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The rhythm of ambition often starts quietly—a hum of potential that builds into a bold symphony. For IntusCare, the journey began in the halls of Brown University, where co-founders Evan Jackson and Robbie Felton turned their vision for eldercare into reality, with Stevie Wonder’s song “Sir Duke,” setting the tone for their path forward. Much like a timeless Stevie Wonder groove that lingers long after the music fades, IntusCare’s journey from pitch competitions to industry innovation has been driven by harmony, persistence, and an unwavering belief in its mission. Rooted In Mission: A Personal Commitment To Equitable Care Founded five years ago, IntusCare set out to disrupt the healthcare status quo and deliver high-quality care to low-income older adults — a population often left behind by systemic inequities. Their mission is deeply anchored in serving diverse, marginalized communities, including Black, Latino, and Asian American populations, who have historically faced...
Technology has undeniably transformed the world as we know it. However, rapper-turned-entrepreneur, filmmaker, comedian, and more, Clifford “Tip” Harris, emphasizes that no matter how far innovation advances, it can never replace the human emotions that ignite creativity. During the 2024 AFROTECH™ Conference, Harris took the Innovation Stage to discuss technological advancements and how he has remained authentic to himself and the community he has served for over two decades. When he first arrived on the scene in 1996, he befriended fellow Atlanta rapper Big Kuntry King, selling mixtapes out of the trunk of their cars in hopes of making it big. Initially, he was known to the world as Tip before changing his stage name to T.I. Today, aside from music, his portfolio includes filmmaking, restaurateur, and more. As one of the trailblazers of trap music, he is also the founder of Atlanta’s Trap Music Museum, an interactive cultural space that celebrates the history, evolution, and impact...
In January 2023, Wes Moore became Maryland’s first Black governor as well as the 63rd person to serve in the state’s highest seat. Since his election, Moore has proposed several initiatives that his administration believes improve the overall quality of life for the state’s residents. During AFROTECH™ Conference 2024, Nov. 13-16, Moore brought some perspectives to the Innovation Stage , joining Jeff Nelson, co-founder and COO of Blavity Inc., for a fireside chat called “Work, Wages, and Wealth: State-Led Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact.” While there he discussed navigating Maryland’s political shift after a Republican administration and how his “work, wages, and wealth” mantra drives equitable economic growth. A core part of Moore’s administration is also working to fulfill his vision of making Maryland an innovation hub. Moore and his team have been building out that innovative approach since before the most recent election results. “We’ve been battle planning no matter what the...
Who ever thought the end of AFROTECH™ 2024 would evoke the feels of Boyz II Men’s classic “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday?” And now that AFROTECH™ has wrapped up, those lyrics hit differently as we say farewell to an unforgettable week. Houston, TX, welcomed 37,500 industry leaders for four days of groundbreaking discussions and networking. The city was buzzing with Black excellence — from entrepreneurs and tech innovators to corporate powerhouses, all owning their futures and reveling in the experience. Every day, attendees dived into immersive sessions that were as empowering as they were culturally on point. With a lineup of standout speakers — like Bun B, Tobe Nwigwe, will.i.am, Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins, Kendrick Sampson, Angelica Ross, and Rashad Robinson — AFROTECH™ made sure every moment was full of inspiration. AFROTECH™ Conference also showcased groundbreaking initiatives and discussions aimed at driving innovation, equity, and community empowerment. Angel...
AFROTECH™ Fam, the 2024 conference is here, and things are off to an amazing start to build the future we want to live in. As thousands of attendees land in Houston, TX, one of the first orders of business is picking up registration materials, which offer access to various learning sessions, impactful speakers, and limitless opportunities the conference has in store. This year’s convening is pivotal for Black tech innovators and inclusive tech companies. The annual gathering offers attendees a platform to engage in technical deep dives, participate in learning labs, and seize networking opportunities with industry leaders. It also aims to foster a community for Black tech professionals and provide dynamic programming on emerging trends as well as facilitate conversations with top tech recruiters. Wednesday’s opening of the Culture Park Stage, presented by Lexus (Nov. 13) , offers an immersive experience blending music, community, and diverse programming. The unique, inclusive...
As the 2024 AfroTech conference approaches, anticipation builds for the impactful discussions that will celebrate Black excellence in technology. This year, Capital One, a tech leader committed to fostering diversity and innovation, is taking center stage with an exciting workshop on technology and product management. At the helm of this dynamic session will be two visionary leaders, Alexandra “Alex” Wood, Vice President of Product, and Jared Jordan, Managing Vice President, both of whom are driving the future of tech at Capital One. Their leadership exemplifies the company’s commitment to nurturing Black talent and pushing boundaries in the tech landscape. Meet the Leaders: Alex Wood and Jared Jordan Alex Wood and Jared Jordan bring diverse experiences and unique perspectives to their roles at Capital One. For Wood, the journey to Capital One wasn’t a linear path but rather a discovery of passion. “Like every good daughter of an immigrant, I wanted to be a doctor or scientist, but...
With the 2024 presidential election right around the corner, we are going to take a look at how the two candidates take drastically different stances on tech. Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have supported policies that would impact how the tech industry can or cannot do business for years to come. Kamala Harris’ Impact On The Tech Industry During her time as vice president of the United States, Harris backed three key pieces of legislation that have impacted the tech industry. They are the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act. All of these acts were meant to spur different forms of economic growth here in the United States and bolster our own productivity vs. relying on foreign powers. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill in 2021 invested money into two categories of interest to founders and investors: energy and climate. In energy, some of the more notable companies would be the larger...
Betting on himself took Newark, NJ, native Vaughn Crowe from initially wanting to be more involved in finance as a career to being a managing partner of a VC firm. During his time working at philanthropist Ray Chambers’ family office, Wesray Social Investments, Crowe was a founding limited partner in Newark Venture Partners (NVP) — founded by Audible’s Don Katz — on behalf of the family office. At AFROTECH™ Executive Newark, Crowe recalled investing in NVP as he had a desire to be an entrepreneur. “ When the opportunity presented itself to go and run a fund and run a firm that I had backed as an investor, it was a natural transition for me doing what I was doing inside of a single-family office to becoming a fiduciary of a number of different investors and having responsibility for catalyzing next-generation software businesses and backing extraordinary founders,” Crowe shared in an interview with AFROTECH™. NVP focuses on health tech, industrial, and fintech with plans to build “a...
Three Black women graduates have been awarded a top prize. According to a press release provided to AFROTECH™, Central State University (Ohio) graduates Myesha Burnette, Shawntae Thompson, and Baijing Zinnerman, have received accolades for their research in material and process engineering. They grabbed top honors during the Midwest Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) Student Competition hosted at the University of Dayton Research Institute in Dayton, OH. SAMPE is a nonprofit organization and technical society that targets various areas of materials and processes (M&P), its website mentions. Among its initiatives includes aiding student chapters, providing information and forums, and offering scholarships and awards. “SAMPE provides growth and educational opportunities via conferences, exhibitions, technical forums, and publications. As the only technical society encompassing all fields of endeavor in materials and processes, SAMPE provides a...
Blavity Inc. has assembled a coalition of leaders to drive equity in technology. In a news release, the technology and news media company has shared it has formed the AFROTECH™ Advisory Board. The board will dedicate its focus to workplace equity and ensuring underrepresented employees, founders, and startups can obtain access to capital and economic mobility. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) “Mobilizing this consortium is a crucial move towards amplifying our impact and reach in creating a more equitable tech industry,” Morgan DeBaun, founder and CEO of Blavity Inc., said in a press statement. “Our concerted effort will focus on practical initiatives that not only enhance workplace equity but also promote significant access to capital and opportunities for our community’s members.” The AFROTECH™ Advisory Board includes representatives of Amazon, American Express, Black Economic Alliance, Chewy, GAP, Google, Infoblox, Jordan Brand, Lam Research,...
In the evolving business and technology landscape, innovation is a major marker of progress. However, ideas are often obstructed by hurdles that challenge the expansion of creativity. As organizations strive to pioneer new horizons, they frequently grapple with a phenomenon known as the “innovation stall.” Innovation stalls occur when the regular flow of creative ideas within an organization temporarily slows down or halts. This can result from factors like resistance to change, cultural issues, or resource constraints. Amidst these challenges , navigating the delicate balance between tradition and transformation becomes a crucial endeavor for organizations aiming to redefine the boundaries of what’s possible. What Is The Biggest Blocker To Innovation? Understanding the obstacles to innovation is pivotal for crafting effective strategies . Among the blockers, a prevalent one is resistance to change entrenched within organizational culture. Embracing innovation requires a fundamental...
Sony is betting big on Africa’s video game industry. According to a press release, Carry1st — an African game publisher and digital commerce platform established in 2018 by Cordel Robbin-Coker, Lucy Hoffman, and Tinotenda Mundangepfupfu — has scored a financial commitment from the Sony Innovation Fund, the venture capital arm of Sony Group Corporation. This follows nearly nine months of conversations between Robbin-Coker and the Sony Innovation Fund: Africa, per CNBC. Furthermore, this is the firm’s first investment in Africa and a strategic move as Sub-Saharan Africa’s gaming industry is projected to earn more than $1 billion in 2024, according to data from Newzoo and Carry1st shared in the press release. “We are excited to welcome Carry1st as our first investment in Africa,” said Antonio Avitabile, Managing Director – EMEA, Sony Ventures Corporation, in a news release. “We believe there is tremendous untapped potential for the gaming market in Africa, which we hope to experience...
The tech industry isn’t exempt from the phrase, “There’s enough room for everybody to win.” According to a Dice report, over 375,000 tech jobs were posted in October 2022 and were up by 25% from the previous year period (January 2021-October 2021). One of the U.S. cities creating an influx of opportunities in the tech sector is Detroit, MI. Last year, the “Motor City” ranked No. 1 on the list of top 100 emerging startup ecosystems in the world, per a report by Startup Genome.
“For those of you that think gospel music has gone too far, you think we got too radical with your message, well, I got news for you. You ain’t heard nothin’ yet.” If those lyrics resonate with you in any way, it’s likely because you remember the 1997 gospel hit “Stomp” by Kirk Franklin that had the church rocking. While the song is based around lifting radical praises despite life’s circumstances, the opening line offers a bold and audacious declaration that the innovation and creativity of Christians cannot be boxed in. A textbook example of this radical innovation is Touré Roberts. Roberts is the current pastor of ONE (Formerly One Church LA), serving over 7,500 local members and an online viewership of more than 700,000 subscribers. And while his faith and work in the church have catapulted him to success in the religious sector, Roberts had a lucrative career in the tech industry. During an April 2022 conversation with Blavity, Inc. CEO Morgan DeBaun on her Work Smart podcast,...