Gran Coramino Tequila, the premium tequila brand co-founded by Kevin Hart and Juan Domingo Beckmann, has disbursed over $1 million in grants to Black and Latine entrepreneurs across the United States to date. The Coramino Fund Since its inception in 2022, Gran Coramino has dedicated a portion of its sales to the betterment of underrepresented business owners, committing $1 from every bottle sold to this cause. The Coramino Fund, established in partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), has now dispersed over $1 million in grants. This funding has reached over 100
Brand new Techish! This week, host Michael Berhane sits down with former Radio 1Xtra DJ Reece Parkinson. Listen on Spotify or Apple podcast also. Watch On YouTube:
Sundial Media Group (SMG), the parent company of Essence Ventures, has announced its decision to acquire Refinery29 from Vice Media. Refinery29, a prominent women’s lifestyle platform, has faced financial challenges in recent years but remains a key player with its distinct millennial women audience. This acquisition marks a major shift as SMG led by Richelieu Dennis, aims to broaden its reach and influence across the female-oriented digital landscape. Sundial Media Group Acquires Refinery29 Essence Ventures already has several prominent brands under its umbrella, including ESSENCE magazine, AFROPUNK, Girls United, and
Brand new Techish podcast episode! This week, Techish host Michael Berhane sits down with TechCrunch reporter Dominic-Madori Davis to explain why Megan Thee Stallion loves Pinterest and why it’s a respite from all the other social media noise. Listen to the episode: Listen on Spotify or Apple podcast also. Watch on YouTube:
Group Black has announced the acquisition of Galore Media Inc., a digital culture magazine that reaches 15 million users monthly. The Black-owned media company is also expanding its media influence with the launch of the “She’s Good [For Real]” Black women’s health platform and new data technologies. The Galore Acquisition Galore is known for spotlighting cultural icons such as Zendaya, Bad Bunny, and Kylie Jenner on their covers and its collaborations with major brands like Samsung, Apple, and Estee Lauder. “Galore is on the cutting edge of culture and I
The Folklore, a platform known for connecting global consumers with African brands and diasporic fashion, has secured a substantial $3.4 million seed funding. This round was spearheaded by Benchstrength Ventures, with contributions from Techstars, Black Tech Nation Ventures, and Slauson and Co. Connecting brands with Major Retailers In 2022, Folklore underwent a transformation. Originally a shopping platform showcasing primarly African brands, it now aims to enhance how emerging brands integrate into the retail landscape. “[Brands] would come to me for advice on how to expand their footprint, how to get a loan or how
TikTok rapper Dantreal Clark-Rainbolt, known by his stage name Trefuego, has been ordered to pay Sony Music Entertainment $802,997.23 in damages for using a copyrighted sample without permission. U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman delivered the ruling, saying the fine would teach him a six-figure “lesson” about “carefully selecting the materials included in his raps.” Trefuego’s Copyright Clash Trefuego’s track “90mh” became a viral sensation on TikTok, featured in over 155,000 videos and gaining more than 100 million streams on Spotify. Despite the song’s success and nearly $700,000 in earnings, the rapper’s victory was short-lived.
In a controversial incident, DBrand, a Canadian tech accessory company known for its social media persona, faced severe backlash after making a racist remark about a customer’s last name. A Joke Taken Too Far? The comment, which was intended to be humorous, was directed at Bhuwan Chitransh, a customer who had complained about the discoloration of a product he had purchased. Chitransh’s initial tweet to DBrand was about a computer skin that changed color only two months after purchase. In a response that was seen as offensive, DBrand tweeted, “Your
Richualist founder Dawn Myers has secured investment from business figures Mark Cuban and Emma Grede on Shark Tank for her hair tool for textured hair. The washday styling tool Myers’ product, The Mint, is designed to detangle, condition, and style curly to coily hair types (classified as 3A to 4C). The hair tool includes six attachments and is designed to simplify and enhance styling. The technology used heats liquid hair products to optimize their effectiveness, addressing the often complicated and time-consuming nature of managing highly textured hair. “You simply load your pod; think
American Screening, a drug and medical testing supplies distributor in Louisana, has agreed to pay $50,000 to settle a race discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The case centered around Imani Jackson, a Black employee who was fired after she decided to wear her natural hair to work. Fired over her wearing natural hair Imani Jackson’s daily routine involved spending 45 minutes each morning concealing her natural hair under a cap and gluing on a wig with straight hair. This routine wasn’t just time-consuming; it
