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The need for more inclusion in tech for minorities is all too apparent today, and companies all over are working to enact more initiatives dedicated to this cause. YC Company Plato — the largest mentorship platform for engineering managers and engineers — has launched a new program called Circles for Inclusion, which aims to give underrepresented groups access to the best tech leaders through group mentorship. According to Quang Hoang, the CEO of Plato, the program will allow participants to join a “circle” that meets on a regular basis to discuss various topics such as leadership and career opportunities. Photo Credit: Plato The reason behind the new program according to Hoang is “mentorship for people of color in the tech industry is one of several systemic factors that prevent them from obtaining senior positions and achieving their career potential.” The mentorship program will essentially connect neglected groups with a network of powerful leaders in the tech industry through...
A teen has passed away following ongoing interaction with an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot. The New York Times reports that Sewell Setzer III developed an attachment to a chatbot from Character.AI named Dany, inspired by the “Game of Thrones” character Daenerys Targaryen. The 14-year-old would engage in countless conversations with it, developing an interest that fluctuated between platonic and romantic. He sent dozens of messages and began to disassociate from his real-life passions and responsibilities, per the outlet, losing enjoyment in playing “Fortnite” with his friends and in Formula 1 racing . Instead, he would spend hours in his room conversing with Dany. At school, his grades began to drop, and he started getting into trouble. “I like staying in my room so much because I start to detach from this ‘reality,’ and I also feel more at peace, more connected with Dany and much more in love with her, and just happier,” Sewell wrote in his journal, according to the outlet....
Pharrell Williams is teaming up with fashion house Chanel to take his nonprofit organization to the next level. As previously reported by AfroTech, the super-producer and entrepreneur launched his nonprofit, Black Ambition, back in December to help support underserved entrepreneurs with startups across tech, design, healthcare and consumer products/services. According to Complex, now he’s upping the stakes with Chanel by launching a two-part mentorship program in addition to sponsoring two competitions this summer with prizes for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs as well as emerging talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). “Chanel’s support of Black Ambition is a cornerstone of Black Ambition’s mission and is vital to the success of the next generation of Black and Latinx entrepreneurs,” Williams said in a statement, “to honor their commitment to investing in human potential and advancing greater representation in culture and society, Chanel has put together an...
Worldwide retail giant Amazon is on a mission to expand its global reach with a new office setup in South Africa. According to Face2Face Africa, Amazon’s U.S. company has announced plans to open up a new base of operations and break ground with a real estate investment priced at nearly $300 million. The office will be located at a new development in River Club, described as a prime section of Cape Town. “US retail giant, Amazon, will be the anchor tenant, opening a base of operations on the African continent,” Cape Town mayor, Dan Plato, said in a statement. “The development is envisaged to take place in phases, with construction set to take place over three to five years.” The mayor revealed that the new development intends to design a 150,000 square meter mixed-use space across two precincts, with 31,900 square meters reserved for residential purposes. The entire new development is predicted to create upwards of 19,000 direct and indirect jobs in the African country. “With...
Black love is typically just seen through the lens of romance. But for BLK, their platform is created to be a loving space for the Black community, no matter their reason for joining. Of course, the Match Group extension, which launched in 2017, is primarily a place for Black singles to connect and potentially find a life partner, but BLK is also a hub for enlightening conversations around social issues and a space to reaffirm the Black American experience. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, BLK launched “Once You Go BLK” campaign, a celebration of the unlimited potential of Black love. The initiative showcases the journeys of BLK users and small business owners to acknowledge how real people date. “Once You Go BLK embraces the culture of the Black community, while also shedding light on important community topics from state violence to supporting Black-owned businesses,” said Jonathan Kirkland, Head of Marketing & Brand for BLK. “Our ambition for this campaign is to foster more...
It’s no secret that at-risk youth need mentors , more than anything else, to prevent from falling into the pitfalls of the streets. Connections Mentoring CEO Paul Muratore understands this — and he’s committed his life to youth outreach. Muratore, however, has gone the extra mile for at-risk youth. For more than 35 years, he was mentoring children as part of The Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry. During that time, he was running Talent Partners, a multi-million dollar talent agency that, at its peak, had more than 250 employees. In 2015, he sold the company and told his contacts he was retiring. Everyone said he was “crazy” for doing so . “I had a really demanding job and had a big company with a lot of responsibility,” he said. “Selling the company gave me the financial wherewithal to not have to work. I was ready for it. It was a joyous exit. I had a phenomenal run.” According to its website, Connections Mentoring partners with different agencies throughout New York City to pair...
What would you do with an extra $500? Kickstart your emergency fund ? Finish paying off one of your credit cards? Or would you need the money to pay your bills? According to the Federal Reserve, 44 percent of American adults would have difficulties handling an unexpected expense of $400. I remember the days when I looked ahead to the end of the month with disappointment, knowing that my money would run out before I got there. To stave off some of those feelings of fear, I began looking for ways to make money. Quick ways to make money in 30 days When facing a difficult financial situation, you might have a bit of time to make ends meet. If you have 30 days to get back into good standing — or even if you’re just looking for a regular way to make an extra $500 each month to meet your goals faster — there’s good news. The following ideas can be quick ways to make money. Do two or three items on this list, and you could earn $500 by the end of the month. Start by selling something Some...
Constantly answering phone calls, attending meetings, and searching for funding can take a toll on any entrepreneur’s mental health. While founders are trying to balance it all, many forget to take a little time for themselves. That’s why Damon Brown — Co-Founder of Cuddlr — believes the key to having a healthy company is having a healthy mind. Cuddlr was a Tinder-esque app that launched in 2014, specifically for people who wanted to cuddle, not those looking to hook up. It quickly gained attention with more than 200,000 downloads in the App Store. “As an entrepreneur, you have to be ready for your company to go from zero to 100,” Brown said. “Because once it does, there’s no going back, and there’s no more free time.” The app was set to be a hotspot for platonic friendships and affection. However, things backfired once users with ulterior motives began using the app, which was acquired in 2015 by NYC-based company Hiplex and rebranded to Spoonr. Brown was forced to deal with all of...
Women who are looking for a safe space to network can now do so through Bumble’s “women only” business feature, as reported by Fortune . Bumble has always centered women’s experiences. When it first began as a dating app, Bumble was unique in that only women could begin conversations with their matches. The app also expanded to include Bumble BFF, for developing platonic relationships. So, it’s no surprise that Bumble has now launched its new Women in Bizz feature. “To help women foster the kind of community they report they’re missing at work, we’re introducing Women in Bizz,” Bumble shared in a blog . “Through this new feature, available now in Bumble Bizz, women have the option to limit their professional networking exclusively to other women.” To turn on the feature, users just have to go to the settings menu. There will be a “I want to network with…” option, where users can select “Women Only.” Bumble Bizz originally started in 2017 as a way for professionals to connect, share,...