Entrepreneur Jordyn Weaver is bridging the gap between creators and Black-owned businesses. Forefront Weaver, who comes from a non-technical background, built a team to help her bring Forefront’s vision to life. The company was founded in 2020, initially operating within the social commerce industry. Consumers could discover and shop Black-owned brands and also invite their friends into the process. On the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast, Weaver said while the platform still carries this sentiment, it has pivoted its focus to creators. Forefront markets itself as a “content and creator marketplace for the culture.” Emerging brands looking to connect with culture and tap into influencer marketing organically could benefit from the platform. Influencer marketing is projected to be a $480 billion industry, according to Goldman Sachs. Creators can onboard the platform and have the chance to interact with BIPOC brands to spark gifted, paid and UGC partnerships, according to the...

Target’s latest collaboration with a popular streaming group is sparking controversy. AMP, one of the top streamer groups in the world, has scored a deal with the major retailer for its unisex personal care brand, according to a press release. The group, which also releases videos on YouTube, includes Kai Cenat, Duke Dennis, Fanum, Agent 00, ChrisNxtDoor, and ImDavisss. They have collectively earned millions of dollars. Cenat alone earned $8.5 million over the past year, which earned him a spot on Forbes’ 2025 Top Creators list , according to the publication. Together, the group leveraged their platforms, which garner 1 billion monthly views, to launch TONE in February 2025. TONE is formulated with natural and clean ingredients and is dermatologist-tested, according to its website. Additionally, it’s now available in Target stores and on Target.com as of July 6. “We really saw a gap in the shelves for a new brand to break through — and for a brand that is fresh and represents who we...

After months of political pressure and headlines about companies cutting diversity programs, it looked like corporate America was backing away from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Some businesses walked back hiring goals or closed departments. Others changed job titles or removed DEI language from their websites altogether. It felt like a full-on retreat. But now, a new study, according to USA Today, shows that corporate DEI rollbacks in 2025 might be slowing down. And the reason goes beyond politics. A Slowdown After The Backlash When former President Donald Trump returned to the White House, his administration quickly went after DEI. One executive order even threatened to pull federal contracts from companies that kept DEI programs in place. That caused a scramble. According to Gravity Research — a group that provides insights on how companies can anticipate risk and respond to political and social pressure — about 80% of DEI-related changes happened right after Trump took...

South African brewer Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela wants to see more diversity within the beer industry. Nxusani-Mawela is the founder of Tolokazi Premium Beer & Cider, which offers a variety of beers and ciders that honor the legacy of African female brewers and is inspired by the Tolo Kingdom’s history of brewing, according to information shared on her LinkedIn. She began brewing back in 2007 after obtaining a microbiology degree from the University of Witwatersrand and the University of Pretoria, mentions AP News. She also found that she was able to put her science background to good use with brewing. “I sort of fell in love with the combination of the business side with the science, with the craftsmanship and the artistic element of brewing,” she told AP News. This led Nxusani-Mawela to receive further education at the Institute of Brewing and Distilling between 2006 and 2014. By 2019, she positioned herself as a founder within the brewing industry and also owns a brewery that sits in...

If you’ve bought household items, fitness gear or tech accessories from Costco in the last few years, now is the time to double-check your purchases. The company announced on its website that several manufacturers have issued product recalls for some of their products, issuing a warning that urges customers to stop using the products immediately due to safety concerns. The recalls affect a range of popular items, including air conditioners, dumbbells, power banks, and even tires. Here’s a closer look at the items being pulled from shelves, the associated risks, and how to handle them if you have one of these products at home. Danby Air Conditioners Could Pose Mold Risk One of the most urgent recalls comes from Midea America Corp., which is recalling its Danby U-shaped window air conditioners sold at Costco between June 10, 2021, and Feb. 2, 2022. The company said the units may retain standing water that doesn’t drain properly, creating an ideal environment for mold to grow inside...

Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper are returning to Detroit using their business as a tentpole. The Morehouse College graduates are the visionaries behind Eastside Golf, a golf apparel lifestyle brand launched to bring more attention to youth golfers and energize interest in golf among those who don’t commonly play the sport, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. The pair did not have a background in fashion, but made the risky move to quit their full-time corporate jobs in America to put everything into the venture, according to AFROTECH™. That move has fared well for the entrepreneurs. Their business secured $3.4 million in funding in 2024 through a round led by EP Golf Ventures, a partnership between the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA) and Elysian Park Ventures. The pair also debuted a footwear collaboration with Nike in 2024 and have secured partnerships with the MLB, NFL, NBA, Mercedes-Benz USA and Jordan Brand, AFROTECH™ previously reported. What’s more, the...

Former Carolina Panther player Mike Rucker filed a lawsuit against his financial advisor, Jon Kubler, claiming that Kubler mismanaged nearly $3 million of his earnings. Rucker and his wife, Kristina, filed a lawsuit in a North Carolina Business Court in March, alleging that they had unknowingly invested in a Ponzi scheme. The couple, who met Kubler while Rucker was playing football for the University of Nebraska, claims that Kubler persuaded them to invest in his Nebraska commercial real estate company Aksarben in 2009, according to The Charlotte Observer. They say the investment was a failure and that Kubler did not return their funds or money from other investors. Of the $5.6 million Kubler and his companies — including Steelpool Inc. and Capital Synergy Partners — had raised for commercial real estate companies, only 4% of the funds were reportedly invested in the ventures. Kubler had been the Ruckers’ financial advisor for 21 years and in the early 2000s had “integrated himself...

Del Monte Foods has announced that it has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy as part of a strategic effort to restructure its balance sheet and pursue a potential sale, according to a news release. “This is a strategic step forward for Del Monte Foods,” President and CEO Greg Longstreet said. “After a thorough evaluation of all available options, we determined a court-supervised sale process is the most effective way to accelerate our turnaround and create a stronger and enduring Del Monte Foods. With an improved capital structure, enhanced financial position, and new ownership, we will be better positioned for long-term success.” The 139-year-old food company, based in Walnut Creek, CA, is one of the largest producers and distributors of branded packaged goods in the U.S., with brands including Del Monte, Contadina, Kitchen Basics, College Inn, JOYBA, and S&W. Del Monte has secured $912.5 million in financing from existing lenders, including $165 million in new funding, to...

A new version of TikTok is expected to launch in the United States on Sept. 5, 2025, according to The Verge. TikTok’s staff is reportedly working on the separate app, internally dubbed “M2,” which succeeds the current version known as “M.” The original TikTok app will be removed from app stores once M2 launches, and it is expected to stop functioning entirely by March 2026. Reports of the new TikTok app comes days after President Donald Trump said the U.S. “pretty much has a deal” for an American company to acquire TikTok, The New York Times reported. “We’re going to start Monday or Tuesday talking to China,” Trump told reporters traveling on Air Force One on Friday, July 4. “We think we probably have to get it approved by China. Not definitely, but probably.” He added, “I think the deal is good for China, and it’s good for us. It’s money, it’s a lot of money.” Though no company has been named, Trump mentioned, per The Verve, that it would be a group of “Non-Chinese” investors with...

Anthony Anderson is succeeding in business alongside fellow comedian and “Barbershop” castmate Cedric the Entertainer. AC Barbeque The pair fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming owners of a lifestyle barbecue brand named AC Barbeque in 2022, as previously reported by AFROTECH™. According to the company’s website, the brand seeks to uphold pillars of Black excellence and family tradition while helping consumers improve their grilling skills through tools, flavor and community. Speaking on the transition from acting to entrepreneurship, Anderson emphasized that the key to successfully navigating the food industry is surrounding oneself with business-minded individuals who understand how to identify opportunities for success. This was during an interview with AFROTECH™ while at the Essence Festival of Culture — presented by Coca-Cola — in the New Orleans Caesars Superdome. “To know what you don’t know and to prepare for that and to surround yourself with people who are much smarter...

Rapper Gunna has been prioritizing his wellness and has become co-owner of hydration brand Flerish Hydration, according to Rap Industry. For the Georgia-born entertainer, this move is fully aligned with his brand and serves as a well-intentioned strategic addition to his business portfolio. “I don’t put my name on just anything. Flerish is different, it’s clean, it works, and it’s become a part of my everyday lifestyle. I’m happy to be coming on board and look forward to the journey ahead,” Gunna told Rap Industry. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FLERISH HYDRATION (@flerish) The company offers watermelon-based products with electrolytes, real ingredients, and vitamins E, B6, and B12, as well as L-Theanine, Zinc, and Magnesium. The intention is to increase performance and recovery, which was ideal for Gunna’s on-the-go lifestyle as a performing artist. “Right now, I’m focused,” Gunna told the outlet. “There’s no off switch. I needed something that supports me naturally...

Microsoft is laying off approximately 9,000 employees, impacting less than 4% of its global workforce. On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, the second day of its 2026 fiscal year, the tech giant confirmed the move to CNBC via email, stating it will “continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company and teams for success in a dynamic marketplace.” Microsoft — which employed 228,000 people worldwide as of June 2024 — has conducted multiple rounds of layoffs in recent years, including letting 10,000 employees go in 2023. In January 2025, the company reduced its headcount by less than 1% based on performance. AFROTECH™ also reported that in May it laid off around 6,000 employees — roughly 3% of its global workforce. And the company cut at least 300 more in June. A source familiar with the matter told CNBC that, like with the May layoffs, Microsoft is aiming to streamline its organizational structure by reducing the layers of management between individual...

This Black-owned restaurant received a stamp of approval from Jay-Z and Beyoncé! Taste Kitchen + Bar Downtown Houston’s Taste Kitchen + Bar is a beloved Southern comfort and brunch restaurant owned by University of Houston alum Chef Don Bowie. Its current location is situated in downtown at 420 Main St. and opened in 2022. Customers can line up as early as 8 a.m. for brunch items that include peach cobbler waffles, steak and eggs, and elevated grits. Also featured on its menu is smothered chicken, greens, candied yams, jerk lamb chops paired with smoked gouda mac and cheese, cajun or smothered fries, and also various cocktails desserts. “At Taste, we don’t just serve food—we serve soul,” Bowie told Houston Style Magazine. “Each dish tells a story rooted in tradition, culture, and celebration.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taste Kitchen + Bar (@tastekitchenbar)   Taste Kitchen + Bar has seen an influx of customers over the years, but over the weekend, Bowie received...

What used to be a cluster of forgotten lots in the uptown section of Harrisburg, PA, is now a fully realized vision of hope and housing, thanks to NFL veteran and hometown son LeSean “Shady” McCoy. The former Philadelphia Eagles star returned to his old neighborhood not to bask in past glory but to plant seeds for the future, according to PennLive. On North Sixth Street, 41 brand-new affordable housing units now stand where blight once lived, anchored by a community center and a sense of pride that can be felt in the air. JMB Gardens, the $16.7 million project, is named after McCoy’s late grandparents, James and Maryann Branch. At the June 24 ribbon-cutting ceremony, McCoy described the initiative as a response to the conditions he witnessed growing up. View this post on Instagram A post shared by LeSean McCoy (@shadymccoy) “In some of these areas, it was drug-infested. It was abandoned buildings,” he said via WGAL. “Now, the purpose is bringing $17 million affordable housing. So,...

NBA superstar LeBron James has partnered with Swiss luxury watch company Richard Mille for a good cause. The Los Angeles Lakers athlete and Richie Millie debuted a limited-edition watch called the Richard Mille’s RM 65-01 Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph LeBron James. The watch, which had only 150 pieces, sold out within hours of its debut at Fanatics Fest, according to information shared with AFROTECH™. The watch pays homage to James being named the NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer on Feb. 7, 2023, a record previously held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, according to ESPN. Additionally, the design choice of yellow and green accents is an ode to the LeBron James Family Foundation. Photo Credit: LRMR Ventures The James Foundation was launched in 2004 and exists to “positively affect the lives of children and young adults through education and co-curricular educational initiatives,” AFROTECH™ previously reported. The foundation’s imprint can be found in Akron, OH, James’ hometown. In 2017,...