Senegalese mobile money platform Wave has secured $137 million in debt financing, led by Rand Merchant Bank, with support from British International Investment (BII), Finnfund, and Norfund, according to TechCabal. The funding will enable the company to expand its operations, allowing it to continue serving underserved communities across Africa. What does Wave do? Founded in 2018 by Drew Durbin and Lincoln Quirk, Wave serves over 20 million monthly active users through a network of more than 150,000 agents and a team of 3,000 employees across eight markets in West Africa.
Join our Patreon for extra-long episodes and ad-free content. In this episode of Techish, Abadesi chats with Bridget Todd (There Are No Girls on the Internet and IRL) about how AI is changing our lives, especially when it comes to companionship and relationships. They dive into the convenience economy, the responsibilities of tech companies and users, and why real community still matters in an increasingly AI-driven world. Follow Bridget Todd on Instagram @bridgetmarieindc Check out Bridget’s There Are No Girls On The Internet podcast and the IRL podcast Chapters 02:35 AI Lovers?!10:47 Convenience vs Community 23:18
Black Girls Code and haircare brand The Doux have partnered to launch a competition for girls and young women to use AI to create original videos that reflect their self-perception. The Black Beauty AI Challenge is the first of its kind, and competition entries will help shape how AI understands the nuances of Black identity. Teaching AI about Black beauty Participants as young as 13 will have the opportunity to win up to $1,500 in cash prizes, with submissions evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges. “At Black Girls Code,
Join our Patreon for extra-long episodes and ad-free content. This week on Techish, hosts Michael and Abadesi chat about the solo “vibe coder” who sold to Wix for $80M, the Social Network sequel, the Microsoft–OpenAI drama, and why working a “low-status” job might help you be a better person. 00:28 Six-Month Vibe Coder Gets $80M 09:00 The Social Network Is Getting a Sequel 17:59 Microsoft vs. OpenAI Feud Heats Up 32:14 ‘Fascism Starts From the Standing Desk’ [Patreon-Only] Take TripleTen’s career quiz to get a free personalized career consultation! Listen To
According to some estimates, 80% of medical bills contain errors; Avelis Health utilizes AI to help Americans save money on these bills. The startup recently raised $500,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by Y Combinator. Founded in February 2025 by Angel Onuoha and Ahmad Shehu, Avelis Health utilizes AI agents to scan users’ medical bills, identifying common errors and helping Americans save thousands of dollars. Onuoha’s personal experience with a chronic knee injury prompted his decision to build the company. “Over the past decade, I’ve had to fight down
Fewer Black professionals are entering venture capital, and even fewer are rising through the ranks, a new report has found. The Black Venture Report 2025 On Juneteenth, BLCK VC released the third edition of its Black Venture report. Its first edition was promoted by a question between the co-founders: Where are we, really? That question expanded into a critical report that highlights the link between Black representation and power in venture capital. “Our research continues to expose a stark truth: Black investors remain severely underrepresented, especially in senior roles,” it
Ankor AI, a startup founded by Kyle Rowley, has just raised $1.3 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Upfin, according to Tech Funding News. Juni, Pleo, Moss, and Klarna also participated in the funding round. Former basketball player Rowley founded the Swedish fintech company after spending four years working with different finance teams. During this time, he observed the challenges of accessing financial data, particularly for e-commerce brands seeking credit or a precise cash flow. “I met smart operators who knew exactly what needed to be done, but
Since returning to office in January, President Trump has ramped up efforts to increase the deportation of immigrants, setting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a goal of arresting at least 3,000 migrants a day. In response, ICE raids have surged across the country. High-profile workplace operations in cities like Los Angeles have led to widespread protests and federal deployments. According to The Independent, demonstrations have erupted in more than 40 cities. Many of the recent detentions involve individuals with no prior criminal record. Immigrants now face the risk of arrest in
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), representing the NAACP, has sent a 60-day Notice of Intent to Sue to Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, over its unpermitted use of gas turbines at a data center in South Memphis. The letter, dated June 17, alleges that xAI violated federal law by installing dozens of methane gas turbines without the required permits or pollution controls. This notice is a necessary step before filing a lawsuit under the Clean Air Act. “Over the last year, these turbines have pumped out pollution that threatens
Join our Patreon for extra-long episodes and ad-free content. This week on Techish, hosts Michael and Abadesi chat about Cluely, a startup with a “cheat at everything” app. They dive into its viral marketing, the ethics of using it in job interviews, and whether traditional knowledge still matters in today’s fast-changing industry. 00:00 Introduction00:14 The Rise of Cluely: The AI App For Cheating at Everything02:46 Startup Stunts and the Attention Economy08:47 Tech Interviews are Broken Take TripleTen’s career quiz to get a free personalized career consultation! Listen To The Episode
