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,
The Black Farmer Fund (BFF) is raising $20 million for its second fund, BFF Fund 2.0, aimed at strengthening the Black food system across the Northeast. BFF is a community-driven investment fund that supports Black agricultural and food businesses to build a more equitable food system. This milestone will provide financial support to Black-owned agricultural and food businesses, with $2 million of the integrated capital fund already invested in four innovative enterprises. The fund is part of BFF’s mission to create a sustainable, equitable food system by offering patient, low-interest
Red Lobster, the iconic seafood chain, has officially exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy following its acquisition by RL Investor Holdings LLC, a group backed by Fortress Investment Group. The company has named 35-year-old Damola Adamolekun as its new CEO, marking a milestone in both the restaurant’s history and the career of this rising Black business leader. New Leadership Ushers in a Fresh Chapter for Red Lobster With a new ownership structure in place and fresh leadership at the helm, Red Lobster is positioning itself for a comeback. Adamolekun, who previously served
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
The UK government has launched an initiative to strengthen science, technology, and innovation systems across West Africa, with a new £1.9 million ($2.5 million) funding package. The initiative, named Sankore, was announced by Lord Collins, UK Minister for Africa, at a press conference in Accra. This project is part of the West Africa Research and Innovation Hub (WARIH), designed to support economic growth in the region by driving innovation and strengthening digital services. Focus on Ghana and Nigeria The Sankore project will primarily focus on Ghana and Nigeria, two of
Black students are over twice as likely to be falsely accused of using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to complete school assignments compared to their white and Latine peers, according to a new report from Common Sense Media. Released on September 18, the study reveals that while 10% of students from any background report their work being wrongly flagged as AI-generated, the figure jumps to 20% for Black students. In contrast, only 7% of white and 10% of Latine students face such false accusations. Biased AI Detection Tools The discrepancies in
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,
Workers of color made up 40.1% of the high tech workforce in 2022, comprising a share similar to the total US workforce, according to a new report from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). However, Black and Hispanic workers remain significantly underrepresented in the high tech workforce and sector, especially in senior roles, depsite growing numbers. The high tech workforce The high tech workforce refers to workers in 56 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations regardless of industry, for example, an engineer working at a nonprofit. Black high tech
As companies scale back flexible work environments and encourage a return to the office, Black workers are facing a significant decline in workplace wellbeing. According to new research from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, the post-pandemic shift is hitting Black employees especially hard, worsening existing disparities in the workplace. Return to office hits Black workers hardest Carey surveyed more than 1.5 million individuals at over 2,500 organizations in the US in partnership with Great Place To Work. They found that workplace wellbeing peaked in 2020 when many companies embraced more supportive and
URAWarrior, a mental wellness platform founded by executive coach and TV personality Bershan Shaw, has launched a new mental wellness app designed to help users manage stress, anxiety, and mental health challenges. The app, released on National Suicide Prevention Day, is part of a partnership with the restaurant chain Founding Farmers. A New mental wellness app Bershan Shaw, a two-time cancer survivor known for her appearances on The Real Housewives of New York City, created URAWarrior as a safe space for individuals dealing with mental health struggles. The app offers
