Amazon Web Services (AWS), a leading cloud computing platform, is expandng its reach in South Africa’s tech landscape through its Equity Equivalent Investment Program (EEIP). The 18-24 month enablement and acceleration program supports South African Black-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who want to build their AWS business. The EEIP, launched in 2020, has already developed 27 SMEs and is looking to expand its reach to 20 more in its 2024 cohort. AWS targets female and youth entrepreneurs, addressing the gender gap in tech startups. “These SMEs are critical drivers of our economic future,” said Chris
Belong, a London-based fintech startup has recently launched out of stealth, following a €3.4 million ($3.6 million) pre-seed funding. This achievement marks the largest pre-seed round ever raised by female founders in Europe. Helping millenials build wealth Millennials are the first generation in history to be worse off than their parents financially. Belong was established in 2023 by former investment banker Avion Gray and behavioral economist Samantha Rosenberg to change this. Nick Hungerford, a pioneer in European fintech, brought together co-founders Gray and Rosenberg. Hungerford’s legacy continues to influence the company, even after passing in July 2023. “We
Pa Edrissa Manjang, a Black Uber Eats driver in Oxfordshire, UK, received a payout after facial-recognition checks prevented him from accessing the app, the BBC reported. Racially Discriminatory Facial Recognition Checks Initially, when Manjang began working for Uber Eats in November 2019, the Microsoft-powered app didn’t frequently request facial verification. However, as the app’s AI-driven checks increased, Manjang faced an unexpected hurdle. Manjang said he was asked to take photos of himself “multiple times a day” because the system failed to recognize him. He told Uber Eats: “Your algorithm, by the looks of things, is racist.”
MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving initiative has granted a $2 million donation to Birthing Beautiful Communities (BBC), a Black women-led doula organization and platform in Northeast Ohio. This financial boost will empower BBC in its vital mission to enhance maternal and infant health outcomes for Black mothers and families. The Yield Giving Initiative The Yield Giving Open Call, an initiative of MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropic efforts, was launched in March 2023 to back community-led, community-focused organizations. With over 6,000 applicants, the initial plan to award $1 million each to 250 organizations was significantly expanded,
Google and Apple are potentially joining forces to integrate Google’s chatbot technology, Gemini, into every iPhone amid controversies surrounding its promotion of diversity. Google’s Gemini The two tech giants are discussing licensing parts of Google’s Gemini bot for the iPhone’s built-in AI tools, such as its Siri assistant. Bloomberg reported that Google’s shares surged 6.6% following the news. The move comes after Gemini was criticized for generating images of historical figures that inaccurately represented their genders and ethnicities. The backlash prompted Google to pause the image generation tool. The potential partnership also raises questions of privacy
A New York judge has ruled that Reddit and YouTube must confront lawsuits accusing them of contributing to the radicalization of an 18-year-old who perpetrated a racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo, New York. The Platforms’ Part In The Racial Attack The tragic incident, which resulted in the loss of 10 Black lives in 2022, has raised concerns about the role of social media algorithms in potentially encouraging extremism. Everytown Law, a gun control advocacy group, filed the lawsuits on behalf of 25 survivors of the massacre last year. The decision by Erie County Supreme
We have always been told that making connections and networking are essential to growing, learning, and improving in our industries. Conferences for people of color provide a safe space for professionals to build their brand and increase visibility while relating to others who understand their experiences. In 2024, this field continues to open its doors wider to professionals of color, offering a series of tech conferences designed to connect, celebrate, and elevate their contributions and presence. Let’s explore what’s on the calendar this year. May Latinas in Tech Summit – San
Leigh Higginbotham Butler has a pioneering AI platform and network for Black women, Akina. Akina, which means “strong family bond” in Swahili, originated from a personal need to create a safe space for discussions and support among Black mothers. It has since evolved into a Community-as-a-Service (CaaS) app and platform that leverages culturally competent AI and machine learning technology. From A Social Network To A Movement Akina was initially started 2020 as a social media platform for Black mothers. “It came about in the aftermath of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmuad
Atlanta-based agency Chroma Creators is using artificial intelligence to deliver branding and marketing that is crafted by AI but inspired by Black culture. Chroma Creators Chroma Creators founder, CEO, and chief creative officer Octavia Warren is known for her success with multicultural branding and marketing agency Creative Juice. With over a decade of debunking stereotypes, Warren is now using the power of artificial intelligence to reshape how brands connect with Black audiences. “I remember a time when you could not find a stock photo of a black hand holding an iPhone,” said Warren in
BeSocial, a short-form video app that empowers Black and African creators, is carving out a space in the tech landscape. The platform aims to combine short-form content, the practicality of social shopping, and social commerce. BeSocial Founded in 2022 by Kwesi Buabeng, a former executive at Ecobank, Google, and Coinbase, and his team, BeSocial’s vision is democratizing content creation. The focus on Black and African creators is a move acknowledging their role as trendsetters in social media, often without adequate recognition or compensation. Since its beta launch, BeSocial has been a hub of creativity and
