Justine Skye is expanding her business endeavors, and we are very much here for it. The musician, known for sporting some of the sleekest tresses in the business, has partnered with Black-owned artificial intelligence wig brand Parfait. Parfait, founded by Isoken Igbinedio, is an AI and facial recognition-powered beauty technology that has created a community where beauty and tech co-exist. According to its founders, Parfait was founded to solve two problems: AI biases in tech and the fragmented wig buying process for millions of Black and brown women. “It was
“Done is better than perfect” is Tanya Sam’s mantra. Real Housewives of Atlanta star Tanya Sam has said goodbye to reality TV and hello to the tech world. Since leaving reality television in 2020, Sam has worked to become a key figure in female entrepreneurship, particularly within the tech space. Prior to her transition into the tech industry, Sam was a nurse working in oncology and hematology before she first appeared on the hit Bravo series. “I was a registered nurse for 10 years,” Sam previously explained in an interview with Page
Omidyar Network has announced the launch of The Tech We Want program which aims to help build community, infrastructure, and a solid support system for technologists, thought leaders, and investors in the tech space. The four-year, $8 million program primarily focuses on connecting and empowering new leaders and technologies that focus on inclusivity, sustainability, and responsible innovation. “If we want to develop a responsible tech future, we have to intentionally change who and what we produce. We need to support diverse organizations and inclusive communities working to redefine what technology
Black-owned asset management firm, Black Pearl Global Investments, is set to make history by becoming the first-ever Black-owned contact lens manufacturer in the world. Black Pearl Global Investments, co-founded in 2019 by CEO Dr. Shante Williams, Dr. Carl Smart, Marlon Joris, and Daniel Smart, is an asset management firm that invests in companies innovating the health space. The platform’s primary focus is helping upcoming businesses operating in North America, Africa, and the Caribbean. The lens maker, Hydrogel Vision Corp (HVC), based in Florida, was acquired by Clerio Vision in 2019. The company is primarily known
Capital G, Alphabet’s independent growth fund, has announced that seven Black-owned VC firms will join the Alphabet family as a part of the program’s $100 million commitment to investing in Black founders. According to data, only 4% of the US venture capital workforce and 1.2% of VC-backed founders are Black. The lack of diversity within the venture capital space has a knock-on effect on the number of Black-owned businesses that receive extra funding or investments. After years of leading a large team focused on investing in Black-led VC funds, startups,
Forbes has released the world’s most influential CMOs list to recognize some of the most powerful changemakers in the marketing industry. According to Forbes, the platform conducted a data-driven analysis to select this year’s finalists. Research insight provided by Sprinklr, and supplemental data supplied by LinkedIn, helped Forbes narrow down 50 pioneers that are actively spearheading brands and communities in the marketing sector. The people in the list represent companies with over 8 million employees globally and have acquired over $5 trillion in market capitalization. So, let’s meet some of
Black developer, Meka Knepley, has announced the launch of her social shopping app, ReUp, described as a crossover between TikTok and Amazon. The app, expected to launch this October, will allow users to watch videos and shop simultaneously, with one click. Like apps such as Instagram and TikTok, users will have the ability to scroll through content and products endlessly. Community through shopping ReUp provides users with an innovative shopping experience that benefits businesses and shoppers alike. The video feature aims to make it easier for people to discover small, upcoming businesses
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is the first HBCU to embark on new research programs in partnership with NASA. WSSU’s Astrobotany Lab has signed a four-year agreement with NASA to research food development with a team of aspiring scientists. The lab which is filled with all the materials needed to grow plants, fruits, and vegetables, uses synthetic dirt to figure out how to grow food in Mars. The program is led by Professor Dr. Rafael Loueiro leads and aims to allow students to see the fascinating world of plants as well as the study
Natalie Madeira Cofield, the assistant administrator for the Office of Women Business Ownership at the US Small Business Administration (SBA), has stepped down from her role to pursue a new venture. Cofield, recognized as one of the high-ranking Black women in the president’s administration, was also the first Black woman to hold that position and head a female business ownership office. According to Bloomberg, the Executive Director of the National Women’s Business Council Tene Dolphin praised Cofield for her hard work in a recent statement. “Her tireless efforts during her tenure
To help bridge the gap between Black homeowners and their white counterparts, Ashley D. Bell and Dr. Bernice A. King have partnered up to launch a new initiative to make the path to homeownership more accessible. Fintech platform, Ready Life offers consumers a new path to buying a home that does not include credit score requirements. Instead, the clever move aims to equip communities with the tools needed to help them advance economically. Continuing her father’s legacy Dr. Bernice King, daughter of civil rights legend, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is following in her father’s footsteps
