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Felix Lloyd’s company is among the 13 Black businesses to catch the attention of billionaire Mark Cuban during his time as an investor on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” Lloyd is former dean of students at the SEED Public Charter School and was recognized as Washington D.C.’s Teacher of the Year. In 2013, he and his wife, Jordan Lloyd Bookey, Google’s head of K-12 education outreach at the time, were inspired to create Zoobean. Initially introduced as a “book-of-the-month business” to connect families, with a focus on “non-traditional genres and interests,” the platform has since transformed into software catered to libraries and educational settings, the company website reads. It now encompasses features such as summer reading programs, simplified reading records, progress tracking analytics, and the option for users to host fundraising events centered around reading. In 2014, the founders were featured on season five of “Shark Tank” with their original business model. The opportunity to...
Andre Swanston is one of the few Black men to sell a tech company for nine figures. Swanston founded Tru Optik in 2013. He was driven to have a solid work ethic by his father, who ventured from the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United States and worked several jobs to support his family, according to Forbes. The younger Swanston obtained a finance degree from La Salle University and a business degree from the University of Connecticut between 1999 and 2004. He would then secure a job as a financial advisor at Ameriprise Financial and later take on a post at JPMorgan Chase & Co. as vice president of investments between 2010 and 2012, per his LinkedIn. During the early 2000s, he owned nightclubs and restaurants, he shared in a Q&A with TransUnion. He also invested in local advertising to bring more exposure to his businesses. It was then that Swanston made a discovery that would prompt his pivot to the tech industry full time as the founder of Tru Optik. The system is “an...
The legacy of the late Bob Marley remains prevalent. Bob’s musical influence extends globally, with Rolling Stone recognizing “Exodus,” his ninth studio album with the Wailers, as No. 48 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time” in December 2023. What’s more, his story is currently being told in a biopic across movie theaters. “Bob Marley: One Love” has earned $71.1 million domestically and $120.5 globally, according to Entertainment Weekly and Comscore (at the time of this writing). Though his life was cut short at 36, following a battle with malignant melanoma, t he Marley family continues to carry the torch of their father while also carving their own paths. At the time of his death, Bob did not have a will, and his inheritance was given to his wife, Rita, and 11 children. As AFROTECH previously told you, with that financial investment in each of his children, many have built on that foundation with net worths now reportedly set in the multi-millions. This includes...
Master P and Snoop Dogg believe Walmart And Post Foods are stifling the success of their cereal venture. In a press conference held on Feb. 6, it was revealed the rappers-turned-businessmen have filed a lawsuit as a result of their belief that the “industry giants” allegedly colluded to impact Broadus Foods’ Snoop Cereal’s visibility on store shelves, a press release mentions. Several alleged grievances were mentioned including a breach of the implied covenant of good faith dealing, breach of contract, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, collusion and conspiracy, and aiding and abetting an infringement, among others. During the conference, a video displayed interested customers looking to purchase Snoop Cereal in Walmart stores. While navigating the cereal aisle, one customer who visited a Walmart in Long Beach, CA, Snoop Dogg’s hometown, discovered the brand was allegedly missing from the store shelves. Other snippets displayed customers with a similar discovery. After further...
Berry Gordy became a music force thanks to an investment from his family. Before Becoming A Record Executive Before becoming a famed record executive, he pursued various other ventures, partly driven by his father’s influence as an entrepreneur. The Telegraph reports that Gordy’s father owned several businesses, involving his family in several endeavors, including a plastering and carpentry business, a general store, and a printing shop. As for Gordy, he would explore becoming an amateur boxer, which prompted his exit from high school to turn professional. However, this venture reached a dead end, per The Telegraph. He then switched gears and served in the U.S. Army in Korea but was discharged. Gordy managed to finance a record store with his earnings, but it would shut down after two years. His next move was working at a nearby Ford Motor Co. plant, earning $85 per week, according to the Orlando Sentinel. During this time, he also nurtured his love for songwriting. “I wanted to...
When it comes to show business families, few — if any — have had the impact of the Gordy family. Under the tutelage of Berry Gordy, Motown Records produced some of the biggest hits of the Golden Age of Music. From a former boxer to creating “The Sound of America” — according to The Motown Museum — Berry Gordy has certainly created a lasting empire. According to Celebrity Net Worth, in fact, Berry Gordy’s net worth even after he sold Motown Records in 1988 is a gob-smacking $400 million. And the Gordy family continues to be relevant in both music and business. Whether it’s by blood or by marriage, chances are that you’re currently enjoying music, movies, television shows, and more from this show business legacy family. Believe it or not, too, there are some members of the Gordy family that are nowhere near the entertainment industry. Did you know that one of the most prominent Gordys went into politics — going so far as to become one of America’s presidents? In short, members of this...