Showing 160 results for:
overlooked
Popular topics
All results
Florida’s only Black tech hub has launched a new startup competition for underrepresented tech founders in South Florida. SPARC South Florida The Source announced SPARC South Florida, a competition geared toward Southern and Caribbean startups, according to information shared with AFROTECH™. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKLEfB6JR4g/ “While there are systemic barriers, one thing that we’re doing at The Source is we’re always focusing on solutions, particularly solutions here in South Florida and right where we are in Downtown Miami,” The Source Co-Founder and Partner Hilmon Sorey, an ex-Silicon Valley executive with over 500 companies within his portfolio , told AFROTECH™. Sorey added, “What we saw was an opportunity for this competition to bring investment and infrastructure directly to founders. So it’s really not just a pitch competition. It’s a launch pad. And the idea is that founders can access tools and funding and the relationships that they need to scale.” The company was...
Symphonic Capital has launched its inaugural fund targeting overlooked founders in fintech and health care. Symphonic Capital’s Inception Sydney Thomas, who always displayed an “entrepreneurial spirit,” founded the venture capital (VC) firm in 2022. Having already dedicated years to being a serial investor, her work in venture capital began in 2016. It was during that time that she observed a common pattern: Many firms placed broad bets on numerous founders, accepting that most would fail in hopes that a few would yield outsized returns. However, she believed it was possible to have a more refined approach that would put more early-staged founders in a better position. “While it is still incredibly risky to work in early stage, a way to actually de-risk your investment is to have a much more structured and focused support strategy with those companies that increases the likelihood that they graduate from pre-seed to seed, and increases the likelihood that they graduate from seed to...
Black Economic Alliance Entrepreneurs Fund has reached the halfway point of its funding goal. The fund was launched by the Black Economic Alliance Foundation, which is led by Executive Vice President Alaina Beverly, to create generational wealth for the Black community, working alongside public, private, and social sectors to accomplish this goal, its website notes. Samantha Tweedy is CEO of the coalition behind this effort, Black Economic Alliance, which is made up of “business leaders and aligned advocates.” In 2021, the Washington, DC-based foundation established the Black Economic Alliance Entrepreneurs Fund LP to further its mission and has since onboarded venture capitalist Melissa Bradley, to lead its investment strategy, according to The Business Journals. Bradley was previously recognized as a AFROTECH™ Future 50 Dynamic Investor and founded 1863 Ventures, which provided business development programs, coaching, mentorship, and access to capital primarily for new...
Not even Serena Williams is safe from shady behavior from the media. In a tweet posted yesterday, the tennis GOAT revealed that the print version of The New York Times overshadowed her latest success by printing a photo of her sister, Venus, instead of herself. “No matter how far we come, we get reminded that it’s not enough,” she wrote via Twitter. “This is why I raised $111M for @serenaventures. To support the founders who are overlooked by engrained systems woefully unaware of their biases. Because even I am overlooked.” No matter how far we come, we get reminded that it's not enough. This is why I raised $111M for @serenaventures . To support the founders who are overlooked by engrained systems woefully unaware of their biases. Because even I am overlooked. You can do better, @nytimes . pic.twitter.com/hvfCl5WUoz — Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) March 2, 2022 The New York Times, like many other outlets, was announcing Serena Ventures’ inaugural fund. And while the paper’s...
Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY — her multi-platform media company and arts collective — and Google have partnered up to launch a new $500,000 feature film grant designed specifically to support emerging creatives from underrepresented communities. “Having started my filmmaking journey by self-funding projects, this is a full-circle moment,” DuVernay said in a statement. “I’m pleased to partner with Google and ARRAY’s grant advisory committee to identify an emerging writer/director to bring their vision to the screen. Inclusive storytelling is at the heart of ARRAY’s mission and we’re proud to also provide access to ARRAY Crew in order to further ensure that the set of the grantee’s film reflects the full array of the world around us.” According to Forbes, the award-winning director hopes this grant — referred to as The Array + Google Feature Film Grant — will clear a path for the next woman or person of color filmmaker to create their first feature-length film, and also foster a community of...
When Brandon and Janine met on social media, they immediately bonded over their passion for supporting underrepresented founders. Janine had already been investing in women and Black founders, and Brandon had dreams of launching a $10 million fund to do the same. Eventually, they decided to join forces to launch their shared dream: a venture capital firm that invests in typically overlooked founders. Enter, Overlooked Ventures. Brandon and Janine recently announced their intention to raise a $50 million fund through their new firm Overlooked Ventures. In addition to soliciting support from traditional investors, they are opening up their fundraising to the public. “The people that have the most power are the community members and the founders in that community. And if the community believes in you and gets behind you like we’ve seen that they do at Overlooked Ventures, anything’s possible,” Brandon explains of their philosophy. Brandon and Janine are even more unconventional in...
A common experience within African culture is the lack of acceptance from older generations for non-traditional career fields. For many, the only widely-accepted career paths lie within the STEM field — an observation that was made very clear to 22-year-old founder Eno Oduok. In Oduok’s experience, she found that for Black and people of color — Nigerians in particular — there was little to no representation for people in her culture within the creative job market. One day while searching for an online space for Nigerians in public relations — Oduok’s current occupation — she noticed there weren’t any up-to-date platforms to connect with people like herself. So in September of last year, she launched her very own platform called Naija Comm — a rapidly growing space that showcases and connects Nigerians as creatives working in overlooked career fields such as communications, arts, business, and so forth. Almost every week, the platform picks select individuals to spotlight their work...
One year after the release of Emmy award-winning Netflix docuseries “When They See Us,” filmmaker and director Ava DuVernay launched her online learning platform, ARRAY, to encourage conversations around diversity and social justice. Now she’s taking her mission for inclusivity in Hollywood a step further with a joint venture alongside Warner Bros. Television chairman Peter Roth. Both DuVerynay and Roth have joined forces to announce the launch of Array Crew — a division of Array Alliance — which will act as a diverse database to highlight below-the-line talent in Hollywood, Variety reports. According to their announcement in the Los Angeles Times, the purpose behind assembling Array Crew is to offer Hollywood a solution to their diversity problem. The platform will ultimately bridge the hiring gap for women and people of color in the entertainment industry. Why do most film and TV sets look the same? The industry often tells us they’ve looked for Black folks, people of color and...
As the country comes together to support and provide for essential workers, there is an overlooked group of frontline workers no one talking about — our sanitation workers. Terrill Haigler aka @_yafavtrashman , a Philadelphia sanitation worker, is speaking up and bringing awareness to the hardships he and his colleagues face as garbage collectors during the pandemic. “I just want to bring awareness to the fact that we are left out of the top when it comes to being essential,” Haigler told NPR’s Whyy . Seven months ago when Haigler took the job with Philadelphia’s city Sanitation Division, he was met with the unforeseen physical demands of the job. “This has been one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever done in my life, consistently,” Haigler said. Haigler and colleagues’ 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. shifts sometimes extend 14 consecutive days in harsh environments. “It’s just the beat that your body takes, the mental, the emotions, the elements you deal with, the rain… And, you know, sometimes you...
Consistency is often overlooked in the quest for success, overshadowed by more glamorous concepts like talent, innovation, or luck. Yet, consistency — the commitment to show up, day after day, and perform necessary tasks — separates those who achieve their goals from those who fall short. Whether you’re striving for career advancement , personal growth, or better habits , the power of consistency is undeniable. It’s the force that turns small actions into transformative results over time. Here are some of the best quotes about consistency that will inspire you to embrace this essential principle in your own life. Quotes That Show Consistency Is The Key To Success “Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson With this quote, Johnson reminds us that showing up and putting in steady effort is often more important than bursts of brilliance. “Success is the sum of small efforts,...
The spirit of Robert F. Smith inspired the launch of a multi-million-dollar hospitality fund. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Smith is the founder of Vista Equity Partners, which invests in technology companies and fulfilled its largest raise to date in 2024, amounting to $20 billion to lay the groundwork for its focus on artificial intelligence (AI). Smith’s strategy has served as a blueprint for innovation in the hospitality sector. According to information shared on LinkedIn, Will Huston — founder and chief investment officer of Bay Street Hospitality — shares a similar interest in leveraging technology, but with a focus on uncovering overlooked investment opportunities. The group is backed by a $430 million investment fund, according to Shoppe Black. “We’ve meticulously developed a quantamental model that provides strategic foresight, enabling us to pinpoint high-potential investments in markets where wealth inequality (distinct from income inequality) presents both a social...
Icebreaker questions are an easy practice that can make a big difference in the workplace. Whether you’re kicking off a Monday morning meeting, onboarding a new team member , or leading a company retreat, icebreaker questions are one of the best ways to create an atmosphere of openness and engagement. They can ease tension, reveal common ground, and jumpstart conversations that otherwise wouldn’t happen in a strictly professional setting. When used well, icebreakers can build team cohesion and make each team member feel safer and more included. They’re especially valuable in hybrid or remote workplaces with limited opportunities for informal interactions. The key is to choose questions that are light enough to be low-pressure but interesting enough to invite genuine responses. Here’s a mix of fun, thoughtful, and creative workplace-appropriate icebreaker questions , grouped by themes. Get-To-Know-You Basics What’s your favorite way to spend a day off? This question reveals team...
Angel Reese and Magic Johnson have more in common than just their love of basketball. Both Johnson and Reese have found success beyond the sport. In the business world, this has translated into significant achievements for the two: Johnson is now a billionaire , and Reese has established herself as a multi-millionaire student-athlete who successfully transitioned to the WNBA and now holds a multi-year partnership extension with Reebok. Furthermore, the pair share even more common ground: a vision for financially empowering communities. According to its website, the Magic Johnson Foundation’s mission includes providing economic empowerment in ethnically diverse urban communities, while the Angel C. Reese Foundation shares a similar mission, with a specific focus on girls. “The Angel Reese Foundation is dedicated to fostering equity for girls and underrepresented groups through innovative and impactful initiatives. Our main objective is to ensure equal opportunities for all girls in...
The modern workplace is becoming much more diverse, equitable, and inclusive . However, neurodivergent individuals — those with conditions such as autism , ADHD, dyslexia, and other cognitive differences — still face significant barriers to employment . Despite their skills and potential, many struggle to secure jobs or advance their careers due to systemic challenges, bias, and a lack of accommodations. Research shows that unemployment remains a pressing issue in the neurodivergent community. Up to 85% of adults with autism in the U.S. are unemployed, according to Golden Steps ABA . This statistic highlights the urgent need for more inclusive hiring practices and workplace policies that recognize neurodivergent talent. A Misunderstood Segment Of The Workforce Although “neurodivergent” is gaining recognition, many Americans still lack a clear understanding of what it means. A recent YouGov poll found that only 32% of Americans can define the term without prior explanation, while 56%...
Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now is a transformational book that explores the importance of living in the present moment. Since its publication in 1997, it has become one of the most influential spiritual and self-development books of modern times. The book argues that many of life’s struggles stem from an overattachment to the past and excessive worry about the future. By focusing on the present, Tolle explains, individuals can free themselves from unnecessary suffering and live with greater clarity and purpose. Check out this summary of The Power of Now to see if it’s worth adding to your to be read pile. Summary Of The Power of Now’s Core Message Tolle’s philosophy centers on the idea that most people live in a constant state of distraction, caught up in thoughts that pull them away from the present. He describes the mind as a source of both suffering and limitation because it constantly replays past regrets or anticipates future problems. This mental chatter, which he refers to...