Emmy-winning actress Kerry Washington has invested in Spill, a Black-owned social media platform that aims to create safer spaces for historically marginalized groups, including LGBTQIA+ and people of color. Founded by two former Twitter employees, Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell and DeVaris Brown, Spill positions itself as a next-generation social platform that puts culture first. Kerry Washington Backs Spill With Spill, Washington is not only an investor but also an enthusiastic user. “In a digital world where marginalized groups, especially Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA folks, rarely feel prioritized, Spill stands out,” she shared
Brand new Techish! This week, hosts Abadesi and Michael break down: Diddy gets arrested (00:10) Red Lobster’s new 35-year-old Black CEO (06:30) The job market is a mess (13:35) Is entrepreneurship too safe now? (20:00) Listen to the episode You can find the Techish podcast on Spotify, Apple, and all good podcast apps. Watch On YouTube
Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1511 into law that mandates state agencies develop plans to increase advertising spending in media outlets serving California’s diverse populations. The legislation, authored by Assembly member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), aims to address historical underfunding by directing state advertising dollars to these essential media outlets. Expanding State Support for Diverse Media According to the Latino Media Collaborative, California is home to more than 300 ethnic media outlets, which serve as critical sources of information for the state’s diverse communities. However, many of these
Tech influencer Marques Brownlee, also known as MKBHD, recently faced backlash following the release of his new wallpaper app, Panels. Launched on both iOS and Android, the app curates high-quality digital wallpapers from various artists. However, the premium pricing model and privacy concerns have stirred some controversy. Brownlee quickly responded to the criticisms, addressing them head-on in an effort to assure users that changes are on the way. Marques Brownlee’s Panels app Brownlee is a leading voice in tech with nearly 20 million YouTube subscribers, recently making the second-ever TIME100 AI
Black Eyed Peas frontman and tech entrepreneur will.i.am has launched RAiDiO.FYI, a free AI-powered set of interactive radio stations focused on topics like sports, pop culture, and politics. RAiDiO.FYI uses OpenAI’s language models to create a unique experience where listeners can ask questions, request songs, and get news updates from an AI DJ. A New Era of Interactive Radio With RAiDiO.FYI, will.i.am aims to bring a new level of interactivity to radio. Unlike traditional radio or even AI music tools like Spotify’s AI DJ, RAiDiO.FYI allows for tor two-way communication. Listeners
In this week’s Techish, Abadesi and Michael reflect on the ups and downs of running their own companies: Vanity metrics and getting your priorities right (00:10) Why VC money seems so sexy (08:05) The secret to getting good feedback (11:35) The future of corporate anti-racism (19:05) Listen to the episode You can find the Techish podcast on Spotify, Apple, and all good podcast apps. Watch On YouTube Extra Reading and Resources Check out Hustle Crew’s Playschool Accelerator 2024.
The Black Founders Programme, by Digital Catapult and Sony Music UK, is back for its second year, supporting Black British entrepreneurs in creative technology. Ten new startups have joined the 2024 cohort, applying immersive technologies like virtual, augmented and mixed reality to creative industries. Supporting Black Deep Tech Innovation The initiative focuses on improving investment readiness through mentorship, knowledge sharing, and partnerships. Last year, over 80% of participants saw growth in investment readiness, securing key corporate partnerships and investor interest. This year’s cohort explores immersive technology in storytelling, music production,
Brandcil, a technology company, has introduced an enterprise-level social media management platform. Launched on June 10, 2024, Brandcil distinguishes itself as one of the few platforms offering comprehensive tools for streamlining social media tasks across various networks. A Game-Changer for Social Media Management The platform enables users to manage multiple social media accounts, schedule posts, and monitor performance, integrating with major platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, and X (formerly Twitter). This one-stop solution aims to optimize social media strategies for businesses and individuals alike. Brandcil has formed
In this episode of Techish Podcast, Abadesi and Michael discuss Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump debate Bias and how it ties into today’s political climate AI and how companies building their own solutions to save money Social media affecting brand engagement Plus they break down Fearless Fund lawsuit and more! Listen to the episode You can find the Techish podcast on Spotify, Apple, and all good podcast apps. Watch on Youtube
Rapper and entrepreneur 2 Chainz has joined PepsiCo to launch “Taste of Tomorrow,” a new initiative aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of Black professionals in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers. Boosting Black representation in STEM Despite STEM fields experiencing rapid growth, Black professionals currently make up just 9% of the workforce. The “Taste of Tomorrow” initiative aims to break down the systemic barriers Black students face in pursuing STEM careers, such as limited access to advanced coursework and public programming. Rapper and entrepreneur 2 Chainz, a HBCU alum,
