Tech Nation has revealed the startups selected for the 2024 cohort of their Libra program, which aims to champion underrepresented founders. Based in the UK, Tech Nation is the leading growth platform for tech insights, connections, collaboration, and talent. It empowers ambitious founders and their teams with the access and knowledge they need from their seed stage to their end goal. Over the past decade, Tech Nation has engaged with over 5,000 businesses and accelerated 1,250 through 48 growth programs. The Libra Program Libra is the growth program for underrepresented tech founders
Sage, The BOSS Network, and Swoop have unveiled a new training and mentorship program to support Black women entrepreneurs in Atlanta. Sage is a small and medium-sized business accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology leader. The BOSS Network, founded by Dr. Cameka Smith, is an online community of professional and entrepreneurial women who support each other through conversations or online and event-based networking. Swoop is a global fintech company specializing in funding solutions for businesses, and together, the three have created the Pathways to Success program. Challenges Black Women Founders Face The program was
Uber has hired Snaps Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Oona King as their new Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Meet Oona King Oona King is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) executive with over twenty years of experience. King has made her mark in several companies, including the Chief Diversity Officer at Channel 4 for over seven years, Global Director of Diverse Marketing at YouTube, and Director of Diversity Strategy at Google. She also became the second Black woman elected to the British Parliament in 1997 and was an advisor
Spelman College has made history on its 100th birthday as the recipient of a $100 million donation: the largest-ever single gift to a historically Black college. The college is based in Atlanta and is a historically Black liberal arts college for women. The donation came from businesswoman and philanthropist Ronda Stryker and her husband, William Johnston – the chairman of the wealth management company Greenleaf Trust. Stryker has been a Spelman College Trustee since 1997 and a member of Harvard Medical School’s board of fellows member. She is also the granddaughter
The risk of maternal death from 2019 to 2021 was statistically significantly almost four times higher among women from Black ethnic minority backgrounds compared with white women. Black women are generally at a greater risk of maternal mortality compared to white women, with many reporting negative experiences before, during, and after pregnancy. We have compiled a list of Black and woman of color-owned apps or platforms that benefit these women during and after pregnancy. Villie – Kimberly Jolasun Villie is on a mission to support expecting and new moms through
Investment firm Compass Diversified has acquired a majority stake in Beatrice Dixon’s plant-derived feminine care brand, The Honey Pot Company. The Honey Pot Co. was founded in 2012, offering products across the feminine hygiene, menstrual, consumer health, and sexual wellness categories. It can be found in more than 33,000 stores across the US, including Target, Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens, with annual sales estimated to be around $120 million. The Honey Pot Co.’s distinct approach to product formulation, using plant-derived ingredients and clinically tested formulas, has fostered a loyal and diverse customer base over the years.
Chatbot Engineer Academy has announced the launch of a new initiative to revolutionize the tech job market for low-income individuals. Audrey Bell-Kearney, the dynamic founder and President of the Gwinnett Women’s Chamber of Commerce and a visionary leader in AI, founded the academy with a focus on no-code AI chatbots. A no-code AI chatbot is a tool you can create without learning a programming language first. UpSkill To UpLift Initative Chatbot Engineer Academy has now launched the “UpSkill to UpLift Initiative.” UpSkill To UpLift Initiative is a groundbreaking program that
Black women have always been, and continue to be, at the forefront of tech, driving innovation, raising capital, and challenging inequity. This year, the tech world continues to shift and evolve rapidly. For those wanting to stay ahead of the curve and make their mark in this dynamic world, here are three must-read books by Black women leaders. Your First Million – Arlan Hamilton Arlan Hamilton is the founder and managing partner of Backstage Capital, which has raised more than $10 million while investing in over 100 companies led by people of
A new study by Emagine Solutions Technology suggests that pregnancy apps lack key features to serve modern maternal health needs. Emagine Solutions Technology provides a new level of care for pregnant women by combining handheld ultrasound and remote patient monitoring software to improve maternal health outcomes. The platform was developed by Courtney Williams, who in 2021 won a second prize award for Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Initiative. The investment firm Black Ambition, founded by Pharrell in 2020, is dedicated to supporting Black and Latinx business owners. Williams told AfroTech about her complications following childbirth during the
Beauty-tech company Myavana has announced a new retail partnership with retailer Ulta Beauty, along with investments from Prisma Ventures and BrainTrustFund. Myavana is the brainchild of computer scientist Candace Mitchell Harris. Harris founded the company in 2012 with the aim of revolutionizing personal and professional textured hair care through data-driven science and technology. With a deep understanding of the unique hair challenges of women of color and women with textured hair faces, Myavana introduced a suite of innovative textured hair care science and technology products. Read: Myavana Taps AI To Personalize WOC’s Hair Solutions Elevating
