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Will Packer knows a thing or two about spotting a good story. With films like “Ride Along,” “Think Like a Man,” and “Stomp the Yard,” he’s turned everyday moments into box-office gold, built characters we root for, and created cultural blueprints that stick. But when the call came offering a confidential shot at owning a piece of an NFL team — no details, no guarantees — this wasn’t a plot twist in a film. This was real life. And it didn’t come with a pitch deck or press release. It came with a non-disclosure agreement and the vaguest of possibilities. “I said, NFL? National Food League?” Packer joked. “Because I know the NFL doesn’t just let people in.” The terms? Mysterious. The team? Unknown. The risk? High. But Packer signed the NDA anyway. That moment — unflashy, uncertain, but undeniably bold — set off a chain of events that would lead him not just into the NFL ownership circle but into a growing movement to rewrite what power and equity look like in professional sports. Fast...
A historic Black-owned beach in South Carolina is quickly becoming one of the hottest luxury vacation destinations in the states, and it is currently the only incorporated Black beach to sit in the U.S. During the early 1930s, Atlantic Beach was founded by a group of Gullah Geechee as a haven for Black people who were not allowed to occupy the same beaches as white people in South Carolina. Defying Jim Crow laws, the strip of primarily Black-owned coastal properties, dubbed “The Black Pearl,” broadened the enterprises of coastal Gullah Geechee people. A host of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and novelty shops were developed just miles from Myrtle Beach. Now, two trailblazing founders are on a mission to continue honoring the rich history that makes up the area. Although they are business partners, Tiffany Bailey Lash, Ph.D., and Tashni-Ann Dubroy, Ph.D., MBA, have a relationship that is rooted in sisterhood. Together, the HBCU alums and friends are on a mission to revitalize and...
It’s officially time to announce the 2024 AFROTECH™ Future 50! The AFROTECH™ Future 50 is celebrated in our digital hub and social media platforms. During previous years, the individuals have also been honored in person at the annual AFROTECH™ Conference. The categories for the 2024 AFROTECH™ Future 50 are Dynamic Investor, Future Maker, Visionary Founder, Changemaker, and Corporate Catalyst. The criteria for each are as follows, as previously shared by AFROTECH™: Dynamic Investors are venture capitalists who have made significant contributions to advancing underserved tech founders. Future Makers have spearheaded groundbreaking tech innovation. Visionary Founders lead remarkable company growth and promote diversity and inclusion. Changemakers have made a significant social impact in the tech industry. Corporate Catalysts actively promote diversity and redefine and implement initiatives to do so. Established in 2022, the AFROTECH™ Future 50 aims to spotlight contributions Black tech...
Tyrese Gibson, widely known simply as Tyrese, is a multi-hyphenate talent regarded for his work on film and television, as well as his Grammy-nominated music career. Like many A-listers, Tyrese has worked his way up from small commercial placements to top-billed positions in massive blockbuster films. Unlike a number of his peers, however, Tyrese Gibson amassed his net worth purely from his own talent, business acumen, and hard work, rising out of the slums of the Los Angeles neighborhood Watts and earning millions. There are conflicting reports for Tyrese Gibson’s net worth, ranging from $5 million to over $30 million. Suffice it to say that the talented performer holds a multi-million dollar fortune, which is earned through a number of high-profile income streams. Here’s a brief look at where Tyrese came from, where he is now, and the many avenues he has utilized to earn his fortune. Tyrese Gibson’s Humble Beginnings (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images) Tyrese was raised by a...
The passing of a loved one comes with a rollercoaster of emotions, from being hit with grief to becoming overwhelmed with creating funeral plans. The ordeal can be quite strenuous for many families, but what if it didn’t have to be? Following the tragic loss of her father, Jessica McGlory launched Guaranteed, a tech-enabled hospice-care startup. On the premise that death is the only thing in life that’s guaranteed, the founder and CEO created the company to transform how society handles the ultimate fate. The goal is better preparation when it comes to taking necessary actions and managing the emotional experience. Guaranteed uses frictionless technology to provide direct, at-home patient care in Los Angeles, CA, and New York, NY. An additional standout feature is that the company not only looks after its patients but also their families, who receive their own personal plan of care. Investors have gravitated to the mission behind Guaranteed as it has raised nearly $10 million to...
For its latest initiative, Warner Music Group (WMG) is working to get more people of color into the door of the music industry. Billboard reports that the music company has partnered with Culture Creators for its 2023 HBCU Immersion Program, which teaches students about what it takes to have a career in the business.
Recently, as AfroTech previously reported, American Express and the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC) announced the expansion of ByBlack with the first national certification program exclusively for Black-ownership designation. And one of the most famous participants in the program is Issa Rae, who recently certified her Sienna Naturals through the program with the hopes of reaching more customers for her in-demand products. “We have only scratched the surface of the collective power of Black businesses, so I am excited to join AmEx and the USBC to shine a light on the opportunities ByBlack presents,” she said in a statement. “ByBlack is a powerful platform that connects Black business owners with new revenue streams and helps all of us find and shop at standout businesses. Together we can spread the word to support small Black businesses.” To qualify for the no-cost certification process, businesses must provide proof that their business is 51 percent Black-owned, and also...
If you’re wondering what happened to the bear costume from “The College Dropout” era, look no further! When one thinks of Kanye West and “The College Dropout” album, the image of the bear that graced the cover may ultimately come to mind. Now fans will potentially be able to get their hands on it thanks to designer Sam Hansen. Per Complex, following an interview on the origins of “The College Dropout” bear with Hansen, Andrew Barber of Fake Shore Drive has unlocked a new discovery on what could now be a collector’s item. In an all-new sit down with Eric Arginsky, the person who worked closely with Ye and others, Barber learned that there was an abandoned effort to bring a plush bear line to the surface to promote the album. Since that line never saw the light of day, Arginsky ultimately landed ownership of the costume. In fact, it isn’t even the original costume from the cover as he explains that Ye’s team was never able to secure a deal with the school to gain possession of the...
When you’re a professional athlete immersed into the sports world, it’s easy to lose sight of planning your next steps after retirement. For former National Football League (NFL) defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, he recognized early on that he would ultimately have to decide on his next path when it was time to put down his helmet. “I always knew in the back of my mind that I’ve got to basically find a second career,” Ogunleye told AfroTech in an exclusive interview.
Hollywood mogul Issa Rae is always rooting for everybody Black, and today is no different as she pushes for all Black-owned businesses to officially certify their brands through a newly-launched program. According to a press release shared with AfroTech, the producer and actress is supporting American Express and the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.’s (USBC) joint effort to expand their ByBlack initiative with the launch of the “first national certification program exclusively for Black-ownership designation.” Photo Credit: American Express The free first-of-its-kind platform — which was designed as a directory for Black-owned businesses — will now offer Black business-owners the opportunity to easily obtain approved accreditation that their customers and other companies can trust when spending with them. “We are thrilled to team up with the USBC to expand the ByBlack platform,” Jessica Ling — senior vice president of Global B2B Marketing at American Express — tells AfroTech. “Seventy-five...
Jamal Adams is proof that fighting for your worth pays off in the end! Adams had a goal to become the highest-paid safety in the National Football League (NFL), now it’s a dream come true thanks to his determination to stand by what he knew he was worth. According to The Seattle Times, on Aug. 17, Adams signed a four-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks worth up to $72 million. Not only was his mission accomplished, but the team can now rest assured knowing that their 2020 trade paid off as Adams is now set to play a pivotal role on the team during his prime years. Jamal Adam’s Seahawks journey began on July 25, 2020, when the team traded quite the package to the New York Jets, including first-round picks from 2021 and 2022, just to secure his spot on the team. Now, after five months of what coach Pete Carroll called “intense negotiations,” Adams is ready to rock and roll as a Seattle Seahawk. “This is a block off my shoulders,” said Adams. “Just so excited to be a part of such a...
When it comes to sports and technology, StatusPRO not only gets it right but encourages others to see just how significant technology is to the sports industry and vice versa. As athletes, founders Andrew “Hawk” Hawkins and Troy Jones know the importance of using technology to make training more efficient for sports professionals across the nation. The company marries technology and sports by combining player data, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) to design a suite of training and gaming products. Now, they can continue to execute the vision for their company thanks to a $5.2 million seed round, according to a press release provided to AfroTech. Led by venture capital firms KB Partners and TitletownTech, the round also received additional backing from 49ers Enterprises, Greycoft, Haslam Sports Group, SC Holdings, Verizon Ventures, and a host of other celebrity investors. This is a huge milestone for both Hawkins and Jones. “The XR [AR and VR] market has seen...
When it comes to the intersection of sports and technology, these founders are truly taking things beyond the status pro! As a technology company, Status Pro combines data with augmented and virtual reality giving its users an out-of-this-world experience. Created by dynamic duo, Andrew “Hawk” Hawkins and Troy Jones, the two took their love for the game of football and combined it with their desire to build a suite of training and gaming products. Now, it is changing the way coaches, players and fans experience their favorite sport. “Status Pro was birthed out of me and Hawks’ experiences as athletes,” shared Jones in an exclusive interview with AfroTech. “Originally we started off as a company focused on helping athletes get better through augmented virtual reality.” From there, the company built a desktop application that would track data from players. “Each player in NFL games wears two tracking chips, one that tracks their movement and one that creates XY grid coordinates that...
It’s time for Black-owned media to have more control within the industry, and this first-of-its-kind collective is launching an inspiring initiative to help us accomplish that. Today, Group Media — a unique media collective and accelerator dedicated to the advancement of Black-owned media properties — has launched with a mission to increase Black ownership and help Black media conglomerates claim their rightful place in this space. Founding member companies of Group Black include ESSENCE, Holler, PlayVS, Afropunk, The Shade Room and Baller Alert. Additionally, Holler’s Travis Montaque joins as co-founder, director and CEO alongside serial entrepreneur Richelieu Dennis, Group Black’s co-founder and chairman. As part of its launch, Group Black is kicking off its buying power with an inaugural $75 million target media investment from GroupM, a press release reports, which is also part of its effort to deploy at least $500 million in Black-owned media by the end of next year. “Our...
Jason Derulo has turned his “Milli Meals” into a one-of-a-kind, limited-edition virtual restaurant thanks to his new partnership with Jack in the Box. In a press release announcement, it was revealed that the One in a Milli Virtual Restaurant has launched for a limited time exclusively on Uber Eats. From now until June 28, Jack in the Box restaurants throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area will have “Milli Meals” available through their virtual kitchens. “I’m pumped to be teaming up with Jack in the Box to celebrate my next million of TikTok followers! Jack in the Box is my guilty pleasure, so this partnership was an opportunity to bring my larger-than-life Milli Meals in a unique way, through creation the first-ever One in a Milli Virtual Restaurant,” Derulo said in the press release announcement. “With Jack’s menu variety, we curated the ultimate spread that includes five deliciously indulgent items. Fans will be able to test out our concoctions for the first time only on Uber...