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If you are creating impact as a founder and leader or are a corporate catalyst interested in joining a board, look no further than AFROTECH’s Board Readiness Summit. From 10 a.m. ET to noon ET on March 25, 2025, this virtual event will deliver exclusive insights and strategies to empower you with the tools and confidence to secure a board seat. Landing a post whether for a nonprofit, which is often a good starting point, or for-profit, will require experience and skills such as strategic planning and development, leadership, collaboration and more, Forbes notes. Learn From Nancy Twine To position you for success, discussions will be led by industry leaders, starting with former Goldman Sachs VP Nancy Twine, who launched Briogeo Hair Care in 2013 and turned it into a $100 million business within nearly a decade, according to Forbes. She also made history as the youngest Black woman to launch products at Sephora. The brand went on to land placement at Ulta Beauty. What’s more, Twine...
Entrepreneur Kiara Imani Williams claims she was dropped from Target on short notice. Williams is an attorney with a decade of experience in entertainment law, a writer, and the co-founder of the card game LikeU, which is designed to spark conversations among family and friends. LikeU made its way onto Target shelves during a period when many companies were pledging to support diverse brands as a result of George Floyd being murdered at the hands of police brutality. Williams believed Target’s commitment was genuine and would endure, but has been mistaken. “LikeU cards were born out of the conversations that emerged after George Floyd’s murder—a time when so many people were searching for ways to connect, to listen, and to understand,” Williams said in an email interview with AFROTECH™. “Target made a pledge to support diverse communities at that moment, and it was that commitment that made me believe they were the right fit. But since then, like many other organizations, they’ve...
Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, is leveraging technology to improve the health and wellness of its players. The 3-on-3 league founded in 2023 by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart has been backed by Samsung, its official technology and presenting partner. According to a press release, Samsung is providing the league with technologies such as its Galaxy S Series, Z Series smartphones, headphones (Galaxy Buds), tablets featuring Galaxy AI, monitors, and wearables (Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring). “We’re a new league,” Unrivaled President Alex Bazzell told AFROTECH™ . “There’s a lot of innovation involved. There’s a lot of unknowns involved, and we’re trying to kind of push the envelope forward and having Samsung be a part of that innovation with what they’re already doing. Obviously, it’s a pretty seamless partnership for us.” Collier’s Most-Used Technology As An Athlete Collier — who was named Unrivaled’s first MVP — said she mostly utilizes the Galaxy Ring,...
High School senior Mantavius Presley has a bright future ahead. As a student at Douglas County High School, located at Douglasville, GA, Presley has prioritized more than just his academics to make a meaningful impact within and beyond school walls. According to WSB-TV 2, he serves as president of Future Business Leaders of America and the National Honor Society , as well as vice president of the student government and Class of 2025. In addition, Presley has taken on leadership roles as the manager of the junior varsity and varsity cheer teams and is a member of the yearbook staff, all while dedicating over 1,100 hours to community service, per Atlanta News First. As he prepares to walk the stage in the spring, Presley’s next chapter in higher learning is already in motion. He has received acceptances from more than 58 colleges and universities. Among the interested academic institutions are The University of Alabama, Mercer University, and Historically Black Colleges and...
Arlington National Cemetery has removed DEI references from its website. They are not the first of their kind to do so. Under shifting federal policies, many companies have scaled back on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Two days after his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signaled his administration’s stance on DEI. A White House press release outlined executive orders targeting DEI initiatives in federal agencies, schools, and universities. Trump issued a two-week mandate giving schools a two-week deadline to eliminate “racial preferences” in college application essays, financial aid, and hiring or be at risk of losing funding, The Guardian notes. He also aims to “take steps to close/end all DEIA initiatives, offices and programs,” at the federal level, as AFROTECH™ reported. Since then, more and more companies have begun to shift their policies in alignment. This includes Meta, Amazon, Google, Target, Walmart, and now the Arlington National...
Tyler Perry has provided great financial relief for 85-year-old Anniece Tisdale. According to WSMV-4, Tisdale hired an unlicensed contractor to renovate her East Nashville, TN, home to accommodate her disability and growing family. However, the project took a turn for the worse when the contractor abandoned it altogether after not meeting completion expectations. Tisdale was then left with a home unsafe to live in and thousands of dollars lost. After an interview with the local news station, Tisdale was asked by Sherri Shepherd to appear on her “Sherri” talk show, and was joined by her daughter, Yolanda, who revealed that at least $180,000 had been invested into the home renovation project. Yolanda and her husband both took out personal loans and pooled from savings and credit cards to gather the funds. Yolanda also helped to refinance her mom’s mortgage to pay for the $200,000 in renovations. “We signed the contract in January. We were supposed to be f inished March 31. It was a...
will.i.am missed out on an investment that would have made him millions today. During an interview with Fortune held at SXSW, the multi-platinum music artist, producer, and tech entrepreneur revealed he had a chance to invest in Airbnb, a vacation rental company. The opportunity was introduced to him by Airbnb’s co-founder, Brian Chesky. Founded in 2007, the company raised funds in its early stages and allowed individuals to invest up to $200,000. However, will.i.am wasn’t fully convinced by the concept at the time. “’What’s up with concierge? Y’all don’t got that?’ ‘No,’” he explained to Fortune. “What’s up with room service? Y’all got that? He’s like, ‘No.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I think I’m gonna have to pass on that one.’” Airbnb did become a success. According to its website, it has more than 5 million hosts and has attracted 2 billion guests from more than 220 countries and regions. Hosts have earned more than $250 billion. Today, Airbnb has a market cap valued at more than $78...
JuJu Watkins has secured a groundbreaking NIL deal. The USC Trojans basketball athlete currently boasts a $739,000 name, image, and likeness (NIL) valuation , thanks to deals with Ritz Crackers, Degree, United Airlines, and NYX Cosmetics. “We are beyond excited to welcome JuJu to the NYX Professional Makeup family,” said Yasmin Dastmalchi, general manager of NYX Professional Makeup, in a news release. “JuJu’s spirit, talent, and commitment to excellence make her a perfect pick for our brand. We can’t wait to support her as she uses her voice to further inspire our community and share our core values.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Juju Watkins (@jujubballin) Watkins is already making groundbreaking moves as a collegiate athlete. As AFROTECH ™ previously told you, she extended a multi-year contract with Nike, becoming “one of the richest shoe endorsement deals in women’s basketball.” More recently, she expanded her portfolio by adding Fanatics and Fanatics...
Howard University graduate Olympia Auset is combating food deserts in South Los Angeles, CA. Auset launched SÜPRMARKT, a grocery store that began as a pop-up and subscription service in the area, Forbes reports. Its inception was the result of her reaching a breaking point when traveling over two hours by bus to find affordable organics grocery products that would adhere to her vegan diet. At the time, South L.A. had 1.3 million residents and only 60 grocery stores, classifying it as a food desert. “It became difficult to eat healthy simply due to access,” she told the outlet. In 2016, SÜPRMARKT launched as a pop-up in Leimert Park with community support, according to its website. Four years later, Auset purchased land that would become SÜPRMARKT’s first brick-and-mortar location thanks to assistance from partners Open Architecture Collaborative Los Angeles and Engineers Without Borders. View this post on Instagram A post shared by LOCALE (@localemagazine) The grocery store prides...
Fans are flocking to support the music of the late Angie Stone. The Grammy-nominated soul artist and member of The Sequence passed away on March 1, 2025, at 63 years old, according to Variety. Stone was in a car accident with an 18-wheeler while traveling from Montgomery, AL, to Atlanta, GA, causing her vehicle to overturn three times. Of the nine passengers in her van, she was the only one who did not survive. Stone, born in Columbia, SC, is survived by her children Diamond Stone and Michael Archer and her grandchildren. “Never in a million years did we ever expect to get this horrible news,” Diamond and Michael said in a statement, the outlet notes. “Our mom is and will always be our everything. We are still trying to process and are completely heartbroken.” Stone leaves behind an imprint that includes her most revered song, 2001’s “Wish I Didn’t Miss You,” 10 solo albums, and three Grammy nominations in categories including: best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals...
Kylian Mbappé has added a team to his growing investment portfolio. Forbes named the French and Real Madrid soccer player among the richest athletes in 2024, with an estimated total earnings of $110 million. It appears he is putting his earnings to good use by investing in the luxury watch-shopping platform Wristcheck, which Jay-Z also backs. According to Robb Report, Mbappé’s interest in the company stemmed from their innovation in technology and creativity. “I’m thrilled to join Wristcheck as an investor through Coalition Capital,” Mbappé said in a press statement, according to the outlet. “As a Hublot ambassador and someone passionate about watches and innovation, I see Wristcheck as a platform that truly understands the next generation of collectors. They’re reshaping the watch industry with a forward-thinking approach that blends technology, transparency, and creativity.” More recently, Mbappé became a team owner. He secured a stake in the France SailGP Team, which is owned by...
There were some initial hesitations around Unrivaled’s 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, but that has not stopped it from attracting notable investors. Unrivaled is a startup founded in 2023 by WNBA players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, its business model is unprecedented, offering the highest salaries in women’s sports and granting participating players an equity stake in the league. Its concept has proven to be a success among its players. “Everybody got equity coming into this league, that’s the most important thing…I know five years from now this thing is gonna be bigger than ever,” Angel Reese from Unrivaled’s Rose BC team shared during a virtual press conference held in January. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rose BC (@rosebc) The potential of Unrivaled was not understood by all. In fact, Collier recalls receiving various “no’s” during the league’s inception. “It was hard because you think the same thing like, ‘Oh, I’m an...
TikTok creator Anayka She was once severely underpaid by her agency. The beauty creator and artist from Brooklyn, NY, who has amassed 1.7 million followers on TikTok, took to the platform to discuss compensation in comparison to white counterparts such as Bran Flakezz, born Brandon Edelman. He shared that he earned $768,000 in 2024 as a content creator. He currently has 1.1 million followers on TikTok. It is widely known that Black individuals have to work ten times harder just to see half the success of their white counterparts. She reveals that while being managed at Carter Agency, which is led by Josh Popkin, she was misled about her earnings from brand deals. “The head of Carter Agency, Josh Popkin, this is what he would do. He would tell you that the brand deal was $2,000. It was actually $10,000,” she explained in a TikTok video. “He would take that $8,000, then take the 20% fee off of the $2,000. And guess what? He was targeting Black women mainly. When we all found out and...
Mark Cuban believes Black women founders should prioritize bootstrapping their businesses. Cuban has found great success and is a well-regarded entrepreneur, businessman, and billionaire. His impressive list of business ventures and investments includes being the majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks. In 2023, he sold most of his stake and now owns 27% of the organization, per NBC News. Cuban is also a serial investor with a portfolio that includes Black-led edtech company Beanstack. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the company, owned by married couple Felix Brandon Lloyd (CEO) and Jordan Lloyd Bookey, appeared on Shark Tank and scored a $250,000 investment from Cuban, who later participated in its $1.5 million seed round led by Riverside Acceleration Capital and Evoce Capital. According to CNBC, Cuban launched his journey into entrepreneurship by launching MicroSolutions with a personal investment of $2,000. The software company found itself in difficult circumstances after...
Corporate Executive Justin Grant wants to see more Black executives sponsor people within their community. Sponsorship allows an individual in a higher position than you to advocate for you in rooms with the goal of helping your career reach new heights, unlike mentorship , which typically is intended for skill building and obtaining more knowledge. “You want your boss’s peers in other departments to know who you are and to be in your network and to be folks that will, when your name comes up, when they’re deciding who to promote or who to give the bigger bonus to. ‘Yeah, I know that person. I vouch for them.’ So I think that’s the distinction,” Grant said on the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast hosted by AFROTECH™ Brand Manager Will Lucas. Grant credits three white individuals for serving as executive sponsors throughout his career and speaks to an alarming trend that he witnessed that has prompted a call to action. He notes that Black executives have been less inclined to open...