Young people are the future, and one woman, 23-year-old Dazayah Walker, is the epitome of not letting age hold you back. Walker is one of the youngest female venture capitalists, thanks to the impressive investment portfolio she manages and maintains for one of Atlanta’s most prominent entertainment labels, Quality Control. What is Quality Control? Quality Control Music is an American hip hop record label founded by Kevin “Coach K” Lee and Pierre “P” Thomas in March 2013. it’s responsible for groundbreaking acts that include Migos, Lil Baby, City Girls, Lil Yachty, and a
According to Inc, Black founders reportedly raised nearly $1.8 billion in the first half of 2021, more than four times the capital raised the same time last year. And stats released by Crunbase showed that Black startup owners raised $400 million in the first six months of 2020 and are already exceeding full-year funding totals for 2020 and 2019 when they raised $1 billion and $1.4 billion. Founders from the community are said to have raised “record amounts of venture capital” in 2021. Still, if we dig a bit deeper, the
Platforms created by Black founders for communities of color continue to blossom. They are providing culturally competent care — acknowledging a patient’s heritage, beliefs, and values during treatment – in ways that other providers aren’t. Racial discrimination in healthcare disadvantages Black and other minority ethnic groups with unequal access to quality healthcare resources. Inspired by their own experiences, these Black entrepreneurs are launching startups that aim to close the cultural gap in health care with technology, create profitable businesses and tackle racism. R.grid Dr. Amber Michelle Hill is considered a force in the
Compton rapper YG is giving more underprivileged communities access to mental health resources and medical care by expanding his 5G TeleHealth Vans program. The news comes days after The West Coast emcee, his TeleHealth program with Todd Gurly and Dion Rambo, and the City of Hawthorne came together to celebrate the addition of three 5G-enabled vans. The vehicles transport internet-connected telecommunications, teleconferencing, and video-conferencing devices and services/computer applications” to underserved areas, allowing virtual meetups between physicians and those in need. “TeleHealth Van is a service that we created for the people in
In June last year, in the midst of violence and a pandemic ravaging the streets of US cities – Justin Shaw built Black Money Builder, a fundraising platform to “empower your community and empower yourself.” Its ultimate goal is to help Black communities rebound from the virus by providing financial relief and bring awareness to current issues that affect the communities worldwide and provide a sense of urgency with potential solutions. The crowdfunding platform also provides Black entrepreneurs a space to build capital and help seed Black visionaries from artists,
The climate of today means if you want to reach a widespread audience you need to utilize social media. One key tool for founders and those looking for new tech opportunities is Linkedin – it’s the place to go for job offers, meeting potential investors, building your company and personal brand, and networking. With more than 774 million members and its focus on business, LinkedIn offers a valuable opportunity for industry professionals to support their businesses marketing goals. From my experience, it seems to be the best place for building connections with
A damning report has found that inflation is hurting the wallets of everyday citizens as it hits a 30-year-high in the US and people of color and rural households are the most affected. Researchers from the Bank Of America have reported that those with less income and wealth are less likely to have savings to buffer the current “inflation shock,” and because of this, their spending power is greater. But lower-income families are also more “exposed” to the goods with the most inflation, researchers wrote in a report released last week. The
The recent events where Davido asked his loyal fans, friends, and colleagues for money – raising a whopping 200M Naira, which will be distributed to organizations helping vulnerable Nigerians, has shown the power of technology and how it can be used for good. On November 17 – the musician took to Instagram and Twitter and asked fans and friends who believe “I’ve given you a hit song” to send money to a bank account he detailed under his name. He asked them to send one million nairas each, and they
The popular app, known for its collaborations with the VERZUZ brand, has launched a funding program that will provide Black creators $2,000 in cash and $2,000 in company equity per month on the app. The contracts with the creators begin on January 1, and participants are required to sign a one-year contract with the app to qualify for the payments. The program is called the Triller Assembly for Black Creators. It aims to empower Black creators and talent to deepen the pipeline of Black-owned content across entertainment, lifestyle, fashion, and sports. “Triller and
Google is highlighting Black-owned businesses with the help of T-Pain and R&B songstress, Normani, as part of its campaign that introduces 55 small startups to potential buyers through a shoppable film. While watching the interactive Black-Owned Friday film, featuring the soundtrack of a new song by the pair, items that appear to be part of the décor are highlighted like a pop-up. Clicking one of these pop-ups, with up to five on the screen at the same time, pauses the movie, zooms in on the item, and gives buyers the opportunity to go