Escala, a CRM platform for Hispanic small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), has raised $12 million in its latest funding round. This milestone, led by IGNIA and Alaya Capital, marks a step in the company’s mission to empower Hispanic businesses in the United States and Latin America. High Alpha and other investors also participated in the round. Revolutionizing SMB Marketing and Sales Founded by renowned tech entrepreneur Andrés Moreno, also the founder of Open English, Escala offers a marketing and sales platform. The platform addresses critical challenges faced by Hispanic SMBs
SheerLuxe, a renowned UK lifestyle and fashion magazine, recently introduced Reem Bot, a woman of color AI-powered fashion and lifestyle editor, causing backlash. Presented as a new team member, Reem is designed to provide recommendations on fashion, beauty, travel, and more. However, the announcement was met with significant backlash, particularly regarding the ethical implications and the portrayal of Reem as a person of color. Public Reaction and Concerns The introduction of Reem Bot sparked controversy among SheerLuxe’s audience, which includes nearly half a million Instagram followers. “We’re thrilled to introduce
Stand with Asian Americans (SwAA), the nation’s premier civil rights organization dedicated to combating anti-Asian workplace discrimination, has introduced its Workplace Justice Fund. The fund aims to provide legal support and resources for Asians in America facing workplace discrimination. The Workplace Justice Fund The Workplace Justice Fund aims to raise $1 million by year-end, having already secured $100,000 from anonymous donors. This initiative arrives at a crucial moment, with recent studies indicating that Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) employees are considering lawsuits at higher rates than other employees of
Mexican fintech company OCN, which offers car rental models for gig workers in Mexico and the US, has successfully raised $86 million in equity and debt. The Series A funding round was led by Brazil’s Caravela Capital, with additional contributions from Collide Capital and Great North Ventures on the equity side, and New York-based i80 Group leading the debt portion. Innovative Solutions For Gig Workers Launched in 2022, OCN provides gig workers with new car rentals on a weekly fee basis, inclusive of maintenance and insurance. Users also have the
The Black AI Consortium has officially launched, aiming to encourage dialogue and advancement in artificial intelligence (AI) with Black scholars at the forefront. The consortium, established in May, seeks to provide a network for individuals across the African diaspora interested in AI, encouraging the sharing of ideas and insights while addressing current industry concerns. A Network for AI Enthusiasts Across the African Diaspora The mission of the Black AI Consortium, as reported by Black News, is to “cultivate a vibrant and supportive community where individuals of the African diaspora can
The Mall of America is facing backlash following the implementation of its new facial recognition technology. The use of the technology has raised privacy concerns among lawmakers, civil liberties advocates, and the general public. Concerns Over Privacy and Misuse Minnesota State Senators Eric Lucero (Republican) and Omar Fateh (Democrat) have united in urging the Mall of America to halt its facial recognition operations. “Public policy concerns surrounding privacy rights and facial recognition technologies have yet to be resolved, including the high risks of abuse, data breaches, identity theft, liability and
Blapp is changing the way Black-owned businesses connect with their communities and attract new clientele. Blapp: Bridging the Gap for Black-Owned Businesses Jon Laster, a comedian-turned-app developer, created Blapp to help Black-owned businesses thrive. Following George Floyd’s murder in 2020, Laster sought a sustainable way to support his community. “Blapp works by simplifying people’s desire to help,” Laster said according to ABC News. In Blapp, users can see nearby Black-owned businesses—from restaurants to nail salons—on a map or in a list and search for products and services offered by Black business
Caliza has secured $8.5 million funding. Founded in 2021 by Ezra Kebrab, the Brazil-based startup transforms cross-border transactions in Latin America through the use of crypto stablecoins. The company recently secured funding led by Initialized Capital, enabling them to expand their innovative payment solutions that leverage Circle’s USDC (USD Coin), according to TechCrunch. “Caliza is building global financial infrastructure that removes borders from commerce,” Kebrab wrote on LinkedIn. “I’m excited to unveil the latest including our recent $8.5M round.” Bringing Speed and Stability to Cross-Border Payments Unlike traditional transfers made
Business leaders have acknowledged that their companies are lagging behind in their diversity efforts, according to a new report by The IN Group. The “UNLOCKED: Tech and the Boardroom” report surveyed 705 C-level executives in the UK, US, Germany and Netherlands. In today’s competitive business environment, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have become critical components of organizational success, however companies are falling behind. We’re falling behind, Say C-level execs In the report, 3 in 4 (76%) respondents confirmed that they have a diversity and inclusion strategy in place when it
Data workers are exposing the severity of exploitation in the tech and AI industry through the Data Workers’ Inquiry. As part of the community-based research project, 15 data workers joined the Distributed AI Research (DAIR) Institute as community researchers to lead their own inquiry in their respective workplaces. Funded by the Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research (DAIR) Institute, Weizenbaum Institute, and Technische Universität Berlin, the project sheds light on labor conditions and widespread practices in the AI industry. The Plight of African Content Moderators Fasica Berhane Gebrekidan, an ex-content moderator for
