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Never underestimate the power of good food. After bonding over the delicacy that is macaroni and cheese, Chefs Malachi “Spank” Jenkins and Roberto “News” Smith took their talents to the kitchen and created Trap Kitchen LA. Now, the concept is being taken to Texas. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Trap Kitchen CEO Malachi Jenkins (@trapkitchenofficial_)
LeBron James’ recent investment is taking him further into the food business. AfroTech previously reported in February that the NBA superstar’s Foundation teamed up with Old El Paso to officially open their first-ever restaurant in 2023. Now, he’s joined a new platform that is for the foodie community. Page Six reports that James became an investor in Kittch, a live-streaming platform for chefs and creators to connect, which launched on Mar. 8. After being in beta for three to four months, the platform aims to highlight famous chefs along with users having free access to their live streams of cooking from their homes or restaurants, according to the outlet. After the effects of the pandemic, Kittch’s co-founders created the idea to help rebuild upon what chefs had lost out on financially.
Everybody’s gotta eat, but not everyone knows their way around a kitchen enough to make an appetizing dish (we can tell by some of y’all’s struggle meals). However, there are men and women who know how to transform ingredients into amazingly delectable dishes while making it look magical and effortless. From conception to the plate, their mouth-watering fare pops up constantly on Instagram feeds, forcing us to step up our game. As of late, digital culinarians are building their brands and sharing their skills through cooking demos and classes to help us recreate good cuisine in the comfort of our homes. Follow these six chefs, home cooks, and eats entrepreneurs who put their heart and soul into what we all love—food. The Spice Suite (@spicesuite) Founded by DC-based chef, Angel, the Spice Suite is a one-stop haven of every exotic flavor you can imagine. If you like to add a tantalizing taste to every meal, try a thoughtfully curated SpiceBox, which includes an assortment of her most...
Ope Amosu turned a hobby into a thriving restaurant. The London, England, native is a child of Nigerian immigrants who relocated to Houston, TX, and to him food is fellowship and also a gateway to community. It’s why he pivoted from the oil and gas industry — where he held roles at General Electric (GE) such as senior commercial development leader and corporate account executive — to launch ChòpnBlọk, a fast-casual restaurant inspired by his West African roots. Co-founded with his wife, Janelle, the restaurant has become one of Houston’s standout culinary destinations. Photo Credit: ChòpnBlọk “Food was one of those universal languages where we could cross many barriers to ultimately get a a super diverse, broad community and share with them who we are, where we come from, what we own, what we have provided. That’s really what the passion is about. Landing on food as the vehicle is what set me on this path,” Amosu told AFROTECH™ in an interview. Non-Traditional Journey Amosu’s...
Athletes are leaning further into content creation to build a sturdy brand. While sports is a bridge between athletes and fans, content creation is another avenue that can further enhance the relationship. Now, more and more players are leaning into this in various ways to give fans a closer look into their lifestyles and interest. At the 2025 NAB Show (National Association of Broadcasters) held in Vegas, NV, PlayersTV Co-Founder Collin Castellaw was among the leaders gathered for a panel titled “Empowering Athletes: The Rise of Player-Owned Media in the NIL Era,” moderated by journalist Chris Smith on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. PlayersTV As AFROTECH™ previously told you, PlayersTV, established in 2020, is the first athlete-owned media network and content provider. It is currently backed by players that include Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving, Travis Kelce, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Damian Lillard. The media network currently has nearly 70 professional athletes as owners, investors ,...
The blessings are still pouring in for The Puddery founder, Janel Prator. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Prator reaped the benefits of the Keith Lee effect after her pudding shop, The Puddery, located in Pearland, TX, went viral in a food review shared on his TikTok platform, which currently boasts 17 million followers, on Nov. 23, 2023. Lee claims Prator had made over 13 posts inviting the foodie guru to her restaurant, which was on the verge of closing. On some days, she recalls only having two customers per day. Lee stated the shop’s strawberry banana pudding was the best he’s had. His review was seen by millions of customers who flocked to support the store. Today, The Puddery is thriving and has since expanded to its second location. Prator refers to Lee’s initial visit as “an opportunity of a lifetime for a business like mine,” according to Blavity. Prator’s blessings are still multiplying. In fact, Keith Lee surprised her with a $50,000 grant in partnership with Toast...
Like many people, Ayesha Curry doesn’t handle setbacks well — but she doesn’t dwell on them either. In an interview on Inc. “From the Ground Up” podcast with Executive Editor Diana Ransom and Editor Christine Lagorio-Chafkin, the businesswoman, chef, and restaurateur said she gives herself 24 hours to feel the emotions — anger, sadness, confusion — before moving on. “But I’m never going to suppress. It’s not my thing,” Curry said. “I’m going to let it out and feel my feelings and then move on.” Curry’s mindset has been a game-changer for her mental health and a key factor in her entrepreneurial success, Essentially Sports reported . In 2023, the United States had 33.2 million small businesses, which account for 99.9% of all companies in the country, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. As a successful entrepreneur, Curry’s ventures exemplify the resilience and drive required in this space. As previously highlighted by AFROTECH™ , Ayesha Curry, wife of NBA star Steph...
Some people are simply destined for greatness, and Texas native Bernard James Freeman, known to the culture as Bun B, may be considered one of them. As one of the founder members of the rap group UGK, Bun B has had a knack for storytelling for as long as he can remember. Today, his portfolio expands far beyond the title of musician. He wears many hats, including professor (he teaches a course on music and religion at Rice University), rapper, father, husband, and entrepreneur, to name a few. For him, the key to his success is his determination and preparation in any situation. As he was climbing the ranks in music, he credits a brutal rap battle beatdown as the reason he always showed up prepared. “I made it a note that nobody would ever be more prepared to rap in a room than I would be,” Bun B told Blavity co-founder and COO Jeff Nelson during an exclusive fireside chat at the AFROTECH™ Conference 2024 on Nov. 15. In the conversation, titled “Beyond Beats with Bun B: Innovation and...
Chef Kurt Evans is providing jobs to those formerly incarcerated. This was first done in 2021 with the opening of Down North Pizza in Philadelphia, PA. Evans was among the co-founders behind the restaurant, which had employed eight employees who were formerly incarcerated at the time of its opening, Food & Wine mentions. Having grown up seeing his loved ones in confinement, Evans is now focused on creating a safe place where they can restart their lives. “The food industry has never had a problem hiring formerly incarcerated people. The problem is employers threatening to call parole officers and dehumanizing these guys,” he told Food & Wine. Fast forward to 2024, Evans has opened a new restaurant venture, Black Dragon Takeout, which is inspired by the Chinese food he would enjoy in his West Philadelphia neighborhood as well as Black American cuisine, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The inception of the restaurant dates back to 2020, and he began to raise money through pop-ups...
Usher’s mother, Jonnetta Patton, is opening a restaurant. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Patton had once been in business as a manager to Usher, born Usher Terry Raymond IV, for 17 years. She played a part in helping to reshape his image on his own terms, which later proved to be a wise decision. “During the time between that first record and the second record, I worked in silence. I didn’t tell the record label what I was doing,” Patton said in an interview on OWN’s “Behind Every Man.” “So now Usher said, ‘This time I’m gonna do it my way.’ So LA [LA Reid] said, ‘Okay. All right, Usher.’ See, they wanted him to be this bad boy image. Usher’s not a bad boy. That’s that whole image that they wanted. It didn’t work. So Usher said, ‘I’m gonna do it my way,’ and that’s basically what we did.” Usher released “My Way,” the album that gave him his first No. 1 record. “What you see on ‘My Way,’ you just see raw talent,” Usher said during the interview. “This is a true testament to an...
April Anderson left a comfortable job to bet on herself. According to The Detroit News, the entrepreneur exited a corporate finance role that paid her six figures to pursue entrepreneurship and become a baker. Since age 9, Anderson envisioned this career path, making treats for her family, ILITCH Companies News Hub mentioned. “I have always loved doing things with my hands. I think that’s why I love working with doughs like yeast rolls, cinnamon rolls, and biscuits. I am a hands-on learner,” she told Food & Wine in 2019. Anderson launched Good Cakes and Bakes, alongside Michelle Anderson, her spouse and co-owner, in 2013 in Detroit, MI. Their joint efforts earned the shop national recognition for its organic desserts and baked goods. By July 2023, they launched a second store in Detroit, MI. “We are thrilled to expand our presence [in] Detroit,” said Anderson at the time, per ILITCH Companies News Hub. “Columbia Street is a great opportunity to expose visitors and locals to our...
A donation has been made to the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation to benefit the youth. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Clark County commissioners in Las Vegas, Nevada, have approved a vote to donate a 4.81-acre parcel of vacant land to the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation to build a new Boys & Girls Club. The Clark County location is projected to cost $16 million and will “provide youth with academic and personal development resources,” according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Additionally, it aims to support college and career readiness opportunities. At the time of this writing, it is unclear when the foundation will break ground on the project. However, once the new Boys & Girls Club is complete, the foundation’s obligations will include providing Clark County with annual reports on what programs are available, insights on fundraising efforts, and logistics regarding how many clients it has serviced, The Blast reports. The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation was created in 2019 to...
Two Black women are entering into business to help other Black- and woman-owned businesses thrive. Aya House According to Crain’s Detroit Business, Nina Love and Tequion Brookins are opening Aya House, a 3,000-square-foot co-working space that will be a home to other businesses. The founders also will donate a portion of monthly proceeds to a nonprofit. The space will be located at 2055 Gratiot Ave in the Eastern Market area of Detroit, MI, and open towards the end of August. The founders are fueling the venture with their background knowledge as well as their respective experience in hospitality (Love’s The Love Experience) and event production (Brookins’ Tequion Brookins LLC). It will also be supported through a $130,000 investment from the founders in addition to a $40,000 cash grant from Motor City Match. As for what customers can expect, there will be monthly and annual memberships available. Additionally, private events can be held at the location for a rate of $300 per hour,...
Could Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter have the Midas touch when it comes to the startups he touches? It depends on who you’re asking. If you ask food tech innovation company — HUNGRY — the answer could be “yes” as the Hip-Hop billionaire-backed startup has once again found its way to the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies list. It has managed to disrupt the food tech industry by providing corporate America with both amazing food and event solutions from top local chefs and restaurants. “It’s an incredible feat for a company focused on the corporate catering and events, especially given the last 2 1/2 years with the COVID pandemic,” said the company in a statement. “This year, HUNGRY came in at No. 1,218 on the 5,000-company list, making it part of the top 25 percent.”
Heinz has become a restaurant and household staple for decades. Now, the beloved brand continues to work toward a greater cause by teaming up with Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice to equip Black restaurant owners with the resources needed to win big. Thanks to a partnership between Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice, Heinz, as well as a plethora of bakers, chefs, and restaurant owners to offer grants that range between $15,000 and $25,000 to Black-owned food establishments as they work to scale and grow their businesses, a blog post revealed. “I really want to make sure that these Black-owned restaurants are seen, heard, and can build these legacy businesses,” said Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice Founder Cheryl Day. “From the heart, I want to make sure they are sustainable and that we’re offering what they need.” Heinz Black Kitchen Initiative is back for year 2 of championing and supporting Black-owned restaurants, eateries & food initiatives with our partners...