FOSSA, a leading open-source compliance and security platform, has acquired StackShare, a developer community platform. The move aims to bridge the gap between compliance, security, and developer tools, impacting over 1.5 million developers who use StackShare to share and discuss their tech stacks. Integration of Developer Tools and Security FOSSA, valued at over $100 million, started as a tool to help developers manage open-source licenses. Over the years, it has evolved to offer security vulnerability management and Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) management. This expansion has positioned FOSSA as a
Four students from Pinelands High School in Cape Town, South Africa are facing disciplinary hearings after a video depicting a mock “slave auction” went viral on social media, according to the BBC. The video, which shows Black students being auctioned off while others bid for them, has prompted outrage and an official investigation by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). Incident Details and Investigation The footage, reportedly filmed by Grade 8 students, shows Black pupils inside a cage while other students shout bids. This incident has drawn significant public
Google for Startups Accelerator Africa has revealed its 8th cohort, featuring ten startups from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa. These ventures are using AI to address significant issues in healthcare, cargo mobility, energy solutions, and beyond. Pioneering Innovation Across Africa Africa’s tech ecosystem is described as a hub of creativity and problem-solving, driven by startups tackling both local and global challenges with exceptional ingenuity. Since its launch in 2018, the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program has been important in supporting the continent’s startup landscape. The program has now
RUNWAY, a Black-women led financial innovation firm, launched its first in-house integrated capital investment fund. The RUNWAY ROOTED Fund is committed to investing $50 million into businesses, cooperatives, and grassroots organizations that are building wealth in Black communities across select regions in the United States. A New Paradigm in Reparative Finance The RUNWAY ROOTED Fund represents a significant shift from traditional investment models. It serves as a vessel of restitution and revitalization, aiming to address the systemic issues that have long fueled the racial wealth gap. “For too long, the
Over 100 prominent venture capitalists (VCs) have thrown their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris for the upcoming presidential election. Among these supporters are LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Khosla Ventures’ Vinod Khosla, and billionaire investor Chris Sacca. Tech Leaders Rally Behind Kamala Harris The collective, organized under the banner VCsForKamala.org, represents a broad spectrum of tech and business leaders who are advocating for Harris’s vision for America. Their statement emphasizes a commitment to the American dream, entrepreneurship, and technological progress. They also stress the importance of democracy as a fundamental
Venture capitalist (VC) Brittany Davis has shared a list of 80 Black-led VC funds in the US, highlighting the growing presence and influence of Black investors. The Black VC ecosystem Despite the increasing number of Black entrepreneurs, only 2% of VC funds are Black-led according to Davis. In return, Black founders in the US only received 0.48% of all venture dollars in 2023, about $661 million out of $136 billion. Realizing she could not find a recent list of Black-led VC funds, Brittany Davis, a General Partner at Backstage Capital,
Last year, Databricks acquired MosaicML, renamed Mosaic AI, a Black co-founded generative AI (genAI) startup know for its cutting-edge large language (LLMs) models. Building on both companies vision of making genAI accessible for all organizations, Databricks’ Mosaic team has since developed DBRX, one of the fastest and highest-performing LLMs available. Democratizing deep learning Co-founded by Jonathan Frankle PhD ’23 and MIT Associate Professor Michael Carbin, MosaicML started with the mission to make AI models more accessible. The startup developed a platform where users can train, improve, and monitor open-source models
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) has partnered with Urban Strategies Inc. (USI) to enhance opportunities and access for minority businesses across the US. Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development at the MBDA, Eric Morrissette, and USI President, Esther Shin, marked the partnership with the signing of a memorandum of understanding. Expanding Access to Resources for Minority Entrepreneurs The USI’s federally designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) fund aims to promote racial and economic equity by offering resources and capital. By working together, the the MBDA and
Goodie Nation, an organization dedicated to empowering Black tech professionals, has secured over $150,000 in grants from the Kapor Center, Emory Philanthropy Lab, and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s GoATL Economic Inclusion Fund. This funding will enhance the ATL BLK TCH program, which aims to foster a robust and interconnected Black tech community in Atlanta. Building Bridges in the Black Tech Community The ATL BLK TCH program is designed to help Black tech professionals in Atlanta, offering a platform for networking, mentorship, and growth. With the new influx of
Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in Durban South Africa, has made history by appointing Prof. Nokuthula Sibiya as its first female vice-chancellor. A Collective Victory for Women Professor Sibiya began her education at Tholisu and Sawela Primary Schools and continued at Velabahleke and Vukuzakhe High Schools in Umlazi Township. She pursued higher education at the University of Zululand, where she earned a degree in nursing. Furthering her studies, she obtained a Doctor of Technology in Nursing from the Durban University of Technology. As a C-rated researcher – an established researcher
