Are we leaving Twitter or not? That’s the question many Black Twitter users have been asking themselves for months now. The only problem is, where exactly will we be leaving to go? What is Spill? Enter: Spill. The social media app, designed by former Twitter employees, Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell and DeVaris Brown, is slowly becoming the chosen alternative for many. The pair who met on their first day working at Twitter made friends after noticing they were the only Black guys. Their friendship has since blossomed into a partnership that led
Accelerator program 1000 Black Voices is committed to breaking down the barriers many Black tech founders face. As a part of this mission, 1000 Black Voices gave thirteen Black-owned startups from its accelerator program the opportunity to participate in New York’s Trade Mission. What is the Trade Mission? The Trade Mission aims to tackle the issues Black and brown founders face in the industry by providing founders with a step-by-step process for scaling and accessing capital. The trade mission, which ran from December 5 -7, took place in partnership with
Sam Ayeni is the entrepreneur behind afriKare Life, a Black-owned company providing life insurance and financial solutions to the African diaspora and POC across America. Africare Life, whichSam Ayeni co-founded alongside his partners Maureen Marcus and Andrew Fyneboy, has quickly grown to become an innovative and modern life insurance platform that helps uplift individuals, families, and different tribes in the “land of opportunity.” Black Americans are buying more life insurance Black people are buying life insurance packages at higher rates than other racial groups. The 2021 LIMRA Barometer study found
Black-owned fiber and material science firm Aja Labs has raised $2.5 million to commercialize its first product, hair extensions made from plant material. The seed funding round, led by Impact America Fund, included Better Ventures, SOSV’s IndieBi, and a range of leaders across different sectors, including public health, cosmetics, business, and beauty. Aja Labs, co-founded by Osahon Ojeaga and Mary Moore, is an innovative company is working to build a better-for-you and better-for-the-planet product focusing on sustainability and human wellness. Their patent-pending hair extensions will be sold under the consumer brand Nourie and will include
Automation Workz, a Detroit-based cybersecurity and tech re-skilling firm seeking to create a real-life ‘Wakanda,’ has secured ByBlack certification. Developed by the US Black Chambers, Inc. and presented by American Express, ByBlack is an extensive national Black business directory and the only national certification exclusively for Black-owned businesses. The certification provides Black entrepreneurs with advanced ways to reach their target client base and access valuable business tools. Creating a real-life Wakanda Automation Workz, founded by urban economist Ida Byrd-Hill, is a cybersecurity reskilling firm and creator of the first tech grit assessment to
Debbie Dickinson and her daughter Markea Dickinson are the dynamic duo behind the new AI-driven wristband and app, Thermaband, which uses technology to help menopausal women manage hot flashes. What is Thermaband Zone? Founded in 2019 by Debbie Dickinson and her daughter Markea Dickinson-Frasier in Miami, Florida, Thermaband aims to revolutionize women’s health, especially for those undergoing the menopause. After facing her challenges with menopause, Debbie Dickinson grew frustrated by the lack of cooling relief solutions for hot flashes. Refusing to accept thermal discomfort as a new way of life,
Black-owned real estate tech company, REZI, has secured $100 million in debt financing from Stratos Credit. REZI’s $100M Investment The announcement comes at a time of rapid growth for the platform, which has continuously shaken the status quo. The company, founded in 2016 by Sean Mitchell, has shaken the real estate space by creating space for the next generation of renters. The additional funding will go towards helping the company expand its services to more property owners and new markets. “Stratos has been a core strategic partner of REZI since 2017,” said
Startup accelerator platform, Techstars London, has welcomed its “most diverse” cohort group in its history. This year’s program includes early-stage startups from across the globe and a large majority of women and minority founders. The Most Diverse Cohort Techstars London is a worldwide startup accelerator platform that helps entrepreneurs succeed. Their three-month programs provide members with skills to increase their capital, access mentorship and connect with like-minded peers. The early-stage startups in this year’s cohort originate from several countries across the globe, including Nigeria, Malaysia, Denmark, and the US. Techstar’s
Black founder Jim Gibbs decided to launch parking payment app Meter Feeder after facing challenges breaking into the software engineering sector. Who is Jim Gibbs? Jim Gibbs, co-founder and CEO of the digital parking app, Meter Feeder, has built an impressive portfolio in software engineering over the years. Despite his entrepreneurial journey being a lot harder than most, Gibbs has always believed in the success of his business model. Jim Gibbs, a New York native, decided to move to Pittsburgh to attend Carnegie Mellon University as a computer science major. Due
Black-owned finance company Novae LLC has officially launched a new digital tool to help small businesses find grants and tax incentives to help them grow at a faster rate. What is Novae Grants? The new tool launched by Novae LLC, called Novae Grants, allows thousands of users to search through a database filled with finance assistance opportunities from both the private sector and the government. According to the Novae team, the grants in the database range from $500 to $5 million. They have specifically been designed to help underrepresented Black
