As Americans race toward yet another nail-biter of a presidential election , things like inflation and cost of living continue to rise at a seemingly untenable rate. Many people have been forced to cut back on necessities, pay bills late or even resort to living in cars and tents to try to survive this stifling economic climate. After only a few short years, it seems as though the YOLO economy has officially come to an end. For those not in the loop, the YOLO economy was a period of prosperity borne of the COVID-19 pandemic , which allowed many Americans to spend with reckless abandon for a few short years. Now that the era of YOLO seems to be going the way of the dodo bird, it seems like as good a time as any to examine what the economic system entailed, where the term comes from, and why financial trends have shifted the landscape in the way that they have. Without any further preamble, let’s unpack the history of the YOLO years, and see if we can predict what comes next for those...

EquityCoin is not your average company using blockchain technology. In fact, they may be the only company that is not only Black and Latinx-owned but also uses the new technology to combat the homelessness crisis in America — with an ultimate goal to reach $1 billion in wealth in communities of color by the year 2030. In a press release announcement, EquityCoin revealed that their first step to creating equitable and affordable housing using blockchain technology was by creating a digital token. Its next phase of development involves the creation of what they’re calling EquityShare, which streamlines the tokenization process between the prospective unhoused buyer and real estate agents. The transactions will take place on the Ethereum -based blockchain. “By marrying blockchain technology and affordable housing, we will revitalize urban areas from coast to coast, building a more healthy, livable, and sustainable society. It’s not only important to do the work, but also to have the...

Following a successful run as a presenting partner of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), Google is making it official with the National Basketball Association (NBA). Through the partnership, Google presented search trends and analytics across digital and social platforms throughout the WNBA season, playoffs and finals. Now, the search engine giant will be expanding their partnership to officially work alongside the league, Boardroom reports. “Expanding our relationship with Google will enable fans to deepen their engagement with the game and their favorite teams during our landmark 75th Anniversary season and beyond,” says Kerry Tatlock, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing Partnerships and Media of the NBA in a press statement. As a part of the multi-year partnership, Google Pixel will become the official fan phone and first presenting partner of the NBA Playoffs, opening doors for the incorporation into ESPN, TNT and YouTube TV. In addition, the partnership...

Savage X Fenty, the lingerie line curated by international pop superstar Rihanna , has just announced that it’s closed a $115 million Series B funding round. According to Marketwatch, while this funding round — which was led by private-equity firm L Catterton — will be used to get the popular brand into brick-and-mortar stores, the news comes hot on the heels of the announcement that the high-end Fenty line, which was released in partnership with LVMH, will “pause” production. This, ultimately, has a two-fold meaning for Rihanna’s business ventures. Fenty’s “pausing” is indicative of the near-demise of high-end fashion in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, LVMH has said that it’s halting the production of the high-end line in the hopes that it can pick it up again when the availability presents itself. “Rihanna and LVMH have jointly made the decision to put on hold the ready-to-wear activity, pending better conditions,” a company spokesman said to WWD. However,...

London-based startup Gravity Sketch has raised $3.7 million in funding, TechCrunch reports . In a recent seed round, the company founded by Oluwaseyi Sosanya, Daniela Paredes, and Daniel Thomas received funding from Kindred Capital with participation from Point Nine Capital and previous investor Forward Partners. In addition, the startup previously received grant funding from InnovationRCA and the James Dyson Foundation., which brings the total amount raised by the company to $5.4 million. “Collaboration is increasingly important as time frames are shortened and consumers request products sooner, with more features, and produced more sustainably,” said Oluwaseyi Sosanya, CEO, according to TechCrunch. “There is also a surge in multinational companies growing globally distributed design and engineering teams, who need to stay connected in order to deliver with the same accuracy they once did being in the same location.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gravity Sketch...

On Friday (May 22), designer Anifa Mvuemba singlehandedly changed the fashion game. Her latest Hanifa collection, Pink Label Congo, debuted via Instagram Live using 3D models, who emulated the hip-swaying swagger and full-bodied beauty of Black women. The contemporary line was inspired by her hometown in the Congo, of which she debuted a film short about the issues facing the women and children of the country like illegal mining. Nevertheless, the innovative digital show transported viewers to the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a floor-sweeping silk gown, a wide-legged denim suit, an off-the-shoulder ruched top, and other jaw-dropping pieces that reference the delicate power and femininity of the women of the Congo. “I want these pieces to tell a story of meaning,” she told Teen Vogue . “I want them to remind us to be intentional about what we create. Not for clout or for Instagram likes, but for the sake of meaning what we say by storytelling through our designs.”...