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Black people deserve more seats at the table in tech, and Sean Mendy is on a mission to make it possible! Sean Mendy is the co-founding partner of Concrete Rose, a company that invests financial and social capital into groundbreaking ventures led by underrepresented founders of color. They are also committed to founders who have demonstrated a solid commitment to creating inclusive cultures and building out diverse teams. Mendy’s journey is often unheard of as he grew up in Silicon Valley and is now taking his knowledge to help equip Black people with more access to positions in the tech space.
Lil Yachty is about to have all of our manis and pedis looking right! According to REVOLT, the Quality Control rapper is set to launch Crete a gender-neutral nail polish line designed for both men and women. “I’d like to introduce my new nail paint line @crete_co,” said Lil Yachty in an Instagram post. “FIRST COLOR DROP MAY 21. 4 ALL GENDERS. FOR YOU, NOT THEM! Through Crete, the rapper hopes to inspire people of all genders to express themselves freely! View this post on Instagram A post shared by ^CONCRETE BOY BOAT^ ?? (@lilyachty) Nail polish has always been a way for the rapper to express himself and he has been seen rocking an assortment of nail polish colors and nail art designs so it was a no-brainer for him to develop his own line. This announcement comes just a year after his public support of 17-year-old Trevor Wilkinson who was punished with in-school suspension at Clyde High School in West Texas for wearing nail polish in school last November. Wilkinson said in a...
This Kenyan entrepreneur is the brains behind the company that transforms plastic waste into bricks that are built to last. According to Black Business, Nzambi Matee is a materials engineer and founder of Gjenge Makers. After being frustrated by the government’s actions or lack thereof, with the issue of plastic pollution, Matee took matters into her own hands. “I was tired of being on the sidelines,” said Matee in an interview with Reuters. Since 2018, Gjenge Makers has processed various types of plastic waste like high-density polyethylene, used in shampoo and milk bottles; polypropylene, used for flip-top lids, buckets, and rope; and low-density polyethylene, used as bags for sandwiches or cereals into durable bricks that are just as good as those that are made from concrete. The only material that she does not work with is polyethylene terephthalate or PET, which is commonly used for plastic bottles. Not only has she managed to turn waste into something good, but Matee also used...
The roster of major corporations committing to fighting against racial injustice in America is continuously growing. Google announced that they’ve created a $175 million fund for racial equity initiatives with a large focus on supporting Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. Today we are announcing a set of concrete commitments to build sustainable equity for Google’s Black community, and make our products and programs helpful in the moments that matter most to Black users. https://t.co/6qcDBHOU61 — Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) June 17, 2020 Google and Alphabet chief Sundar Pichai revealed these initiatives that will aim to create more economic opportunities for Black entrepreneurs and finance their businesses. “Creating meaningful change starts within our own company,” he stated in a company-wide memo. “Strengthening our commitment to racial equity and inclusion will help Google build more helpful products for our users and the world.” Within this memo, he outlined each...
Kylian Mbappé has added a team to his growing investment portfolio. Forbes named the French and Real Madrid soccer player among the richest athletes in 2024, with an estimated total earnings of $110 million. It appears he is putting his earnings to good use by investing in the luxury watch-shopping platform Wristcheck, which Jay-Z also backs. According to Robb Report, Mbappé’s interest in the company stemmed from their innovation in technology and creativity. “I’m thrilled to join Wristcheck as an investor through Coalition Capital,” Mbappé said in a press statement, according to the outlet. “As a Hublot ambassador and someone passionate about watches and innovation, I see Wristcheck as a platform that truly understands the next generation of collectors. They’re reshaping the watch industry with a forward-thinking approach that blends technology, transparency, and creativity.” More recently, Mbappé became a team owner. He secured a stake in the France SailGP Team, which is owned by...
Owning a small business is an achievement that demonstrates initiative, leadership, and problem-solving—skills that employers highly value. However, many entrepreneurs struggle with how to present their business experience on a resume when transitioning back to a traditional job. Some worry that hiring managers won’t see small business ownership as relevant, while others fear their resume won’t align with corporate job descriptions. The key is to position your business experience strategically by showcasing transferable skills, aligning responsibilities with the job you’re applying for, and addressing potential employer concerns. When done correctly, it can set you apart as a candidate who is resourceful, adaptable, and capable of taking ownership of major responsibilities. Why Listing Business Ownership On A Resume Matters Many jobseekers hesitate to include their small business experience on a resume, but leaving it off can be a mistake. Running a business requires skills that...
If you’ve been keeping up with the news regarding emerging technology such as generative artificial intelligence , you’re likely already aware of popular services such as ChatGPT and Meta AI. While these models have been disrupting the tech space for the last few years, one relative newcomer, DeepSeek, has recently made major waves and completely shifted the cultural perspective on the financial and computational requirements of artificial intelligence. Per reports, DeepSeek showcases a nearly identical generative capability when compared to GPT-4o, despite costing a fraction of the price to develop. Within days of hitting the American market, DeepSeek has decimated multiple major stock prices for companies including Nvidia, Microsoft and Meta. The headline-grabbing service has left investors and general consumers alike scrambling to catch up, asking questions about how this is all possible. Since DeepSeek is receiving such massive attention, now seems like as good a time as any to...
South African billionaire Elon Musk is known for his desire to swallow up companies and rebrand them with his own trendy vision. The Tesla CEO previously used his familial wealth to purchase stakes in such businesses as PayPal, SpaceX and of course, X (formerly Twitter). Now, according to official statements made by the Trump administration cabinet pick, the emerald mine profiteer is considering buying the rights to Vine, a defunct app which predates TikTok . This would be a major development in the world of social media, since the latter is still potentially facing a long-term ban within the United States, unless the app’s parent company ByteDance can agree to divest to American financial interests. When prompted by a fellow X user about bringing Vine back into the fray to fill in the power vacuum left by TikTok, Musk simply responded, “We’re looking into it.” So, now seems like as good a time as any to examine what Vine is (or was), how Elon could bring it back to compete with...
Financial changes can be stressful, especially when you’re nervous about a pay cut or job loss. You know you need to do something to make yourself happier, but execution isn’t always there. You might want a career change altogether with your current employer. Or, maybe you want to start your own business and are feeling confined in your current industry . New Year’s resolutions are a common time when people reflect on both. No one wants to start the year with an employer that they don’t like or at a job where they feel unfulfilled. Could asking motivational interviewing questions be what you need to figure out your career long-term? What Are The 6 A’s Of Motivational Interviewing? Motivational interviewing questions started off with a connection in the health care industry. In the clinical trial report Do the five A’s work when physicians counsel about weight loss? from 2011, physicians would often participate in the Ask and the Advise but rarely continue on with the Assess, Assist...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Overhyped tech sectors of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence have seen a recent resurgence in the past year. Most of AI’s rise can be attributed to the hype and fear that surrounds its use. If you ask OpenAI CEO Sam Altman his thoughts, he’ll tell you that AI is needed to bring us into the future, but to scientists like Dr. Joy Buolamwini who approaches the use of AI cautiously, its lack of regulation can prove harmful to people of color. Despite doubts about the use of AI technology, it’s become almost ubiquitous in culture. Students have used ChatGPT for essay assignments, workers are using ChatGPT to write emails , and others have suggested using AI to create something as simple as grocery lists and corresponding menus. But even as AI and cryptocurrency continue to experience unprecedented growth, experts predict that AI will reach its peak in 2025 and then burst. Still, a second Donald...
Milwaukee Area Technical College’s DEI officer is suing the institution. Eva Martinez Powless took on her newly created role at the Milwaukee, WI-based institution in 2021. Her immediate course of action was to launch a five-year diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) plan, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The plan began rolling out in 2022 and was shared with the African American Network, the Anti-Racism Coalition, and the Latinx United Network Alliance (LUNA). Despite these efforts, she claims there was still pushback surrounding DEI efforts on the campus. She alleges that her former manager, Phillip King, the executive vice president of student success at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), had displayed “unprofessional” and “inappropriate” behavior after she voiced observing patterns of misconduct towards employees of color, per the outlet. Martinez Powless claims that she was subsequently excluded from important meetings, King scrutinized her work more closely, and...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Americans aren’t the only ones prepping for another tedious four years under President-elect Donald Trump. Since the results of the 2024 election projected Donald Trump as the winner, tech leaders from companies like Meta, Amazon, OpenAI, and others have shelled out seven-figure investments to Trump’s inaugural fund. According to CBS News, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has donated $1 million and plans to stream the inauguration on Prime. Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, will donate $1 million, along with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who delivered an optimistic statement about the President-elect’s election win. “President Trump will lead our country into the age of AI, and I am eager to support his efforts to ensure America stays ahead,” Altman said in a statement, per The Associated Press. Elon Musk, CEO of X, Tesla, and SpaceX, and general pop culture menace has been a lurking presence...
There is no right or wrong pathway to fulfilling your dreams. With so many options, from traditional education to finding resources on apps like YouTube and TikTok, people have several ways they can tap into how they begin or pivot into the working path of their dreams. Within this ecosystem are also groups providing traditional education alternatives like accelerators and development programs that allow people from diverse backgrounds to have a leg up in industries. NPower exists within this ecosystem and is doing its part to ensure those who want access to tech have it. According to the company website, NPower’s mission is to “create pathways to economic prosperity by launching digital careers for military veterans and young adults from underserved communities.” However, there are nuanced hurdles that women experience, leading the company to launch Command Shift. The goal is to increase the number of women entering the tech industry by focusing on three key areas: attract and...
Fans of college basketball are likely already familiar with rising star Somtochukwu “Somto” Cyril, who made national headlines while playing in the Overtime Elite program . The Nigerian native currently plays center for the Georgia Bulldogs, and recently appears as a front-and-center subject of the Amazon Prime Video docu-series One Shot: Overtime Elite . Since Cyril has been making waves on the court in recent months, it only makes sense that many fans from across the globe are wondering about his current net worth, especially as he takes on multiple NIL deals ahead of his expected come-up into the NBA. For now, there are no concrete numbers to confirm Somto Cyril’s exact net worth, though we can estimate that it’s likely in the ball park of six figures. Even the experts at College Net Worth don’t have a comprehensive figure; their site states “As of now, Somtochukwu Cyril’s exact net worth is not publicly available.” Regardless, the 19-year-old shooter is well on his way to...