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There’s no need to walk into interviews blindly anymore. There are many AI tools designed for interview prep, offering features ranging from mock interviews to personalized feedback. These platforms allow users to receive guidance from knowledgeable AI and even connect with other real people for more realistic practice. Some of these platforms are specifically designed to aid interview candidates in certain fields, like tech, but others provide personalized practice for a variety of fields . With stiff competition in a job market that’s already hard to break into, using AI for prep can help take some of the stress out of interviewing. Let’s explore 10 AI tools designed for interview prep, what they do, and which interview candidates can benefit from them the most. Interviewing.io This resource is best for those pursuing technical roles, especially software engineering . Interviewing.io offers anonymous mock interviews with engineers from top tech companies that provide detailed...
The third annual Black Effect Podcast Festival will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Pullman Yards in Atlanta, GA. Founder Charlamagne Tha God will join popular personalities from his and iHeartMedia’s Black Effect Podcast Network for the one-day festival — which promises some of the “biggest and best” podcasts — featuring live recordings to amplify Black voices and informative discussions to inspire the next generation of podcasters. The Black Effect Marketplace will also be in full effect, featuring various Black-owned businesses and a lineup of food trucks to keep the energy high throughout the day. “We’re excited to return to Atlanta, building on the incredible momentum of the podcast industry and the growing impact of Black creators in the space,” Charlamagne said in a statement. Mandii B and WeezyWTF, hosts of the “Decisions, Decisions” podcast, will host the festival with sounds by DJ Loui Vee of 105.3 The Beat in Atlanta. Appearances are anticipated by popular...
Charles D. King has changed the entertainment landscape for the better. The Journey Born in Harlem, NY, and raised on the outskirts of Atlanta, GA, he showed early signs of being a businessman by selling supplies at school and even cutting neighbors’ grass, CNBC reports . He says his inspiration was his father, who founded a medical practice as a pediatrician. According to Forbes, King originally intended to also pursue a career in the medical field. “Seeing him leave a job to start his own practice. My mother was the first receptionist. It was just amazing watching it, but the other thing was the freedom that he had,” he told CNBC. King would follow that blueprint of ownership, but within the entertainment industry. As a political science student at Vanderbilt University, he showed an interest in recognizing talent. However, his pivot into the entertainment industry came during a two-year stint as a law clerk with a music attorney while at Howard University School of Law between...
The Global Gaming League (GGL), a professional gaming entertainment organization featuring celebrity team owners, has successfully raised $10 million in its SAFE round, led by the private equity group Solyco Capital, according to a news release. Founded by multi-platinum music producer and entrepreneur Clinton Sparks, in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning artist T-Pain and tech visionary Jeff Hoffman, GGL is building the first entertainment system that monetizes the world’s largest and most engaged audience: the more than 3 billion people who play video games. “There are over 3 billion gamers around the world,” Sparks said. “But there’s still no centralized platform that gives everyday players the spotlight—while authentically connecting brands, celebrities, and competition in a way that’s truly entertaining. That’s where GGL comes in.” Each GGL team has four players — including high-profile influencers , actors, athletes, artists, and casual and professional gamers — competing...
Timnit Gebru is shaping the future of tomorrow. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) Non-Linear Career Journey Gebru has always loved math, science , and music. She attended Stanford University from 2008 to 2017, earning a bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. in electrical engineering—the same field her father worked in. She combined her interests to launch her career at Apple, first as an audio hardware intern in 2004. A year later, she was hired as an audio systems engineer and worked part-time as an audio engineer from 2007 until her departure four years later. Gebru’s professional journey has not been linear. In 2011, she co-founded Motion Think, a company that leveraged design thinking to create solutions for small businesses. While pursuing her Ph.D. at Stanford, she co-founded and became president of Black in AI after attending one of the largest academic conferences in 2016. At that time, she realized that Black professionals were significantly...
The tech industry faces uncertainty and fear due to the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies, leading companies to advise employees on visas not to leave the United States because they might not be allowed to return. During President Donald Trump’s first term, the denial rates for high-skilled visas increased to 15%. Law firms have warned that a similar upward trend is possible during his current presidency , according to The Washington Post. “What we’re seeing right now is just a lot of worry and panic,” said Principal Attorney Malcolm Goeschl of Goeschl Law, a San Francisco, CA, firm specializing in business immigration for the tech industry . “It seems like [the administration is] just getting more and more momentum, and we don’t know what’s around the corner.” Silicon Valley , Northern California’s global hub for technological innovation, is known for housing many of the world’s largest tech companies and producing groundbreaking inventions. Tech giants in the...
Black Economic Alliance Entrepreneurs Fund has reached the halfway point of its funding goal. The fund was launched by the Black Economic Alliance Foundation, which is led by Executive Vice President Alaina Beverly, to create generational wealth for the Black community, working alongside public, private, and social sectors to accomplish this goal, its website notes. Samantha Tweedy is CEO of the coalition behind this effort, Black Economic Alliance, which is made up of “business leaders and aligned advocates.” In 2021, the Washington, DC-based foundation established the Black Economic Alliance Entrepreneurs Fund LP to further its mission and has since onboarded venture capitalist Melissa Bradley, to lead its investment strategy, according to The Business Journals. Bradley was previously recognized as a AFROTECH™ Future 50 Dynamic Investor and founded 1863 Ventures, which provided business development programs, coaching, mentorship, and access to capital primarily for new...
For a company that prides itself on pushing the boundaries in space exploration , SpaceX just hit another major roadblock—literally. The highly anticipated test flight of its Starship mega rocket ended in disaster (again) after controllers lost contact with the upper-stage vehicle just minutes into the launch. This marks Starship’s second consecutive failure, raising serious questions: What’s causing these explosions? Has this happened before? And what is SpaceX doing to fix it? Let’s break it all down. Why Did This Happen? According to an NBC News report, the launch kicked off with promise. Near Brownsville, Texas, on Thursday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m. ET, Starship blasted off from SpaceX’s Starbase for its eighth test, soaring toward the skies with the power and spectacle you’d expect from the world’s most advanced rocket. But then—like déjà vu—disaster struck just over eight minutes in. Live video showed the upper-stage vehicle spinning uncontrollably, and within seconds,...
Carol’s Daughter has been sold to an independent entrepreneur in the beauty industry. Born in her Brooklyn, NY, kitchen with just $100 in cash, Lisa Price began selling her hair and body products in 1993 from the comfort of her living room and at flea markets and craft fairs. Her brand attracted the attention of notable names such as Jada Pinkett-Smith, Erykah Badu, and Halle Berry. Carol’s Daughter gained further momentum after Price appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which led to the company’s website crashing due to 17,000 interested buyers, Inc. reports . Two years later, Steve Stoute, CEO of UnitedMasters, joined the company as a partner, and the first Carol’s Daughter flagship store debuted in Harlem after receiving an investment from Jay-Z, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Will Smith, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. By 2011, Price was leading a top haircare brand, and three years later, she sold the company to L’Oréal USA. Carol’s Daughter had a $27 million valuation at the time....
Happy wife, happy life is how the saying goes. Tracy McGrady will agree. The basketball legend, nicknamed T-Mac, was drafted into the NBA by the Toronto Raptors in 1997. He was just 18 years old at the time and had played high school basketball for North Carolina’s Mt. Zion Christian Academy. He signed a three-year rookie contract valued at $4,689,480, per Spotrac. This was not, however, his first lucrative contract. Just ahead of the 1997 draft, his talents landed him a $12 million shoe endorsement deal with Adidas, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. Making that kind of money at 18 came with its learning curves. McGrady grew up in a household with his mother working as a custodian at Disney while his grandmother was a custodian at his elementary school for three decades. No one in his family earned over $40,000. “You can only imagine I’m 18 years old. I don’t have a family that has taught me financial literacy. I don’t know anything about it. So all of this is just trying to figure...
Melissa Bradley is turning a new leaf! Since 2016, Bradley, who was featured as an AFROTECH™ Future 50 Dynamic Investor, has been the proud founder of Washington, DC-based 1863 Ventures, which provides business development programs, coaching, mentorship, and access to capital primarily for new entrepreneurs, as noted on her LinkedIn profile. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the venture aims to create $100 billion in wealth for the “New Majority,” Black and brown entrepreneurs. This goal is reflected in its portfolio, which comprises 90% Black-owned businesses, including the following: Nubian Heumann Eu’Genia Shea Harlem Candle Co. The Black Girl Doctor Now, eight years into 1863 Ventures’ inception, the Washington Business Journal has reported that the organization’s board voted to close down 1863’s nonprofit arm, which focused on early-stage companies. Currently, Bradley is on the hunt for a partner who can take on ownership of its portfolio companies, which have benefited from an...
When it comes to AFROTECH™, think of its offerings like an Oprah Winfrey giveaway. Everyone gets a session. Although the conference has tech in its title, the annual convening is more than a gathering of tech professionals. AFROTECH™ Conference is a vibrant, inclusive event crafted for tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and professionals from all walks of life. On Day 2, Nov. 14, the agenda offers a deep dive into what attendees can expect from this year’s gathering. Regardless of your field, there’s something here for everyone. Let’s break down what to expect on Thursday. If you’re just arriving, head to the registration booths to get everything you need for a smooth experience. The Mall Of Opportunity The Expo Hall opens today, with resources and engaging experiences for all attendees. This year, the space is designed for you to connect with industry leaders, explore cutting-edge products, participate in hands-on workshops, check out sponsor booths, and stay ahead of industry trends...
When Lawrence Phillips set out to create Green Book Global, he wanted a platform that would increase confidence and reduce anxiety for Black travelers. After working with Accenture for eight years, Phillips shared how he felt burned out and needed a mental health break filled with traveling. During the 2023 AFROTECH™ Conference, the founder and CEO recalled his experience of traveling to over 30 countries across all seven continents, sparking his drive to create his travel review site. Haven’t gotten your ticket for AFROTECH™ Conference 2024 in Houston, TX? Click here. “It was really that in-depth travel experience as a Black traveler,” Phillips said during a panel titled “ Black and Well-Traveled: Centering Black Travelers Through Technology, Presented By Expedia Group.” “ I was going to certain places like, ‘Oh shoot, should I go here? I don’t really know.’ You ask that question, ‘Is it good for us ?’ I would go to blog here or there, and you might have one person say [something],...
The journey of building a carbon negative future is going to require all hands on deck. Lisa Dyson, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Air Protein, fully joined in on the mission before she founded her startup. The idea was initially sparked when the scientist visited New Orleans, LA, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “As a scientist, I was thinking about climate science and how climate scientists have been telling us that we’re going to have these weather events that are going to be more intense and more frequent,” Dr. Dyson recalled at the 2023 AFROTECH™ Conference in conversation with James White, executive chair of Air Protein and former CEO of Jamba Juice. “And just seeing how that impacted people’s lives, it caused me to want to see how I could be a part of creating a different future, a different reality, and join the many people that are out there, and started working on climate solutions.” Purchase your ticket to AFROTECH™ Conference now! During the fireside chat, Dyson shared how...
Brandon Nicholson is a part of a nonprofit exposing Black males to technology. The Hidden Genius Project Nicholson, an AFROTECH™ Future 50 honoree, serves as CEO of The Hidden Genius Project, an Oakland, CA-based venture that curates several programs, mentoring Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills, according to its website. Nicholson reveals that the project was originally planned as a two-year initiative but ultimately grew into something much greater, now spanning nearly a decade. “As volunteers with no budget and no infrastructure and no real idea of what we’re doing and probably no business doing it at all, we set out to establish this first ever cohort in 2012,” he told AFROTECH™. “Five young men, high school age who are gonna commit to it just a short period. But what eventually became like a two-year program unbeknownst to literally everybody involved, it just, [was] building the plane as it was flying.” Today, The Hidden Genius...