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Longtime supporters of advancing Black tech talent have publicly announced they’re backing Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race. The Information reports that Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz disclosed to their employees that the leading VC firm is set “to make large donations to political action committees supporting the election of Donald Trump.” In addition, the outlet reports that prior to Andreessen and Horowitz’s announcement of donating to Trump’s PACs, the two hadn’t publicly shown support for him. According to TechCrunch, Andreessen was previously a long-time Democrat. However, he departed from the Democratic Party and sided with Trump based on the former president’s tech policies. Moreover, Horowitz co-signed the reasoning during the duo’s podcast, “The Ben & Marc Show,” per TechCrunch. “I wish we didn’t have to pick a side,” Horowitz said. “We literally [believe] the future of our business, the future of technology, and the...
Bobby Wagner is planning for life after the league. Sportico reports that the Washington Commanders linebacker is currently signed to a one-year deal with the team reportedly worth $8.5 million. He negotiated the contract without an agent, winning the praise of Magic Johnson, who is a limited partner of the Washington Commanders. The 34-year-old joined the league in 2012 and was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks. He remained with the team for his first 10 seasons and went to eight straight Pro Bowls, ESPN reports. He then played for the Los Angeles Rams in 2022 and returned to the Seattle Seahawks in 2023 before landing with the Washington Commanders in 2024. Throughout his time in the league, Wagner has taken full advantage of opportunities off the court. Inspired by his mother who worked in the finance industry, he majored in business entrepreneurship and is working on his MBA at Howard University, per Sportico. He has made calculated investing moves, such as purchasing stakes in...
When it comes to turning dreams into reality, hard work, dedication, perseverance, and opportune moments are more critical to success than an arbitrary timeline based on age. However, society continues to pressure people to grind harder and rest less, as if patience isn’t a virtue. History has proven that time is only a construct, noting that it is never too late to manifest dreams. Whether they had a breakout moment in their late 20s or figured out the secret formula in their 30s, these celebrities prove that dreams never expire. Jay-Z The 54-year-old rap legend didn’t have his breakout moment until he dropped his first album, Reasonable Doubt , at age 26. He is now an accomplished billionaire in the music game, with several businesses and investments in his portfolio. Lupita Nyong’o View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lupita Nyong’o (@lupitanyongo) Many people’s first introduction to Nyong’o was her performance in the critically acclaimed film “12 Years A Slave.” Although...
In any sports competition, coaches go into each game with a specific strategy. From determining who will be a part of the starting lineup to tricking plays to throw the opponent off, every game is built with tools to ensure the team’s success. But what happens when the tried-and-true approach to the game no longer works? For the more traditional and antiquated coaches, they will more than likely stick to the routine, hoping everything will work itself out. However, for those who desire to see change on the fields or courts, the coach will implement a new strategy and approach aimed at getting the results they’ve planned for. The same can be paralleled in the world of tech. Although the industry is experiencing challenging times due to the current job climate, the field still suffers from diversity. According to a 2023 McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility report, Black people represent 12% of the United States workforce, while only 8% hold tech jobs. The people at...
Drake hasn’t ceased to pump out hits since his debut into the music industry. His music is everywhere, which is why one of his latest milestones shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Variety reports that the rapper has become Shazam’s all-time most searched artist. Falling on the music platform’s 20th birthday, it announced that Drake has a record of 350 million Shazams. Among his long-running discography, “One Dance” featuring Wizkid and Kyla has the most searches at more than 17 million. While Drake took the top spot for artists, Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” came in as the most Shazamed song using “2580” — the app’s first version of its tool that used SMS messages to identify songs. Additionally, “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton was the most searched song for Hip-Hop/Rap and “All of Me” by John Legend for R&B/soul. Drake’s Shazam feat comes on the heels of becoming the artist with the most top five hits in Billboard Hot 100 history , with 30, according to...
It’s been far too long since we’ve had a new music release from Dr. Dre. The last time the NWA legend-turned- billionaire magnate dropped some new music was 2015’s “Compton,” which was released alongside the biopic “Straight Outta Compton.” Now, Snoop Dogg says that our wait for greatness is over. In a recent appearance on Rolling Stone’s Music Now podcast, the Doggfather said that the music Dr. Dre will be releasing will be through the “Grand Theft Auto” game franchise. And, as he’s done in the past, Snoop Dogg himself will be part of the music. “I do know he’s in the studio,” he said to the podcast. “I do know he’s making great f–king music. And some of his music is connected to the GTA game that’s coming out. So I think that that will be the way that his music will be released, through the GTA video game.” While Snoop didn’t say which game Dr. Dre would be releasing his new music on, HipHopDX reports that Rockstar Games will be releasing two titles tied to the game. The first,...
This Juneteenth, it’s not only important to commemorate the value of Black liberation, but health and wellness as well — according to this New York city-based fitness club. Blaque — known as the first luxury fitness experience designed by Black people, for Black people — understands that our community has specific needs for wellness services because of the disproportionate rate at which preventable diseases affect us. This is what prompted the platform to launch The BLAQUE Movement App — the first all-in-one fitness app that caters to Black people. “Our mission [at BLAQUE] is to help Black people live their best lives through optimal fitness and wellness,” the company shares. “Our app-driven coaching program is built by fitness and wellness professionals and provides a customized, interactive and focused approach on cultivating members’ optimal well-being.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by BLAQUE.INC (@blaque.inc) According to BLAQUE, the new app’s features include...
Now that marijuana is finally becoming legalized in several states across the United States, the cannabis industry is booming at a rapid rate — and celebrities are getting in on the fun too. Over the last couple of months, we’ve seen a huge uptick in Black and brown entrepreneurs who have tried their hand at entering the weed marketplace in an effort to further diversify the industry. With this in mind, many Black celebrities are also cashing into the lucrative business and have even established initiatives to help other aspiring Black entrepreneurs finally capitalize off a system that has fought tooth and nail to criminalize them for what’s now considered very legal. Check out the celebrities who have successfully dived into the cannabis industry below: Jay-Z Hip Hop legend and esteemed businessman Jay-Z has always been a supporter of Black liberation and entrepreneurship. This is why he’s gotten so involved in the cannabis industry through the launch of his own brand, Monogram,...
The days of men being the face of the spirits industry are behind us as women are being ushered to the forefront and making their mark along the way. Black women specifically have found a way to become trailblazers in this space as they’re not only the owners behind some of today’s most popular spirits brands, they’ve also managed to build successful businesses based on powerful origin stories. As we celebrate Women’s History Month this year, we’re also honoring the Black women who are becoming leaders across the spirits industry and breaking barriers with their brands. Check out the below spirit brands and the powerful Black women owners behind them: AVEC Drinks Courtesy of AVEC Drinks AVEC Drinks was founded by Bronx native Dee Charlemagne and U.K. native Alex Doman and successfully launched on the market in June 2020 amid the pandemic. Within its first four months, AVEC managed to bring in roughly $100,000 in revenue, selling through its first batch of 40,000 cans. AVEC is...
Each February, Black History Month in the United States sends a (much-needed) reminder that Black Americans didn’t just help build this country — our history is American history. For Cloudflare, an Internet infrastructure security company, amplifying Black voices is something it strives to do 365 days a year. “Black History Month is a time to call attention to and highlight these stories and individuals that are often left out or forgotten. We have the opportunity to bring those stories into the light,” says Cloudflare Software Engineer Sieh Johnson. Since joining Cloudflare almost two years ago, Johnson has carved out a successful career as a full stack Software Engineer and the Global Lead of Afroflare , the company’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) to empower Black employees and allies. Her drive stems from her multicultural upbringing. “I come from a very diverse background; my mother is from Liberia in West Africa, and my dad is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I grew up straddling...
When talking about Maya Penn, the question to ask isn’t “what does she do?” The better question is, “what doesn’t she do?” At just 21-years-old, the Atlanta native is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, animator, artist, and CEO. She’s spoken at the TEDWomen event in San Francisco, which was subsequently broadcast live on TED’s official website — after which she did both a TEDx Talk and two official TEDTalks. She’s an animator and an artist, and was named to Oprah Winfrey’s SuperSoul 100 list of visionaries and influential leaders in 2016. Maya Penn is, in a word, a force of nature. But though she’s known as the CEO of Maya’s Ideas — a sustainable fashion company that she established long before it became chic to up-cycle clothes and accessories — she makes it clear that she prefers to be known for her work outside the industry. “The fashion, while enjoyable, is just one part of a bigger picture,” she told AfroTech. “I’m happy I’m able to do Maya’s Ideas. But what’s more important to...
Afro Sheen’s latest campaign is helping entrepreneurs get paid. According to PR Newswire, The brand created the #IDoWhatIDo digital campaign to celebrate the beauty, creativity, and unique style of Black culture. “The #IDoWhatIDo digital campaign focuses on the effortless style and authenticity of the Black community,” said the company in a press release. “Known for pushing the boundaries, Afro Sheen products are designed for the everyday trendsetters and culture creators who stamp their mark of individuality on everything they touch. This campaign aims to highlight the creative community of Afro Sheen consumers who stand out in their own way, whether fro’d, braided up, or twisted out. Afro Sheen will work with a band of creators to share their personal style stories, with a focus on strengthening advocacy among men and empowered Gen-Z consumers.” The haircare brand is also teaming up with Black Girl Ventures, a nonprofit organization that ignites civic engagement and hyperlocal...
Women of color-led venture capital fund, WOCstar Fund, just announced that Jon Gosier — named one of the 25 most influential African-Americans in Technology by Business Insider — has invested in the fund. Not only will Gosier now make up the list of major investors, but he will also serve in an advisory capacity, reports PR Newswire. “The WOCstar team has a clear sightline to where the next market leaders in innovation are, what they are building, and more importantly where capital should be deployed,” shared Gosier, who is the founder and CEO of Southbox Entertainment, in a written statement. “I’m honored and excited to be invested in the fund and part of the WOCstar family.” Gosier has spent the last decade wearing hats as an investor and entrepreneur building tech companies to the acquisition, particularly with a focus on analytics and data. He is also a published author and the producer of many films using the tolerance for risk learned during his tenure as a tech founder and...
In honor of Black History Month, 24-year-old entrepreneur, investor, and former Morehouse College student Bryce Thompson is putting action behind his philanthropic work to award $100,000 total in scholarships to 10 HBCU students. According to a press release, Thompson’s scholarship efforts — powered by his IAMS Foundation and support from the Scholly app — launched last Fall with a goal to ease HBCU students’ burden of college tuition amid several world-changing crises such as the global health pandemic, racial violence, and skyrocketing unemployment. Upon receiving hundreds of applications, Thompson has chosen 10 students to receive these charitable scholarships with a surprise hometown visit from Thompson himself. The scholarship winners include Jalen Robinson (Morehouse), Tate Toole (Morehouse), Robert Pinkney (Morehouse), Je’Von James Tone (Texas Southern University), Miles Smith (Bethune-Cooke University), Kaleb Perkins (Livingstone College), Daisha Green (Philander Smith...
Sneaker culture has become a widespread phenomenon in the digital age that was brought to life via the internet. Sneakerheads have existed long before digital media became popularized, but platforms such as Instagram, Tumblr, and others gave them a place to thrive and connect. Though sneaker culture continues to grow and expand through different avenues, one thing remains unchanged — women, especially Black women, are still fighting their way into the “boys club.” “I’ve noticed that Black women, rather than waiting for major corporations to co-sign them, are actually creating their own spaces, platforms and events,” shared Robyn Mowatt — former sneaker columnist/ associate editor at HYPEBAE and current OkayPlayer staff writer. “This means that they’re taking control of their narratives and also making space for the next generation of young women to have ownership of streetwear/sneaker culture on their own terms,” she added. No longer needing approval from the industry’s gatekeepers,...