Vince Martin, Founder and CEO of Atlanta-based Upsides Network LLC, has announced the launch of his new platform, BlackShares. The platform aims to bring the Black community together for social and professional networking, as stated in a press release. The company is calling for a boycott of X, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn and suggests switching to BlackShares to support a Black-owned platform instead. The platform will allow experts to be paid for their knowledge, encouraging wealth within the Black community. Putting money back into the community Black consumers’ collective economic
The Black Economic Alliance Entrepreneurs Fund LP, which is raising $50 million to support young startups, is over halfway towards its goal. As stated in a filing last week with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund has currently raised $28.5 million and is led by venture capitalist Melissa Bradley. The Washington Business Journal reported that she shared that the fund’s investment will focus on young companies that specialize in products or services in four key areas: financial inclusion, health and wellness, sustainable communities, and what she called “narrative change”—companies focused
In 2024, US startups with Black founders received just 0.4% of total funding, the lowest share in recent years and down more than two-thirds from just three years ago. According to Crunchbase data, overall startup funding increased to $314 billion last year, but only $730 million went to Black founders. Which Black startups received the most funding last year? Twelve picked up a $200 million Series C in September, led by Capricorn Investment Group, Pulse Fund, and TPG. The startup converts carbon dioxide into jet fuel and other practical products. The company also
CEO and co-founder Eric Collins of Impact X Capital Partners announced the final close of its latest fund. Illumen Capital, a BIPOC-led investment firm based in Oakland, California, and Basecamp Fund, a fund of funds investing in upcoming managers from London’s Phoenix Court, supported the fund, as stated by the Voice. This fund will help Impact X fulfill its commitment to tackling systemic barriers in venture capital by assisting underrepresented entrepreneurs in high-growth industries such as technology, healthcare, and targeted creative sectors. “This fund close is about more than capital—it’s
At 17, Omarion Calloway received 21 college offers and $1.3 million in scholarships; it’s an achievement that any teenager should be proud of. What makes this accomplishment more outstanding is that he did it while navigating grief, instability, and the responsibility of caring for his family members since childhood. For this reason, Calloway has launched WeRiseLoud, a platform committed to giving caregivers, survivors, and marginalized communities a voice. The platform will provide caregivers with the tools they need to move forward. It will be a hub for inspiring stories and art to
We know that Black businesses are underrepresented in the business world; however, the number of Black-owned businesses in the US has spiked, according to a study by LendingTree. The study also found that Black-owned businesses are more likely to be led by women. While women run one-fifth (22.3%) of all US businesses, they lead two-fifths (39.1%) of Black-owned businesses—nearly twice the national average. Additionally, it found that Atlanta is the hub for Black-owned businesses for the third year running. The percentage of Black businesses is growing in the US. The
It’s February, which means it’s finally Black History Month. It’s a time when Black people reflect on the triumphs, victories, and achievements Black people have made in the country. While it’s essential to look back at what Black people have overcome, it’s also important to acknowledge the history Black people are making today. Black innovators are shaping the future in every industry, and the tech world is no exception. Here, we spotlight eight Black-owned tech startups that are driving change, creating opportunities, and making a real impact in Black communities.
Sisters Network® Inc. (SNI), the only national African American breast cancer survivorship organization, is set to relaunch its Teens4Pink® program with a new mobile app, according to a press release. The app aims to inform and empower teenage girls between the ages of 12 and 17 about how they can change the way families approach and think about breast cancer. Karen E. Jackson, 31, is a four-time breast cancer survivor and founded Sisters Network Inc. in 1994. Jackson says, “The relaunch of Teens4Pink marks an exciting step forward in engaging the
Target joins the growing list of companies rolling back its diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. As a retailer known for featuring Black-owned brands like The Lip Bar, Black Girl Sunscreen, Tabitha Brown, Donna’s Recipe, there are concerns over how potential boycotts may impact Black founders. Target ends DEI goals In a memo shared with employees, the company said it will end its three-year DEI goals, concluding its Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) initiatives in 2025 and end a program focused on carrying more products from Black- or minority-owned
Robin AI, a Black-owned legal AI startup, has won second place on the Startups 100 index. The startup uses AI to automate contract reviews, slashing costs and freeing up legal teams. Last year, it raised $25 million in a unique extension of its Series B funding round. The company was founded in 2019 by former Clifford Chance lawyer Richard Robinson and machine learning researcher James Clough. “Robin AI are truly ground breaking in their innovation, aiming to cut down legal processing times. Despite the challenges, the UK is still a
