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Milan Harris, also known as Milan Rouge, has reached massive success, but that isn’t stopping her from manifesting her next move.
As faith leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers navigate the fast-shifting terrain of artificial intelligence, automation, and digital globalization, few figures have leaned into this moment with as much intentionality — or complexity — as Bishop T.D. Jakes. Known to many as a pastor, to others as a media mogul, and increasingly to investors and technologists as an ecosystem builder, Jakes is reasserting his role at the intersection of innovation, equity, and cultural capital. This is where his ongoing initiative, the Good Soil Forum, enters the chat. The conference, which has convened business owners, technologists, creatives, and investors for years, positions itself as a gathering and a long-term infrastructure. It reflects Jakes’ emphasis on sustainability, access to capital, and the kind of practical knowledge often kept behind institutional gates. What has shifted recently, however, is not the mission — but the moment. When Technology Hits Close To Home For Jakes In 2024,...
Calaxy wants creators to become more independent. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Calaxy is the brainchild of tech entrepreneur Solo Ceesay and NBA star Spencer Dinwiddie. It serves as a social marketplace where users can create more meaningful experiences to engage their fans. With the added benefit of direct-to-consumer monetization, Calaxy eliminates the need to rely solely on brand and advertising deals. In 2022, Calaxy raised $26 million in a funding round led by The HBAR Foundation and Animoca Brands, with participation from Polygon. A portion of the funding was dedicated to expanding into the Web3 space. Calaxy has since developed “Worlds, ” allowing creators on the decentralized social marketplace to customize no-code apps. These apps enable creators to set up shops to sell subscriptions and digital experiences directly to fans and customers, otherwise known as the “population.” Additionally, creators can access wallets that store cryptocurrencies and NFTs, according to...
Beatrice Dixon does not want to police how shoppers spend their dollars, but she acknowledges the risks of neglecting business owners on shelves. Dixon is the co-founder, CEO, and chief innovation officer of The Honey Pot Company, which is a plant-based feminine-care company that sells washes, wipes, and pads. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, she experienced chronic vaginal issues, which prompted her to create a vulva-safe formula that she grew into a business in 2014 with the support of a $21,000 loan. The company scaled to more than 33,000 stores across the nation, including retailers like Target, Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens. In January 2024, the company was acquired by Compass Diversified in a deal valued at $380 million. Dixon maintains a significant minority stake in the business. Part of The Honey Pot Company’s success can be attributed to its strong presence in retail stores. However, there is a shift among consumers to be more strategic about where they spend their dollars...
According to BizBuySell’s Confidence Index , a tool created to examine how roughly 3,000 members of the business-owner and -buyer community feel about the current sales market, confidence is up for both groups for the first time since they began measuring in 2013. Seller confidence is up four points, and buyer confidence is up two, from 46 to 50 and 52 to 54 respectively. With those sentiments on the rise, some might feel that it’s the right time to sell their business, hopefully turning a profit. Therein arrives the big question: how do you price a business for sale? Pricing a business for sale is one of the most critical steps in the selling process. Whether you’re a business owner looking to retire or an entrepreneur wanting to cash out, determining the right price is essential for attracting potential buyers while ensuring that you get a fair value for all your hard work. It’s important to approach the task with careful analysis and a clear understanding of both the market and...
Nike, Inc . is one of the most iconic brands in the world, known for its athletic footwear, apparel, and sports equipment. As a publicly traded company, Nike’s market capitalization (market cap) serves as an important indicator of its size and economic standing within the global market. Market cap is calculated by multiplying a company’s current stock price by the number of shares outstanding. This value is used by investors to gauge a company’s overall worth in the market and can fluctuate based on stock price movements and overall market conditions. Understanding Market Cap Before diving into Nike’s current market cap, it’s important to understand what this metric represents. Market cap is one of the simplest and most commonly used measures to estimate the value of a company. It is broken down into three categories: large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap, with large-cap companies like Nike representing those valued over $10 billion. A higher market cap generally indicates a more stable...
A college student turned entrepreneur recently turned down a $300,000 offer on “Shark Tank,” a decision he credits to trusting his gut. Kobe Harris, then a student at Loyola University Chicago, launched his lip balm company, Kobee’s, from his bedroom in 2019 while researching sustainability and bees for a college project, CNBC reported . With $200 from his mom, he ordered ingredients on Amazon and started experimenting with simple formulas, using beeswax, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and mango butter, according to CNBC. Kobee’s offerings now includes lotion, lip scrub, cuticle butter, and hand salve — all packaged in eco-friendly, compostable materials and priced from $5 to $42. The company primarily sells through Amazon and its direct-to-consumer website, and once generated $15,000 in sales in only a day. Appearing on the Nov. 1 episode of “Shark Tank,” Harris sought a $300,000 investment in exchange for 6% equity, looking for mentorship and support in scaling distribution. Kendra...
If you’re a fitness nut, you’re likely already aware of the El Segundo, California-based multi-level marketing company Beachbody. The company, which operates a number of affiliate entities including Shakeology and Beachbar supplements, as well as Beachbody On Demand and MYXfitness live-coaching has recently announced a major shift in their business model. The company’s new approach sees them moving full-steam ahead towards profitable growth , as they eschew their MLM framework for a more streamlined single-level affiliate program, in a bid to appeal directly to their highest-spending consumers. Essentially, this cuts out the middle man, and allows those interested in taking video courses or purchasing supplements to meet their corporate supplier right at the source. Given that the company is projected to experience exponential growth with their new streamlined approach, it only makes sense to examine Beachbody’s history, current net worth, and plan for the future. This should give...
The 2024 NFL is in full swing, but players are still finalizing deals and securing contracts. One of the most lucrative deals recently announced was that of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott entered the league in 2016 as the round four, 135th pick. In the 2023-2024 season, he completed 410 passes for 4,516 yards and 36 touchdowns. This level of play has made him a mainstay for the Cowboys organization, prompting high-level negotiations for his most recent contract. According to Spotrac data, Prescott inked a four-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys worth $240 million. The contract includes a $80 million signing bonus and guarantees totaling $231 million, with an average annual income of $60 million. For the 2024 season, Prescott is set to receive a base salary of $1.25 million, along with the $80 million signing bonus. The contract extension was completed after the season-opener vs. the Cleveland Browns. However, the 31-year-old athlete didn’t let the lingering deal...
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has been in the news lately after signing a legendary four-year contract extension worth $240 million. He’s obviously one of the highest-paid athletes in the NFL today , but not every player is lucky enough to bring home such massive paychecks. 25-year-old Jordan Mason is already shining on the field for the 2024 season, but some think that his $985K salary doesn’t seem fair in comparison to his performance. Who Is The 49ers Backup Running Back? (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) Mason was born on May 24, 1999 in Gallatin, Tennessee. Before his professional career began, he played college football at Georgia Tech from 2017 to 2021. Even as a freshman, the running back was a force to be reckoned with, collecting 108 carries for 659 yards and seven touchdowns at the time. Instead of going the traditional NFL Draft route, Mason was signed by the San Francisco in 49ers as a backup to their star running back, Christian McCaffrey in 2022....
Kenneth Duncan has secured a partnership with the PGA TOUR Superstore for his golf brand. Launched in Atlanta, GA, in 2019, Renegade Golf was born after Duncan saw a lack of diversity and innovation in golf marketing and country club environments, according to the company website. Duncan carries more than 15 years of experience as a golfer and nearly four years working as a management consultant for Accenture. He bootstrapped the golf venture and also tagged his business partner Drew McLeod for its vision, which formed initially as a direct-to-consumer golf bag company, Forbes reports. “A bag can really show off your identity and who you are—like an art piece. Almost all our bags are customized because that’s how the PGA TOUR players do it. You have your name, a logo and something that represents you,” Duncan told the outlet. Renegade Golf favored well among Black Greek Organizations and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The brand overall caters to amateur golfers and...
Jerry Rice’s daughter Jaqui Rice Gold and the NFL Hall of Famer share more than being immediate family. The father-daughter duo is behind energy drink company G.O.A.T. Fuel, a venture founded alongside Jaqui’s husband, Trevion Gold, who serves as chief brand officer. The company distinguishes itself by incorporating adaptogens into beverages, such as the fusion of cordyceps mushrooms. According to WebMD, cordyceps helps improve energy, strength, immunity, and kidney function. The fungi’s health benefits initially attracted Jaqui to enter the beverage industry while working on a beauty tech startup in 2018. At the time, caffeine became a go-to drink for Jaqui and Trevion. However, its consumption led them to experience the adverse effects of some drinks, like feeling the “jitters” and eventually a decline in energy. “We just started talking as a family. I called my dad because he was a beverage investor. He had invested in CytoSport and Muscle Milk decades ago. We were telling him...
With hair care being a part of self-care and a cultural point of pride, the products that we use play a significant role in how we style, maintain, and stimulate the growth of our hair . The bond that we build with our products over time becomes unbreakable. We suggest them to our friends and family, snagging them when we’re running low, or they’re randomly on sale. They become a part of us. Like the products of years past, Mielle has gained a similar familiarity amongst their audience combining ingredients to create something effective and inviting. Now, as they find themselves in the middle of continued, major success, we’re taking a trip down memory lane. How did Mielle get started? Let’s look into the details of the brand’s journey. In 2013, Founder and CEO of Mielle Monique Rodriguez suffered the loss of her son. She’d always had a passion for beauty and hair despite developing a career in nursing. Devastation inspired her to reach within towards self-care. She saw how mixing...
Six-year-old Taurian Collins is among the most intelligent in the world. KNOE-8 in Monroe, LA, reports the young Louisiana student began reading at just 2 years old. Remarkably, he also triumphed over challenges with both speech and hearing at the tender age. “He wasn’t really talking. He was ‘mama, dada’ and that was a little iffy. I don’t think he was saying 10 words,” Taurian’s mother, Jessica Collins, told KNOE-8. After a visit to the pediatrician, Jessica would learn her son needed his adenoid glands taken out and tubes placed in his ears, areas that can often become inflamed due to sinus or allergy issues, per Mayo Clinic. Within three months, Taurian showed great improvement. “He has not stopped talking since,” she expressed. Taurian’s aptitude for learning was not only displayed within the confines of his home, but at school as well. Due to his results on tests, he applied and was accepted into Mensa, a high-IQ society. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the organization...