According to a new report by Harvard researchers, overlooked Black businesses that added a ‘Black-owned’ label to their online shop saw a significant increase in sales last year. Many tech platforms, including Yelp, Amazon, and Instagram, have introduced a new feature with the aim of helping Black-owned businesses get the spotlight they deserve – but do they actually work? Since the feature has been rolled out, many have questioned whether it works or would prove problematic for smaller businesses in the future. However, Harvard says this feature has proved to be highly beneficial for Black-owned
If you could say anything to your favorite historical figure, what would you say? A new AI chatbot, Historical Figures, allows users to go back in time and speak to their favorite icons. The Historical Figures app, designed by Sidhant Chadda, is an artificial intelligence chatbox that allows users to travel back in time to speak to some of their favorite historical figures. The AI chatbot – which outlets have described as the ‘platform that lets famous dead people like to you’ – has taken social media by storm. After just being
Tech powerhouse Google has shared how it is working towards racial equity to celebrate Black History month. From prioritizing product inclusion to partnering with Black businesses and highlighting Black history – Google has spent the past few years highlighting the culture and the work of Black innovators. Showcasing Black creators Last year, Google partnered with three non-profit organizations to launch the Image Equity Fellowship. The project supported 20 Black and brown artists through their artistic journeys. The tech giant helped them receive unrestricted funding, mentorship support, and workshops to help them
To celebrate Black history month, financial tech platform Creative Juice has launched the Black Creator Incubator to help uplift Black content creators. The program, which aims to uplift Black creators’ voices and provide them with the education needed to grow, will commit to investing $25,000 in Black creators. Creative Juice will pick five Black creators to receive funding and participate in critical educational sessions on creativity and finance. “Helping creators grow means increasing our support of underrepresented communities,” Creative Juice said. “Announcing the Black Creator Incubator – our inaugural program designed to
Earlier this week, Beyoncé shut down the internet after announcing she would release tickets for her long-awaited world tour. However, many fans were disappointed to discover that the tickets would be released in partnership with Ticketmaster. The singer and songwriter – who yesterday made history as the most awarded artist in Grammy history – is set to embark on her most in-demand tour yet for her most recent album, Renaissance. The demand for tickets was reportedly 800% higher than the supply, leading to Ticketmaster’s platform unexpectedly shutting down – putting
24-year-old content creator, Shevon Salmon, is one of a few people turning their passion for tech into a sustainable income. Before picking up his camera for thousands of viewers, Salmon first discovered his love for videography after the birth of his little sister, who he spent most of his time recording. The love he developed for technology – which started as a simple hobby – has sparked the growth of his career on social media. Salmon’s YouTube covers various topics, including new tech drops, gaming videos, lifestyle and testing out
From a mere idea to becoming the chosen social media platform for many, Spill is on the road to becoming one of the most inclusive social platforms. Earlier this week, founders Alphonzo Terrell and DeVaris Brown announced the close of their $2.75M pre-seed funding round for the social platform Spill. The pre-seed funding round Even though Black founders tend to go unnoticed when seeking venture capital funding for their business, Terrell and Brown were able to sell their business model to investors in just 10 minutes. The funding round, which was co-led by MaCVentureCap and Kapor Center, also
TikTok is celebrating US Black History Month with its first-ever Visionary Voices list, as well as a range of in-app content and IRL events. #BlackTikTok This month, TikTok will be hosting a range of LIVE in-app events featuring inspiring Black creatives and innovators across several industries. The in-app #BlackTikTok hub will also feature stories from Black creators, Black-owned businesses, and non-profit organizations and the sounds page will feature special guests and album playlists showcasing Black talent across music genres. TikTok is also taking its celebrations offline with the third instalment
Miiriya has been flooded with messages of support after the online marketplace for Black-owned businesses announced its upcoming closure. The brainchild of Lamine Loco, Miiriya is a platform connecting Black-owned businesses with consumers – kind of like an Etsy or Amazon for Black businesses. The name comes from Loco’s native language, Bambara/Dioula, and means “thoughts” or “ideas.” Committed to the circulation of the Black dollar, Miiriya lets vendors sign up without transaction or listing fees. They also pay credit card and PayPal fees out of pocket, so vendors receive 100% of
If you’ve been on TikTok lately, chances are you’ve come across food critic, Keith Lee. The MMA fighter-turned-food critic has dedicated his online platform to helping underrepresented Black-owned restaurants get the spotlight they deserve. In a recent video, popular TikToker Keith Lee revealed that he had helped a struggling Black business raise $30,000 in under 24 hours. Through his honest but rewarding TikTok reviews, struggling businesses have seen an enormous influx of customers, with many going from no customers to completely selling out. After making his way home, Lee spotted
