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Kevin Hart is aligning himself with an initiative to support Black founders using artificial intelligence (AI). The AI Illumination Grant has been launched by the Fifteen Percent Pledge, a nonprofit advocacy organization founded by Aurora James. The initiative challenges retailers and corporations to allocate 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned brands. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, 29 retailers have committed to this pledge, benefiting 800 Black-owned brands . The Fifteen Percent Pledge is scaling its efforts to support Black entrepreneurs with the aid of Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz’s (A16z) Cultural Leadership Fund. Eligible members of the Fifteen Percent Pledge’s Business Equity Community are invited to apply for a chance to gain insights on leveraging AI and compete for a share of a $35,000 grant pool—$20,000 for the winner and $15,000 for the runner-up. “It is specifically focused on ensuring that the Black founders that are a part of the 15%...
If you’ve been following the stock market in recent days you may already be familiar with SoftBank, a multinational internet services and investment firm operating out of Japan. The business has received a ton of press since Monday morning after CEO Masayoshi Son announced a proposed $100 billion in investments over the next four calendar years. This plan, which was developed in collaboration with the incoming Trump administration , is projected to create 100,000 new jobs within the United States, particularly in artificial intelligence and similar internet-based infrastructure. Per the Wall Street Journal , SoftBank’s stock (SFTBY) received a massive bump in the day following the announcement, accounting for a 4.4 percent rise in the Japanese market and a 1.3 percent rise on the New York Stock Exchange . To better understand exactly what this means for our country, infrastructure and the stock market of today, we’ll have to take a moment to examine SoftBank’s business model and...
Today, Black comedians are among the most celebrated and widely recognized names in the entertainment industry – but it wasn’t always that way. Just a few decades ago, it was rare for People of Color to see themselves represented on TV, but all that changed thanks to the work of Keenen Wayans. The 66-year-old comes from a family of funny (and talented) people , including siblings Damon, Kim, Shawn and Marlon. While he got into Tuskegee University on an engineering scholarship , Wayans dropped out one semester before graduating to focus on comedy. After moving to California and learning the tricks of the trade from Robert Townsend, the Harlem native never looked back. For Almost 45 Years, Keenen Wayans Has Been A Pioneer In Black Comedy (Photo by Pool DENIZE/PELLETIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) Keenen Wayans was in his early 20s when he headed out west, but it didn’t take long for him to find work. By 1982 he was making appearances on the hit TV series Cheers ; this was followed...
Gabby Thomas is a force to be reckoned with. Olympic Champion The track star and Harvard University alum just won her first gold medal at the 2024 Olympics for the 200-meter sprint on Aug. 6, 2024. She finished with an impressive time of 21.83 seconds, NBC News mentions. “You prepare for this moment and train so hard for this moment, but when it actually comes, it’s indescribable,” Thomas, 27, told the outlet. “I never would have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would become an Olympic gold medalist, and I am one. I’m still wrapping my head around that.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gabby Thomas (@gabbythomas) Making History As A Harvard Alum This isn’t Thomas’ first medal on the global stage. She has also earned a silver medal in Budapest, Hungary, at the 2023 World Championships and ahead of the Paris Olympics she won the 2024 London Diamond League, running a time of 21.82 seconds. In 2021, she earned a Bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, making history as the...
A glow-up is often defined as a critical point in a person’s life when things change for the better. And witnessing a person’s glow-up is inspiring and motivating for those following people for quite some time. One clear example of a glow-up with the culture standing on its proverbial feet is that of Quinta Brunson. Brunson, who was once known for her comedic skits and viral moments as a video producer for BuzzFeed, is an award-winning actress, director, and writer. Even before the BuzzFeed days, Brunson captivated audiences, displaying her comedic chops through impersonations. According to an interview with Glamour, Brunson would do impressions for her siblings while growing up in Philadelphia, PA. “Yeah, my brothers and sisters—they really liked to watch me imitate characters from their favorite shows. I don’t think I realized that I was doing impressions; it would just be like, “Quinta, say this.” And then I would say it, and I really enjoyed making them laugh,” Brunson stated....
Access to resources is one of the most significant barriers to entry for Black entrepreneurs. Whether it is a lack of funding or a gap in training, Black business owners have often found it challenging to tap into the same level of success–at the same rate– as some of their racial counterparts. Northwestern Mutual , a leading financial services company which has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 160 years, acknowledges this systemic challenge and is committed to investment opportunities that will help reduce the racial wealth gap. One program the company has stood up, its Black Founder Accelerator program, furthers its commitment to championing diversity, equity and inclusion. Based on recent research, Black founders receive less than two percent of venture capital funds. Northwestern Mutual is stepping in and offering each eligible entrepreneur a $100,000 investment and inclusion in a 12-week intensive program. As part of the accelerator,...
