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
Is your sportswear impacting your vulval health? There is no denying that workout wear has provided gym-goers with great comfort. The flexibility of the fabric used in activewear has made exercising a seamless experience for all. The tight and non-breathable fabric designed to hold in sweat has been prone to throw off many women’s vaginal health, ultimately triggering yeast infections and other vaginal irritations. After dealing with constant vaginal health issues, Mitchella Gilbert learned that the leggings she wore daily as an athlete triggered her vaginal health issues. After taking
South African startup Carry1st has raised $27 million in latest funding round to tap into the gaming industry in Africa. Carry1st’s funding round The funding round, led by gaming-focused VC firm BITKRFT Ventures, also included VC Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), TTV Capital, Lateral Capital, Alumni Ventures, and Kepple Ventures. The investment will help Carry1st create a steady financial infrastructure to prepare for Africa’s fast-paced gaming space. “We’re delighted to partner with BITKRAFT, one of the world’s top gaming VC firms, alongside a16z and other existing investors as we continue on our
A movie about AI, aliens, and social media? Sounds like a must-see! “Missing” is the latest tech thriller to hit our screens. The film, written and directed by Nick Johnson and Will Merrick, explores the story of June – played by Storm Reid (Euphoria) – who is on a quest to find her mother after her strange disappearance while on vacation in Colombia. The film, currently out in cinemas, includes a star-studded lineup of talents such as Nia Long – who plays June’s mother – Megan Suri, Ken Leung, Daniel Henney,
We love to see history being made! Sara Hood, teamed up with Edward Madnogorere and Emmanuel Acho – to form the Houston Hyenas team ownership group in the SimWin sports league, making her the first Black woman to own a digital sports team. Who is Sara Hood? Sara Hood is a venture capitalist and CEO of Sara Belay Inc. Hood can be described as a woman working to create space for Black women in tech, by any means necessary. To date, the tech entrepreneur has sat on the advisory board
Over half (54%) of the jobs at tech companies are non-technical roles – which is great news for those of us who thought C# was a musical note. Here’s a roundup of some of the many ‘non-technical’ roles at tech companies you can apply for on POCIT! “I genuinely thought it was only the coders that would be able to make the most money and the biggest change in the tech world and I was wrong.” – Nakita Austin, Customer Success Director Marketing A tech company may make a life-changing
MNFTM has officially launched its premier Web3 NFT marketplace platform for Black and brown creators globally. The world’s first NFT marketplace for Black and ethnically diverse creators The NFT Marketplace will be the world’s first-ever platform created explicitly for Black and ethnically diverse creators. The initiative hopes to address the gap in the market by providing a ground-breaking space where equality and collecting can co-exist in the digital realm. Founded by CEO Ed Ukaonu, the marketplace will work to represent all voices in the evolving digital economy. The platform’s business model focuses
