Online resources business Hello Alice recently announced its Series C funding round closure despite facing a controversial class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges their partnership with Progressive Insurance to offer grants specifically to Black-owned businesses was racially discriminatory. Hello Alice’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion In October 2023, Hello Alice found itself at the center of a legal battle when America First Legal, Mitchell Law PLLC, and Ashbrook Byrne Kresge LLC filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination. This was due to the company’s initiative, which provided $25,000 in grants to 10 Black-owned businesses in
Toku, a fintech startup that specializes in recurring payment solutions, has raised $9.3 million in its latest funding round. The funding round was led by Gradient Ventures and supported by existing investors including F-Prime Capital, Clocktower, Y Combinator, Wollef, and Funders Club. This latest investment has now pushed Toku’s total funding to nearly $20 million. Revolutionizing Payment Collections In Latin America Founded in 2020, Toku has become a leading player in the fintech sector by automating the entire payment processing lifecycle. Its platform offers varied payment options, handles customer outreach, and optimizes collection strategies using real-time data. This approach enhances the
Bitcoin teller machines (BTMs) in the U.S. are disproportionately installed in areas with large Black and Latine populations, a Bloomberg analysis has revealed. BTMs in Black and Latine areas The number of BTMs, which allow people to convert cash into Bitcoin, has risen drastically over the last four years, now totalling around 31,100 units nationwide. These machines, commonly found in gas stations and convenience stores, saw a surge during the pandemic as interest in digital currencies grew. However, a Bloomberg analysis has revealed that the machines are disproportionately installed in
Hispanic and Latine employees feel pressured to conform to mainstream office norms at the expense of their authentic selves and cultural heritage, a new study by Coqual has revealed. Hispanic and Latine professionals represent a rapidly growing demographic in the U.S. workforce, yet they continue to navigate several stereotypes, colorism, and cultural invisibility. The Coqual study used a mixed-method approach, including surveys, focus groups, and expert interviews, involving more than 2,300 full-time professionals across the United States. The pressure to assimilate Key findings indicate that 68% of Hispanic and Latine professionals with sponsors
Suzanna Valdez Wolfe has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), the nation’s largest organization dedicated to Hispanic people in STEM. Meet Suzanna Valdez Wolfe With a career spanning over three decades, Suzanna Valdez Wolfe brings to SHPE a track record in leadership, strategic planning, and coalition building. Before joining SHPE, Valdez Wolfe was a founding member of Partners For NonProfits and the first-ever Chief Impact Officer at Taproot Foundation. Her career also includes a notable tenure at the Adrienne Arsht Center of the Performing Arts, where she contributed to
We have always been told that making connections and networking are essential to growing, learning, and improving in our industries. Conferences for people of color provide a safe space for professionals to build their brand and increase visibility while relating to others who understand their experiences. In 2024, this field continues to open its doors wider to professionals of color, offering a series of tech conferences designed to connect, celebrate, and elevate their contributions and presence. Let’s explore what’s on the calendar this year. May Latinas in Tech Summit – San
Trez, the first U.S. Latine payroll platform company, is reshaping the financial landscape for Latine businesses in America. Trez Recognized by notable institutions like Techstars, Forbes, Inc., and Stanford GSB, Trez provides specialized payroll, benefits, and financial services solutions. The platform is specifically designed to support the burgeoning Latine business community. Trez emerges at a crucial time when Latine-owned businesses, contributing $500 billion in annual sales and millions of jobs, are becoming vital in the U.S. economy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hispanics will constitute 78% of the new workforce entrants between 2020 and
10Pearls, a global, purpose-driven digital technology partner, is launching a “Women in Tech” program for Latin American women in Costa Rica on February 10th. Founded by brothers Imran and Zeeshan Aftab, 10Pearls partners with clients to imagine, design, build, and deliver innovative mobile and digital products. The company has a diverse clientele that includes Global 1000 enterprises and high-growth startups and has offices in the US, Costa Rice, Colombia, the UK, Pakistan, and Peru. Women in Tech Program The Women in Tech launch event in Costa Rice will consist of a series of
Black-owned tech accelerator Plug In Ventures has secured a new $1 million grant from the California Office of Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA). Plug In is the space for Black and Brown entrepreneurs and VCs to reimagine the innovation economy across the US and beyond. Founded by Derek Smith in 2014, the accelerator investing mentors and expands early-stage entrepreneurs. Since 2019, companies in his firm’s ecosystem have raised over $22 million in VC dollars from climate, sustainability, the creator economy, and athletic apparel. The Funding Plug In Ventures will receive $250,000 annually from CalOSBA over
Tech Nation has revealed the startups selected for the 2024 cohort of their Libra program, which aims to champion underrepresented founders. Based in the UK, Tech Nation is the leading growth platform for tech insights, connections, collaboration, and talent. It empowers ambitious founders and their teams with the access and knowledge they need from their seed stage to their end goal. Over the past decade, Tech Nation has engaged with over 5,000 businesses and accelerated 1,250 through 48 growth programs. The Libra Program Libra is the growth program for underrepresented tech founders
