All results
Black women’s hair is the epitome of versatility. From knotless braids to frontal wigs, the possibilities for hairstyles are endless. Coming from her own experience of going through different hair phases, Rebundle founder and CEO Ciara Imani May tapped into alleviating some of the hassles that come with the process. As previously shared by AfroTech, the St. Louis-based company creates and sells hair extensions made exclusively from plant-based materials. The core material for the extensions is banana fiber. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rebundle (@rebundle.co)
Naturalistas can now get their hands on hair products from Black hair care royalty. The Root reports that the family of pioneer Madam C.J. Walker — the first African American woman millionaire — has created a reboot of her iconic hair line that has launched at Walmart. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MADAM by Madam C.J. Walker (@madambymcjw)
There’s more to diversity than meets the eye and vegan hair extension company, Rebundle is proof of that. However, what is just as important is the team that is willing to invest in the vision of Black founders, providing them with the tools needed to not only survive but also to thrive. M25 is the early-stage venture firm dedicated to supporting startups located in the Midwest, providing them with the tools needed to not only survive but thrive within an industry that was not built with them in mind. “Supporting women founders is important everywhere, regardless of the region, but I do think we have an amazing opportunity in regions like the Midwest,” said M25 VC Partner Mike Asem in an email interview with AfroTech. “As many point out that ecosystems like the Bay Area have matured whereas ecosystems like the Midwest are still emerging, maturing, etc. We have a unique opportunity to write diversity into our ecosystem’s entrepreneurial DNA better, and earlier, than more mature ones...
It looks like there might just be a plant-based version of everything these days, including hair! Rebundle — a hair-focused startup based in St. Louis founded by Danielle Washington and Ciara Imani May — just announced that it raised $1.4 million in a pre-seed round, according to TechCrunch. The company creates and sells hair extensions made exclusively from plant-based materials. Now, it’s on its way to shaking up the hair game one plant-based hair extension at a time.
We are overcoming decades of erasure of who we really are in telling our history. As the descendant of two pioneers in Black history, A’Lelia Bundles says that she is honored to be the one to share the history of her great-great-grandmother Madam C.J. Walker. “She is one of literally thousands of amazing people whose stories we need to hear,” said Bundles of her great-great-grandmother, Madam C.J. Walker — the first Black woman to become a millionaire in America. For years the history books in school have led people to believe that Madam C.J. Walker invented the hot comb. However, thanks to women like Bundles who are committed to sharing the facts, we learn that her story was much much more. Photo Credit: Courtesy of A’Lelia Bundles “By the time that she died at 51-years-old, she was a millionaire who had become a pioneer of the modern hair care industry, employed thousands of women, and used her money and influence as a philanthropist, a patron of the arts, and a political...
Merch and ticket bundles have been a major point of contention for artists and fans alike. Now, Billboard is changing the rules . On Monday (July 13), the revered music authority announced that it will no longer count “albums bundled with merchandise and concert tickets on its album and song charts altogether.” The rule has no set date on when it will apply—for tours, it will begin in October 2020—but under the new mandate, all albums bundled with merch or tickets “must be promoted as an add-on to those purchases in order to be counted on the charts.” Billboard Announces New Chart Rules: No More Merch & Ticket Bundles https://t.co/xhb0mqaEWD — billboard pro (@billboardpro) July 13, 2020 If an artist chooses to bundle their release with add-ons, Billboard requires that both the album and extras must be available for purchase individually at a lower cost, alongside the music, on an artist’s direct website. Ever since the bundle wars began, the argument has been that sales don’t...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Venture Capital , the lifeblood of startups, is undergoing a transition that may decrease the number of Black venture capitalists and venture-backed founders while reducing diversity in the types of ideas that Silicon Valley takes seriously. Historically, venture capital was viewed as niche, unlike other areas of finance. However, venture capital has grown into a global industry that has helped usher in our technological future. Companies like Uber and Airbnb have raised venture capital to build and grow their businesses into the household names they are today. Since 2021, the world of startups and venture capital has been going through a watershed moment that may alter the future of the industry. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, interest rates heavily impact how the startup ecosystem operates. Ever since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, interest rates have been hiked globally to combat...
If you’re tuned in to the world of early 2000s hip hop , or the world of modern Belizean politics, you may already be familiar with the name Shyne Barrow. The former rapper and current Opposition Party leader in Belize’s House of Representatives has one of the most fascinating backstories in all of pop culture and politics. Though he may not be as well known as his contemporaries like Busta Rhymes and Jay-Z, Shyne’s story is finally being told with the recent release of the Hulu original “The Honorable Shyne,” which dropped on the streamer earlier this month. In the documentary, Shyne outlines the untold truth about his time laboring under Bad Boy Records , his lengthy incarceration and his pivot into politics within his home country. Given that the 46-year-old politician has led such a storied life, fans are justifiably wondering about other personal details, including his net worth, investment portfolio and various streams of income. Luckily, we’ve got you covered, with a quick...
If you’ve been tuned in to modern hip hop in the last few years, you’re likely already familiar with the prolific works of NBA YoungBoy. The artist, who is only 24-years-old at the time of this writing, first rose to prominence in 2015 and beyond, releasing numerous rap albums and mixtapes per year ever since. YoungBoy has also amassed quite a large following through viral marketing techniques. He’s earned a dedicated listenership of just under 16 million users on Spotify alone. This behind-the-mic success gives way to an impressive financial portfolio. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his full net worth to clock in at over $10 million. Despite these major successes, NBA YoungBoy’s career is mired by legal troubles and music industry drama, keeping him from reaching his full financial potential. In fact, the young rapper has spent a significant portion of his fame on house arrest while awaiting trial for numerous alleged crimes. The situation keeps him from capitalizing on the outlets...
This Philadelphia, PA, native is transforming her e-commerce startup into a new luxury experience. Kadidja Dosso founded the e-commerce shop Dosso Beauty, a clinically tested, hypoallergenic braiding hair company. In an interview with FOX29 Philadelphia, Dosso shared that the company has been a game changer for more than 50,000 women who suffer from allergic reactions from braiding hair due to toxic chemicals. Dosso launched Dosso Beauty in 2018 after experiencing a horrible allergic reaction to braiding hair, along with a history of scalp and skin sensitivity. While Dosso has had six years of success selling Dosso Beauty products on its e-commerce site, Amazon, GoPuff, DoorDash, independent retail stores, and hair salons, she is ready for the next step. In Dosso’s interview with FOX29, she shared her plans to open the company’s first-ever brick-and-mortar store in July 2024 in Philadelphia, PA. She also plans to open a luxury braid salon within the store called The Dosso Beauty...
One of the purposes of social media is to help people easily make connections online. However, many people have experienced a time when they felt disconnected from their followers. The void of intimacy was frustrating for John York to keep watching across social platforms, driving him to want to create one himself. The tech founder went on to team up with John McAdory, Terry Johnson, and Richard Berryman to launch Frequency People, a community-based social platform that encourages users to build engaging networks. After launching in 2017, the app crossed major milestones such as raising capital but an internal legal battle as well as the drastic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic created a detour on the team’s path. In an interview with AfroTech, York shared how Frequency People was able to bounce back after losing it all, what sets the app apart from fellow social media platforms, and its plans to tap into the power of AI. Editorial Note: Portions of this interview have been edited...
The evolving job market means that people are keeping their resumes up to date. But adding every position and carefully wording work responsibilities can be an overwhelming task. And with many companies using technology to scan for keywords and phrases, job seekers are even more meticulous with the format and wording of their resumes. Traditionally, people would tap into the power and expertise of professional resume writers. And while those subject matter experts still provide valuable services, the power of artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the game. With systems such as ChatGPT, having an AI-powered resume assistant isn’t a far-fetched concept, and Blavity Deals has access to services for your next project.
Code just got a lot easier. Social media influencer and Memphis, TN-based artist Eso Tolson talks about a very particular group of millennials he calls “The Bridge.” What’s so peculiar about this group, he describes, is their relationship with technology. From the evolution of the internet to the progressive introduction of new technology resources that’s changed the way humans live and interact, most millennials have an experience with innovative tech that is unique and nuanced. But behind all the technological advancements the world has seen are engineers and gurus that build out formulas and codes that make the science operational and user-friendly. Regardless of Millennials’ relationship with technology and its progress, the magic behind most of it is the code. In this instance, it’s not like an iPhone pin or the secure password for a smart door lock. According to Grasshopper, coding is how people translate human language and ideas to computers. A code informs a computer on what...
