All results
Ariane Kirkpatrick was undeterred by the limited presence of Black entrepreneurs in the cannabis sector. In 2017, she made her official foray into the space, according to WKCY-3. “We made the decision that we, despite the barriers, despite the obstacles, despite being Black and female, we were going to make this work and we did,” Kirkpatrick told the outlet. Per Kirkpatrick’s LinkedIn page, she served as the CEO of several large-scale medical, cannabis cultivation, and dispensary companies, such as Harvest Grows, Harvest of Ohio, and Harvest Processing, which had operations in the Ohio cities of Ironton, Beavercreek, Columbus, and Athens. She mentioned that her aim was to transform lives and strengthen economies by providing jobs and economic development opportunities through marijuana. However, Kirkpatrick would hit a major roadblock after falling out with her business partner, multi-state operator Harvest Health and Recreation, when it was acquired by national cannabis and...
Techstars tapped Detroit entrepreneurial leader Monica Wheat to lead its Equitech Accelerator as managing director (MD). Wheat is the co-founder and executive director of Venture Catalysts, a nonprofit ecosystem development group focusing on programming, funding, strategy and business development for entrepreneurs. Since its inception in 2016, the nonprofit has been putting on large-scale events and strategic programs. Most notably, Venture Catalysts helped Backstage Capital launch their global accelerator program in Detroit, Los Angeles, and London. Wheat told AfroTech it’s been a challenge running an events nonprofit during the pandemic. While she was grateful for all the new business rolling in, Wheat said her team did get overwhelmed. “We doubled and tripled down on our deal flow and connections and did strategy sessions and programming throughout 2020 and 2021,” Wheat said. “We are mostly a volunteer organization and I must hype the praises for my team who did so much to help...
The U.S. Army just promoted its first active-duty Black woman chaplain to the rank of colonel, according to the Richmond Free Press . Chaplain Monica R. Lawson makes history as the first active-duty Black female chaplain to rise up to the rank of colonel. Lawson is an African Methodist Episcopal minister, chief of recruiting and accessions for the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps, and a Spelman alum. “As an African-American woman who has always been proud of the skin that I’m in, in this time, this is a bright spot in a sea of what seems to be darkness never-ending. In a time when we are faced with political polarization, racial unrest, a pandemic, and economic uncertainty, it’s good to have something to celebrate and to take our minds off of what is going on, if only for a moment,” Lawson said. Lawson has served as a family life chaplain at Fort Bliss, Texas, a deputy Pentagon chaplain, battalion chaplain at Fort Story, VA, and Fort Jackson, deputy cadet command chaplain at Fort Knox, KY,...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. The theme of the 2025 Met Gala was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”, particularly focused on Black dandyism. Guest Curator Monica L. Miller’s book, “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” served as the primary inspiration for the exhibit. Black dandyism began in 18th century Britain, but its cultural movement took root in the early 20th century, in which Black people embodied the European sensibility through clothing as a form of self-expression. Emerging during a time when African Americans had little to no agency after the Emancipation Proclamation (1863), they used dandyism to address the erosion of their civil rights. The theme highly parallels the current fight to retain ownership and freedom during a divisive time in politics. The 2025 Met Gala had Black male co-chairs for the first time in history, with celebrities A$AP Rocky, Lewis Hamilton,...
John W. Rogers Jr. founded the nation’s first Black-owned mutual fund company and remains committed to expanding opportunities for other minority groups. Rogers comes from a family who upheld civil rights, fairness, and economic justice, he revealed in an interview with the SIU Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. It would be his father who sparked his interest in finance and economics. When Rogers was 12 years old, he received stocks as gifts for Christmas and his birthday. These included $200 worth of shares from companies such as General Motors and Commonwealth Edison, and he was able to pocket the dividends from those investments. “My dad was very insistent,” Rogers explained in the interview. “He wanted me to learn everything there is to know about the market, so he made me read the annual reports of the companies that were sent out every year, the quarterly reports that the companies would send out in those days, and I’d read about those companies.” His father also connected...
Pharrell Williams’ nonprofit organization Black Ambition has distributed $13 million to underrepresented founders since its inception. The nonprofit currently is launching its fifth Black Ambition Prize Competition, which will award early-stage entrepreneurs in industries such as consumer products and services, health care, media and entertainment, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI). Participants will have a chance to receive more than $1 million in funding. Further support will be provided over 12 weeks through mentorship, business development support, and access to its network of investors and industry leaders through the Black Ambitionist Mentorship Program in partnership with Cinematica Labs. According to information shared with AFROTECH™, $13 million has been awarded to 131 entrepreneurs since 2020. Additionally, the organization’s founder network has raised $280 million and generated over $265 million in revenue. “Five years ago, Black Ambition was an idea,” Williams...
Founder Marc Washington is the driving force behind a gut health nutrition brand that has raised millions. Washington has an extensive history as a leader in the consumer wellness space. According to his LinkedIn profile, he worked at The Wonderful Co. as director of strategy for FIJI Water from 2005 to 2007. After a six-year tenure at Teleflora, he returned to The Wonderful Co. as its chief financial officer. His resume also includes roles as president and COO at Beachbody and CEO at Irwin Naturals. Today, he is fully focused on leading and prioritizing his own wellness company, Supergut with the venture inspired his late sister. “I was inspired to start the company in honor of my late sister, Monica. She struggled with metabolic health issues throughout her adult life before she tragically passed away far too young due to complications during a high-risk pregnancy. Her passing shook me to my core, especially as someone who spent his entire career helping people live healthier...
If you’ve been plugged into the stand-up comedy scene at all in the last decade or so, you’re likely well acquainted with the name Roy Wood Jr. The hilarious comedian, best known for his work as a long-time correspondent and occasional guest host on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” can most recently be seen cracking up the panel on CNN’s “Have I Got News For You.” Wood may not have invented the comedy news genre, though he’s certainly put his own entertaining spin on it, having gone on to head such significant events as the White House Correspondents Dinner . His latest stand-up comedy special, “Lonely Flowers,” premiered on Hulu today, Jan. 17. Since Roy Wood Jr has become such a hot commodity in the world of comedy lately, it only makes sense that fans are wondering just how much cash he’s taken in with his numerous hosting and writing gigs. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive guide to Wood’s life, career and overall net worth. Wood’s Early Life And Career...
Beyoncé’s influence is undeniable. Spotify has finally released Spotify Wrapped 2024, revealing that the music icon inspired over 36 million people to listen to country music for the first time this year. Beyoncé released “Cowboy Carter” on March 29, 2024, in collaboration with Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records, according to AFROTECH™ . The album’s 27-song track list includes “ Blackbiird ,” “16 Carriages,” “Jolene,” and “Levii’s Jeans.” While creating the album, Beyoncé noted that in the rising age of artificial intelligence (AI), she wanted to focus on authentic sounds, as reported by AFROTECH™ . She made good use of various instruments, such as the accordion, harmonica, washboard, acoustic guitar, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, fiddle, tack piano, banjo, and her fingernails as percussion. On its release day, Spotify announced on X that the album was the most streamed on the platform in a single day in 2024, marking the first time a country album held this distinction...
Upon hearing “Pink Friday,” most people’s minds immediately jump to the Queen of Rap herself , Nicki Minaj. The Trinidadian femcee released her debut album on Nov. 22, 2010, via Cash Money Records, Universal Motown Records and Young Money Entertainment. Even as a newcomer, she nabbed impressive collaborations from names like Eminem, Drake, Rihanna and Kanye West, ultimately selling 375K copies in her first week out. This placed Minaj behind Lauryn Hill with the second-highest sales debut ever for a female rapper, and the mother of one has only continued to prove her power since. Over a decade later, she returned with “Pink Friday 2,” this time recruiting J. Cole, Lil Wayne, Future, Monica, 50 Cent and other icons to join her on the tracklist. Minaj’s 2023 LP debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making her the first female rapper with three albums to top the chart; she moved 228K album-equivalent albums at the time, 92,000 of which were pure sales. These statistics are all...
Unless you were born yesterday, you surely have at least some awareness of iconic 20th century musician Elvis Presley. Even if the King of Rock and Roll has no place on your Spotify Wrapped , you’ve surely heard your fair share of hit songs, catchphrases and impersonations over the years. The singer, often known by his first name alone, was responsible for revolutionizing the landscape of music throughout the 1950s and beyond, enthralling millions of listeners around the globe with his hypnotic blend of provocative dance moves and infectious vocal inflections. Today, his musical stylings are obviously quite dated, though it can’t be overstated just how much Elvis Presley propelled the culture of rock and roll into the mainstream. Though the singer has been deceased for nearly half a century, his legacy still lives on to this day, largely in the form of music biopics like 2022’s Elvis and the recently released Netflix documentary Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis...
A new financial education program is making its way to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with the help of Jay-Z. According to a news release shared with AFROTECH™, the Shawn Carter Foundation, with support from Toyota Motor North America, is launching the Champions for Financial Legacy (CFFL) program in time for Spring 2025. To start, the program will benefit students at Lincoln University, Norfolk State University, and Virginia State University, offering a financial curriculum structured around real-world applications. “We are excited to see our partnership with the Shawn Carter Foundation evolve to include this innovative initiative,” said Monica Womack, general manager of diversity & inclusion and community engagement at Toyota, per the release. “One that not only provides resources to HBCU students but also reaches the heart of the community, through advocacy for financial literacy.” The curriculum, developed in collaboration with the Coalition for Equity and...