Showing 631 results for:
champion
Popular topics
All results
Richard Seymour is a minority owner in the league he once played in. A three-time NFL Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer, Seymour played in the league for 12 seasons and earned $89.5 million in career earnings, notes Spotrac. Beyond the playing field, he has been taking charge within the business and investing arena. In fact, he co-founded 93 Ventures — named as an homage to his jersey playing for the New England Patriots — alongside venture capitalist and strategic advisor Albert G. Sye IV. According to its website, the venture capital firm is based in Atlanta and has interests in industries such as late-stage pre-IPO tech unicorns, growth-stage consumer packaged goods and fintech, and early-stage Web3. Its investment portfolio includes Lyft, Airbnb, Sundae, Dapper Labs, and Calaxy, which is a social marketplace founded by tech entrepreneur Solo Ceesay and NBA star Spencer Dinwiddie. Calaxy has direct-to-consumer monetization and is intended to create more intimate experiences...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. As mass layoffs hit various industries, Gen Zers— the youngest generation in the workforce—are growing tired of the traditional 9-to-5 workday. The conventional workweek doesn’t appeal to this new subset of workers who have grown exhausted with the daily slog of corporate life. Gen Z workers (the oldest of whom is turning 28 this year) feel stuck in their current positions and report feeling unfulfilled in their work. Nearly half of them are “coasting” on the job compared to previous generations, according to a CNBC study . For many young workers, their search for meaning begins with quitting their corporate jobs and looking toward entrepreneurship. Since 2023 , the rate of adults starting businesses has risen. In 2024, approximately 18% of business founders were from Gen Z, compared to 14.5% in 2023. Young people aren’t impressed with climbing the corporate ladder; rather, they are looking to be...
As Amazon unveils new technology, it is also proving to be a win for its employees. Vulcan At Amazon’s 2025 Delivering the Future event held May 6–7 in Dortmund, Germany, the company introduced the Vulcan, Amazon’s first robot with a sense of touch. Made possible by an artificial intelligence-powered sensor, it is the first of its kind and is able to use video rather than still images to monitor and control its motions, as noted by Aaron Parness, Amazon’s director of applied science in robotics and artificial intelligence. “We’re at the golden age for robotics. AI is allowing us to develop systems that can interact with the physical world and not just the ones on our screens,” Parness said during the Main Event held at Amazon’s Last Mile Innovation Center. Vulcan will be beneficial to its employees who are fulfilling orders for customers at the company’s facilities thanks to the robot’s ability to pick and stow away 75% of the items stored in the warehouses. “One of the really...
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...
Heavyweight-champion-turned-businessman George Foreman has passed away. NBC News reports the cause of Foreman’s death has not been revealed (at the time of this writing). He was 76 years old. A post on his official Instagram confirmed his passing. “Our hearts are broken. With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025 surrounded by loved ones. A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose,” the post read. “A humanitarian, an Olympian, and two time heavyweight champion of the world, He was deeply respected — a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name — for his family.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by George Foreman (@biggeorgeforeman) Family Foreman is survived by his wife, Mary Joan; six...
Global Day of Unplugging was March 7-8, 2025, and Verizon has been doing its part to address the growing challenge of managing screen time and its effects on overall well-being. According to Verizon, the average Verizon home internet household connects 18 devices and the number is rising. On March 6, 2025, at the inaugural Digital Wellness Summit hosted by actress and TV host Drew Barrymore, the company introduced several initiatives to promote healthy digital habits for families. Sowmyanarayan Sampath, CEO of Verizon Consumer, oversees the company’s vast network, which serves millions of consumers across America with wireless devices and home internet. In a recent discussion with AFROTECH™ about digital wellness , Sampath highlighted the challenges of underserved communities, particularly regarding access to technology and knowledge, as well as the need to advocate for increased awareness and greater accessibility. “Which is why Verizon is getting involved in this,” he said. “You...
Tabitha Brown has claimed a new title to strengthen her commitment to small businesses. In her journey as an entrepreneur , she has leveraged her social media platforms—originally catapulted to fame by a viral video of her enjoying a TTLA (tempeh bacon, tomato, lettuce, and avocado) sandwich from Whole Foods Market—to foster meaningful connections with her community. Through her vibrant spirit and authenticity, she has also cultivated a strong following base, leading her to benefit from customer acquisitions. That support is evident through ventures such as her natural hair care brand, Donna’s Recipe, which is available at retailers such as Ulta Beauty. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DONNA’S RECIPE™️ (@donnasrecipe) “Social media has been EVERYTHING for my business – it’s how I got my start! I know people say that ‘Followers are not dollars,’ but for me, it has been the secret ingredient to my success,” Brown said in an email Q&A with AFROTECH™. “It has allowed me to...
After winning an NBA Championship, Shaquille O’Neal once turned down a deal with a major cereal brand. Back in 2001, O’Neal secured his second national championship alongside his Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant. O’Neal put up 29 points, leading the team to victory, according to the NBA. Unsurprisingly, offers were coming O’Neal’s way, including from Wheaties cereal. They had also reached out when he secured his first championship in 2000. However, O’Neal declined both times. He was more of a fan of its competitors, such as Frosted Flakes and Fruity Pebbles. “My people said, ‘Hey man, won’t you be on the cover of Wheaties.’ I said, ‘I can’t do that.’ They said, ‘What do you mean, brother? Breakfast of champions.’ I said, ‘Don’t know what it tastes like, never gonna taste it.’ ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘Well, Frosted Flakes will always be my first option if you want to talk cereal business with me and Fruit Loops, then Fruity Pebbles,” he said in an interview with The Wall...
If you spent any time tuned in to the 2024 Paris Olympics , you likely recognize the name Noah Lyles. The 27-year-old sprinter has made numerous headlines for his incredible athletic performance and earned numerous championship medals and special honors for his dynamic speed. Those interested in learning more about Lyles’ intense training regiment can find him appearing in several documentaries as of late, including the upcoming second installment in the Netflix original series, Sprint: The World’s Fastest Humans . Noah Lyles also hosts a documentary-style vlog on his personal YouTube channel under the title “Grassroots,” which sees him outlining his track and field skills, showcasing his warmups and even exploring his diet and other contributing factors to his epic performance. The world champion runner is also making headlines lately thanks to his prolific social media presence , which sees him taking on challenges such as a foot race with noted streamer IShowSpeed. Since Noah...
It’s official! Shaquille O’Neal is tied to a billion-dollar deal! As AFROTECH™ previously mentioned, O’Neal is the second-largest shareholder in Authentic Brands Group. This is the result of a 2015 deal that gave the company the rights to manage his name in merchandise and endorsements. O’Neal explained the significance of the deal during a previous AFROTECH™ interview stating, “My Authentic Brands deal, I was able to ensure that hopefully I can stay around after I’m no longer on this earth. And I was walking down the street one day and looking at these Elvis cups and Elvis key chains and Marilyn Monroe, and I said to myself, ‘How are these people still making money for their families?’ They’re not even around. So, I found out how that business works, and I contacted two or three of those agencies and asked them if they were interested in partnering with Authentic Brands, and we’ve been doing major things.” He added, “I’m now the second-largest shareholder in Authentic Brands Group,...
Big Sean has never been one to shy away from showcasing the love he has for Detroit, MI. He knew very early on that he was called to not only put on for his city but also put on for others along the way. He isn’t the only one who sees something special in Detroit. Dubbed one of the Blackest cities in America, Detroit has a population that is 76% Black, according to the United States Census Bureau. Among its other attributes, the Motor City got its nickname for being the center of the U.S. auto industry for more than a century. Detroit is also home to Motown, one of the culture’s most revered musical styles and Black-owned music labels, founded by Barry Gordy in 1959. It served as the catalyst for Black music becoming some of the most popular music, not only in America but also across the globe. Throughout his music, Big Sean has always amplified his city’s stance in the world and its impact on culture. Now, he’s taking it a step further, partnering with Pensole Lewis College of...
Shaquille O’Neal says he took a pay cut while playing for the Miami Heat. The NBA Hall of Famer played for the team for four seasons, between 2004 and 2008, according to Sports Illustrated. Previously, he was a three-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played alongside his teammate Kobe Bryant. O’Neal’s tenure with the Heat was accompanied by a decision that cost him $20 million, he explained on “The OGs” podcast. He recalls a conversation with former Lakers head coach Pat Riley, that presented him an ultimatum surrounding his salary. “Pat came in and he said, ‘Shaq I love you. I can give you the whole 120 [million] and we can have nobody, or I can give you 100 [million],'” O’Neal said. “‘Give UD some more money. I can bring in Posey. I can bring in GP. I can bring in all them guys.'” O’Neal decided to take the pay cut because he was purely motivated by his desire to win. He added, “And I was like, ‘You know what. I need to win. Cause I gotta win one before Ol’...
Brandon J. Middleton-Pratt is lending his law expertise to the tech ecosystem. He currently serves as a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and is a board member at DivInc, a nonprofit that empowers underrepresented founders. His trajectory was not a linear one. He initially pursued a finance and marketing degree at the University of Denver while playing on its basketball team, he says. Upon obtaining his bachelor’s in 2003, he decided to move to Los Angeles, CA, to pursue a career in entertainment instead. Though that did not pan out for long, he made appearances in the films “Coach Carter”, “Rebound,” and “The Longest Yard.” The pivots of life would then lead Middleton-Pratt to play basketball overseas in Spain and Cyprus after receiving an offer from a sports agent. He then experienced a crossroads, which would determine if he would return to Los Angeles. A call from a mentor with an opportunity in the energy field finally brought him back to the states. “A mentor of mine...
Well-known for her career in entertainment, Malinda Williams is now dedicating time to uplifting women in technology. The Pivot Many may recognize Malinda Williams for her work as an actress, which includes credits in shows such as “The Cosby Show,” “Sister, Sister,” “Moesha,” and films like “Soul Food” and “The Wood.” She had been booking gigs for more than 30 years, yet she encountered a period of stagnation during which work became scarce. Money management had always been easy for her, which was helpful when it was time to stretch her earnings, Williams shared in an interview with AFROTECH™ . Eventually, she had to move to New Jersey and ventured into a “difficult” period, which also reignited a new area of interest. “I set out on a continuation of my spirit spiritual journey, but I also went to the bookstore, and that’s where I find a lot of my spiritual material, and a book called ‘HTML For Dummies’ fell off the shelves,” she told AFROTECH™. “I had tinkered around a little bit...
Shaquille O’Neal’s Authentic Brands Group (ABG) deal continues to pay off. As AFROTECH™ previously mentioned, O’Neal’s agreement with the brand management company in 2015 allowed the group to profit from his name and likeness in merchandise and endorsements. The Hall of Famer joins its roster of other prominent names such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, and Michael Jackson. “We’re thrilled to have a true business partner in Shaq,” Nick Woodhouse, ABG president and chief marketing officer, told ESPN at the time. “Through his bigger-than-life personality, he has turned himself into one of the strongest sports brands in the world.” In return for signing onto the deal, O’Neal became ABG’s second-largest shareholder, and to date he credits this as his turning point in business. “My Authentic Brands deal, I was able to ensure that hopefully I can stay around after I’m no longer on this earth,” O’Neal explained to AFROTECH™ . “And I was walking down the street one day and...