Registered non-profit organization Darkies in Tech has launched a new website designed to drive inclusion by providing a centralized platform for professionals of color within the South African tech industry. Founded by Ntsako Mgiba in February 2021, Darkies in Tech has become the largest vetted community of its kind in South Africa, with over 450 members, including founders, investors, and ecosystem builders. The community has consistently hosted educational and social events aimed at creating a more inclusive environment for Black professionals in tech. Addressing Exclusion in South Africa’s Tech Scene
NBCUniversal and Group Black has launched ExcellencE!, a new content collection on Peacock, bringing thousands of hours of diverse, inclusive programming to the streaming platform. ExcellencE! – Black-Led And Cross-Cultural Content This partnership aims to highlight Black-led and cross-cultural content, making it a key destination for multicultural stories. Subscribers can now access ExcellencE!, which includes popular shows like Bel-Air, Martin, and The Real Housewives of Atlanta. NBCUniversal plans to expand the offering with additional original content in 2025. This launch is part of a broader initiative, expanding on the 2023
NBA legend Dwyane Wade is leveraging his influence through an online community dedicated to transgender youth and their families. On Thursday, Wade received the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award at The Elevate Prize Foundation’s Make Good Famous Summit in South Florida, which comes with $250,000 in unrestricted funding. Wade received the award in recognition of his advocacy for the transgender community and his work with the Wade Family Foundation. Following his acceptance of the award, Wade announced the launch of Translatable. Translatable: A Safe Space For Transgender Youth Translatable, funded by
Lucy Guo, a self-made millionaire and co-founder of the $7 billion-valued unicorn Scale AI, is making headlines again with her platform Passes, according to Fortune. Lucy Guo And Passes At 29, Guo has secured $40 million in Series A funding for her new venture, Passes, a creator monetization platform. Passes, previously used by Black Chyna, aims to revolutionize how content creators earn money. The $40 million round was led by the San Francisco-based Bond, spearheaded by Kleiner Perkins alums Mary Meeker and Mood Rowghani. Skims co-founders Emma and Jens Grede
In Baltimore, a new social shopping platform, Xclusit, is transforming consumers’ engagement with Black-owned businesses. Vincent Johnson’s Journey Vincent Johnson, an Ellicott City-based entrepreneur and the CEO of Xclusit, crafted the platform to empower Black businesses. Johnson, a Vanderbilt University graduate with a master’s in divinity, initially focused on Black economics. His passion for entrepreneurship led him away from pursuing a PhD, instead dedicating himself to developing tech solutions that support Black-owned businesses. His journey in the tech world began with his first app, Coupify. Still, through direct engagement with
American rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs has launched an e-commerce platform Empower Global, allowing consumers to discover and buy products created and sold by Black entrepreneurs. “My mission has always been to empower Black entrepreneurs and create more opportunities for them to access the resources, tools, and support needed to build successful businesses,” said Sean “Diddy” Combs, Chairman of Combs Global, in a press release. Empower Global Empower Global is an immersive e-commerce experience offering products from Black-owned businesses. With a focus on culture and community, Empower Global aims to create
