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Students from across the country can benefit from the AFROTECH™ Conference. You don’t need to be a professional or a graduating college student to make an impact at the annual Black tech mecca. Learning is a lifelong process, and by attending the conference, you’ll gain access to a dynamic lineup of speakers and corporations covering topics such as entrepreneurship, wealth building, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more. Additionally, attending AFROTECH™ presents countless networking opportunities—its first year in Houston, Texas, in November 2024 drew more than 37,000 attendees. Morgan State University junior Mivette Garcia had several expectations when she attended the AFROTECH™ Conference for the first time in 2024—expectations shaped by her pursuits as a business administration and management major, an intern at the university’s Entrepreneurial Development and Assistance Center, and the owner of a virtual beauty boutique that she hopes to expand to include beauty...
Welcome to HillmanTok University, where everyone is accepted, and TikTok is your classroom. Thousands of professors have taken their talents to TikTok, documenting their course offerings and allowing students, or users, outside the typical classroom setting to participate in the curriculum. The trend, known as “HillmanTok,” started with Dr. Barlow, an African American Studies professor, who utilized the social media platform to engage with her actual students. As her videos gained more traction, other minority professors followed suit. Now, teachers worldwide are helping students merge their love for TikTok with their desire to learn. TikToker @djneurospicy explained that the outpouring of support for Barlow’s efforts follows the decision of 92% of Black women who voted for Kamala Harris in the Nov. 4, 2025, election to not focus on Donald Trump’s second presidency. “Here’s how it goes: Trump becomes president, the 92% say they are minding their own business,” the TikToker said....
Paris Wallace saw an opportunity and he went for it. Now, he’s making history with the first majority women- and minority-owned cycling league alongside his co-founder David Mulugheta. “I saw an opportunity to reinvent the sport I love; to bring the passion and excitement of cycling to the next generation of fans,” said Wallace, the co-founder and CEO of the National Cycling League, according to the league’s website. “I wanted to reduce the knowledge barrier of becoming a fan by adding a scoreboard and creating a league structure that mimics most other professional sports. I also wanted to reduce the time investment by making it shorter, faster, and more action-packed. And that is how the NCL was born.”
Young minds inspire us to keep our dreams in reach because it’s never too late or too early for them to become a reality. Better yet, we are seeing more teens take root in the entrepreneurship sector and set a standard on how to run a successful business. From a beauty supply store to a cookie business, the youth are racking in the big bucks through their moves. These teens did not have a road map, a degree, or years of experience in their fields but what they did have was ambition, a willingness to make the world a better place, and a support system to take them to the finish line. Here’s a list of six teens who turned into bosses at an early age.
When it comes to accelerator and mentorship programs, there’s certainly no shortage of them out there. From Fiverr to Apple, accelerator programs seem to be tailor-made for today’s startups, which seem to face insurmountable odds in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic. “By joining an accelerator program, startups are offered benefits like mentorship and educational workshops. At the end of it startups often compete in a pitch event or demonstration day (otherwise known as ‘Demo Day’),” says Tricia Levasseur, a former Bloomberg journalist, and current TechStars mentor. “The experience for founders is that acceleration provides a process of intense, rapid, and immersive education aimed at ‘accelerating’ growth by compressing years’ of learning into just a few months. For those that compete in a pitch event, cash prizes in the form of funding can be won.” Clearly, the benefits of such programs are self-evident. And while these programs are nothing if not competitive, they’re...
In 2015, Michael Jordan and Mark Cuban teamed up to invest in Sportradar. According to the company’s official website, it specializes in collecting sports data from all over the world and then using that data to leverage clients appropriately. USA Today reports that Michael Jordan and Mark Cuban were part of a $44 million investment round in the company that was led by Revolution Growth. The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Football League (NFL) also have equity in the company. In November 2021, the company went public at $19/share with a reported $8 billion valuation. In other words, Michael Jordan and Mark Cuban’s overall net worth can only be expected to go up from here, especially as sports betting continues to grow and dominate the market.
In the latest chapter of corporate America’s shifting stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Aldi has made a quiet but telling move. While major retailers like Target and Walmart have faced public scrutiny for scaling back their DEI commitments, Aldi took a different route—silently scrubbing all DEI-related language from its U.S. careers page. No press release. No statement. Just gone. This move raises serious questions: Is Aldi trying to fly under the radar to avoid backlash? And more importantly, does this signal a broader corporate strategy of rolling back DEI without the headlines? A Quiet Move That Speaks Volumes As first reported by HR Brew, Aldi’s U.S. website no longer mentions DEI in its careers section, despite previously highlighting diversity and inclusion as part of its corporate values. While some companies have taken a more public approach—either defending their DEI commitments or backtracking in response to conservative pushback—Aldi’s decision to remove...
Embrace new opportunities in the coming year. The new year often brings a time of reflection and a renewed focus on personal growth and professional development. This includes strengthening one’s professional brand, enhancing skills through customized learning paths, obtaining industry-recognized certifications, and cultivating meaningful connections within one’s field. One key opportunity to consider in the new year is the AFROTECH™ Conference. This event has helped professionals land their dream roles in tech , secure speaking engagements, attract new clients, and open doors to countless other opportunities. The annual event empowers the next generation through insightful discussions led by industry change-makers, hands-on activations, recruitment opportunities from leading companies, and exposure to cutting-edge technologies. This year’s event — held in Houston, TX, at the George R. Brown Center between Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, and Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 — drew in a crowd of...
Despite releasing three albums, Common found himself struggling to sustain his music career. The rapper’s career took off in Chicago, IL, in the ’90s. He released three albums during this decade: “Can I Borrow a Dollar?” (1992); “Resurrection” (1994); and “One Day It’ll All Make Sense” (1997). Common explains that his first album received limited attention and credits his second album with putting him on the radar of some of the industry’s greats. “I remember Biggie doing one of those promos for me, being like ‘Yo this I wish this kid was from Brooklyn.’ I remember seeing Nas, and he was like ‘Keep doing your thing,” Common recalled on the “Earn Your Leisure” podcast hosted by Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings. The rapper also opened up about the challenges he faced in the music industry early in his career, which caused him to question whether it was a sustainable path. “It was hard being in Chicago and trying to get even signed or get heard… I still wasn’t planted in the industry. I...
ImDavisss’ interest in technology was ingrained in his childhood. During an exclusive interview with AFROTECH™, the streamer and content creator , originally from Atlanta, GA, reflected on the early support and exposure to technology he received from his father, who built websites. “I grew up playing a lot of video games, but in my spare time, I think my first interest in technology came from my dad. He built websites—that was his job when I was a kid. So, I used to mimic what he was doing. The software back then was called Dreamweaver. It was a really, really old-school program, but that’s kind of how I got into technology. I would fake-build websites in my spare time,” he explained. Rise As Streamer/Content Creator ImDavisss, who had a strong interest in basketball, also developed a passion for streaming and gaming. His parents supported his newfound enthusiasm — his father bought him a green screen, while his mother provided a PlayStation, controllers, and microphones when he was...
Investing in real estate is a popular way to grow wealth, but knowing where to invest is crucial to maximizing your return on investment (ROI). In 2024, several states stand out as prime locations for real estate investments , offering high appreciation rates, growing demand, and favorable market conditions. Let’s explore the states with the highest ROI on real estate and what makes them attractive for investors. Texas Texas consistently ranks among the top states for real estate ROI due to its rapidly growing population and robust economy. Major cities like Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio have seen significant increases in property values over the past decade. Austin, in particular, has experienced rapid appreciation thanks to the tech industry boom and a strong influx of new residents. In addition to rising home prices, Texas offers low property taxes and no state income tax, which makes it even more appealing for both investors and homebuyers. The state’s economy remains...
There are so many paths to success that people looking to begin or further develop careers have many options. The pathways to advancement are endless, from becoming an entrepreneur to becoming a social media influencer. However, many people are still interested in pursuing the more traditional route of earning a college degree and attaining a corporate job, or leveraging that education to start their own business. If attending college is on your radar, maximizing your earning potential starts before the first job interview. Evidence suggests that the launch of a fruitful career begins with choosing a major that can potentially lead to a higher-than-average salary. According to the 2024 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) survey, the highest salaries are attributed to those who major in STEM disciplines. These fields, particularly engineering and computer science, dominate the list of highest-paying majors. Their high salaries are fueled by a strong demand for...
Kevin Hart is giving credit to film producer Will Packer for his position in business and his career. Where It All Started The comedian turned actor first met Packer in 2007 at the Los Angeles airport, according to the Chicago Sun Times. Hart remained on Packer’s radar, and he eventually called the actor to work on their first movie together, “Think Like A Man.” At the time, Hart was booking mostly cameos which included “Scary Movie 3” (2003), “Soul Plane” (2004), and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” (2005). Learning Packer Was “The Real Deal” While On Set When it came to landing more screen time, Hart had become accustomed to empty promises. Landing the gig and working with Packer was all the proof Hart needed to ensure the Will Packer Productions founder was “the real deal.” “When I first met Packer and ‘Think Like A Man’ was [brought] up, he came to me first and said, ‘Listen man, I’m going to make this movie happen, but I’m not going to go forward and pursue, if I don’t know that I have...
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is now a video game. The song, which some may call a diss track, others a West Coast anthem, was released on May 4, 2024 and debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. In the U.S., it logged 70.9 million official streams, made 5 million radio airplay impressions, and sold 15,000 copies by May 9. Exactly two months later, Lamar dropped the highly anticipated music video, which has gained 69.9 million views (at the time of this writing). Now, the hit song has made its way to the gaming world. According to Rolling Stone, “Not Like Us: The Game” gives players the ability to play the web-based game as Kendrick Lamar, and with a baseball bat they must hit an owl piñata until candy pours out. Each time users hit the owl piñata, they will hear the word “wop” played. The concept was developed by Richie Branson, whose real name is Marcus Brown II. “I did this for the people,” Branson told Rolling Stone. “I did it as a love letter to hip-hop and music, and...
A college connection that birthed Topicals Founder Olamide Olowe changed the trajectory of her life. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Olowe is behind the popular skincare company Topicals, which sells skincare products for people with chronic skin conditions such as eczema and hyperpigmentation. Founded in 2020, by 2022, it had become one of Sephora’s fastest-growing brands, selling one product every minute. Meeting Richelieu Dennis Olowe’s trajectory to founder was not her initial calling. In fact, she attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on a full-ride scholarship to participate on its track team. Additionally, she was studying to become a doctor, she said during an interview on the “God Is My Creative Director” podcast. While there, she was introduced to another student, Rechelle Dennis, the daughter of SheaMoisture Founder Richelieu Dennis. “My freshman year, I’m standing there with one of my teammates, and a woman comes over to me and is like, ‘Hey, you...