Eric Moody

Langston Whitlock is taking the tech world by storm The 16-year-old Atlanta-based engineer is the co-founder and CIO of SAFETRIP, the world’s first healthcare transportation mobile app and digital health platform. Users can harness Whitlock’s patented technology to book non-emergency and emergency medical transport. Users are offered premium cars, vans, wheelchair accessible vehicles, and ambulances with the option of paying for services with insurance. Whitlock was one of the youngest founders named to 2019’s Forbes 30 Under 30. He says his age doesn’t really deter him from achieving his goals. “My age wasn’t a big challenge because the people around me believed in my skill. I’m also humble enough to ask adults for help in the tech field so they’re more inclined to provide opportunities for me,” Whitlock told AfroTech. Since its inception, SAFETRIP has raised $2 million in funding, due in large part to Whitlock’s technology. He started coding at the age of 12 when he built an...

Shelly Bell has done it all. She’s been a high school teacher, computer scientist, CEO, and an entrepreneur at the helm of several businesses. In 2016, she launched Black Girl Ventures, an organization that aims to provide access to capital for Black and Brown women entrepreneurs in the business and tech sectors, using support and training as tools to tackle issues of poverty and wealth building. “We operate under the core values to create social capital, financial literacy, and financial capital for black and brown female founders,” said Bell. One of the organization’s main programs is the Black Girl Ventures Pitch Competition, which makes its way across the East Coast each year. The competition works with local community members and different funders and entrepreneurs, charges a small entry fee, then uses that money to start a micro-fund for the winner. Since its inception, the pitch competition has connected 45 percent of its participants to investors, and half have been accepted...

The new year is here, which means many people are already diving into their resolutions. Technology has played a huge role in the development of both physical and mental health for those seeking to change their lifestyles. Here are three ways technology is affecting people towards more sustainable fitness results: Social Media Whether at home or on the road, the social media content we consume daily tends to follow us no matter where we go. What type of content we consume can be the difference from those meeting their personalized fitness and health goals. Some of the most influential fitness enthusiasts document their work ethic daily via Instagram such as former NFL player James Harrison, CrossFit trainer Elisabeth Akinwale, or even healthy meal preparation from Kevin Curry, founder of FitMenCook . With free access to endless amounts of content aimed to inspire and help motivate those seeking help along their journey, it’s safe to say you become what you consume. Wearable...