo, AOL,
Apple is undergoing its biggest leadership upheaval since the death of cofounder Steve Jobs, as a cluster of top executives head for the exits. Among them is Lisa Jackson, the company’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, and one of the most visible Black women in Silicon Valley. On December 4, Apple announced that Jackson will retire in late January 2026, marking the end of more than a decade at Apple, which helped shape the company’s climate agenda and its public commitments to racial equity. Lisa Jackson’s Departure Apple will not replace Jackson with a
Crystal Brown has no background in biology. She studied political science and women’s studies at the University of Michigan. Yet she has raised $3.3 million for CircNova, her AI-powered biotechnology company developing new therapies using circular RNA. Since securing the seed funding earlier this year, the Detroit entrepreneur has split her time between Michigan and Boston, building partnerships with biotech heavyweights as she scales the company. An Unlikely Journey To Biotech Brown’s path to biotech began in Michigan’s automotive industry, where she was climbing toward an executive role. A friend’s introduction to a life
Emma Grede, founding partner of $5 billion shapewear brand SKIMS, has said workers have “no choice but to AI-proof our careers” at Axios’s BFD dealmaking summit in New York last week. The British-born entrepreneur has an estimated net worth of $405 million and has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s richest self-made women for four years running. AI: It’s Do Or Die Grede, who also serves as SKIMs’ chief product officer and is the CEO and co-founder of Good American, says she sets aside time in her schedule to focus on AI. “I have what
Former Harvard students AnhPhu Nguyen and Caine Ardayfio have raised a $6.6 million seed round led by General Catalyst to develop Mira: audio-first smart glasses that “remember everything.” Described as a “second brain,” Mira designed to learn throughout your daily life and provide personalized, private insights. The Viral Moment That Started It All Nguyen and Ardayfio first drew widespread attention in September 2024 after an X video demonstrating their hacked Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses went viral. In the demo, the pair used facial recognition tools and public data sources to
Barclays is hiring on POCIT. Oyindamola (Dammy) Lawal, Partnerships Execution Lead for Barclaycard Payments, plays a key role in shaping the strategic collaborations that power Barclays’ expanding payment technology. Working at the intersection of innovation and relationship-building, Lawal’s ultimate goal is to grow the bank’s payments partnerships across the UK and Europe. He spoke with POCIT about building a thriving career at Barclays that leaves the door open for others. Tenacity Meets Opportunity “My journey has been a mix of tenacity and good fortune,” Lawal tells POCIT. “My career with
