New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux has been named a venture partner in The Collectiv, a new $20 million venture capital fund focused on early-stage sports tech companies and emerging leagues. Strategic Investment for Life After Football Thibodeaux’s partnership with The Collectiv reflects his broader ambition to establish a strong business presence while still actively competing in the NFL, as first reported by Spotico. The fund, which aims to raise $20 million over the next six months, includes a consortium of athletes, sports executives, and industry leaders from major
Vista Equity Partners (Vista), under the leadership of Robert F. Smith, has acquired JAGGAER, a global leader in enterprise procurement and supplier collaboration software. This acquisition comes on the heels of Vista’s recent milestone—a record $20 billion raised for its eighth flagship fund, marking the largest fundraising in the firm’s history. A Strategic Acquisition in the AI-Driven Procurement Space JAGGAER, known for its AI-enabled procurement solutions, serves over 1,400 customers worldwide, offering a platform that optimizes sourcing, spend management, and supply chain visibility. This acquisition aligns with Vista’s strategy of
Kenyan HR tech startup, Workpay, has successfully raised $5 million in a Series A funding round, spearheaded by Norrsken22. This new investment will bolster Workpay’s expansion across Africa, enhance its AI-driven performance management tools, and stabilize its financial services, TechCrunch first reported. The funding follows a $2.7 million pre-Series A round in 2023. Strategic Funding to Accelerate Growth Founded in 2019 by Paul Kimani and Jackson Kungu, Workpay has quickly positioned itself as a leading workforce management platform in Africa. The cloud-based solution offers a suite of HR services, including
Blacks United in Leading Technology (BUiLT), a nonprofit committed to increasing Black representation in tech, has launched an initiative to protect and restore jobs for Black professionals in the industry. The move comes as a direct response to widespread layoffs that have disproportionately impacted Black technologists, with over 240,000 jobs lost across the sector in 2023 alone. The BUiLT REIT Program: A Lifeline for Black Technologists The BUiLT REIT (Retaining Employability In Tech) program, backed by a Google commercialization grant awarded in March 2024, aims to equip Black professionals with
The Hey Auntie! app is on a mission to address the growing loneliness epidemic by fostering meaningful connections between generations of Black women. Created by Nicole Kenney, the platform provides a safe and supportive space for Black women to share wisdom, receive guidance, and build community. Fostering Community Through Fictive Kinship Central to the Hey Auntie! experience is the concept of “fictive kinship,” where relationships are built not through blood ties but through emotionally significant connections. Kenney, who has long championed the power of intergenerational wisdom, describes the platform as
Elon Musk’s Starlink is set to strengthen its footprint in Nigeria with the construction of new ground stations in three locations: Lagos, Ogun, and Rivers States. Starlink Ground Stations The new ground stations will be situated in Okun Ajah, Lagos State; Sagamu, Ogun State; and Port Harcourt, Rivers State. These locations have been carefully selected to optimize coverage and service delivery across the region. The facilities, spread over approximately 29,000 acres, mark an investment in Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure. Construction has already begun in Lagos, with the completion anticipated by the
Waza, a Y Combinator-backed fintech startup, has officially launched from stealth mode, securing $8 million in seed funding to transform how African businesses manage cross-border trade. The funding round was led by major investors including Byld Ventures, Norrsken Africa, and Timon Capital, with the aim of empowering enterprises across the continent to navigate global markets more effectively. Solving Africa’s Trade Imbalance The African continent faces a significant trade imbalance, driven by a persistent demand for the dollar—a currency essential for international trade. This demand often surpasses supply, resulting in higher costs
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is exploring the possibility of collecting biometric data, including facial recognition, from migrant children, extending even to infants, according to Technology Review. This potential policy shift, revealed by John Boyd, Assistant Director of the Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM), has sparked concerns among privacy advocates and lawmakers. Expanding Biometric Surveillance During a June conference, Boyd explained OBIM’s interest in tracking the identities of migrant children over time. The initiative aims to address challenges in recognizing individuals as they age, particularly those who
ChurchSpace is changing how churches use their spaces by turning underutilized real estate into vibrant community hubs. Nicknamed the “Airbnb for churches,” this innovative app allows churches to generate additional income by renting out their facilities as commercial kitchens, event venues, and meeting spaces. Created by the millennial pastors’ kids Day Edwards and Emmanuel Brown, ChurchSpace addresses church leaders’ financial pressures and offers a new model for community engagement. Empowering Communities Through Church Real Estate Launched in 2019, ChurchSpace aims to strengthen local communities by repurposing church real estate. “Church
South Africa-based startup accelerator Founders Factory Africa has officially rebranded as 54 Collective, marking its transition to a venture capital (VC) firm. $150 Million To Support African Startups The rebranding comes after four years of accelerating African startups, during which the organization built a reputation for creating innovation across the continent, according to Empower Africa. Now, with a $40 million fund, 54 Collective is set to invest in early-stage ventures across various sectors. “Today, we are a VC firm with a $40 million fund, and when combined with our $107
