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Black-owned rideshare company Goldsainte is making significant strides. The Charlotte, NC-based company, founded by Andre Powell in 2021, is marketed as “the world’s first franchised rideshare.” The business is looking to disrupt the $70 billion dollar industry and is taking on a business model that will allow riders to benefit from luxury vehicles with advanced proprietary technology provided by franchisees. The model is also inspired by Powell’s background as a multi-unit Jimmy John’s franchisee through his venture APEM Restaurant Group. “It made more sense to scale through franchising because the better part of my career was spent as a multi-unit franchisee,” Powell told the Charlotte Business Journal. Currently, Goldsainte offers two verticals featuring franchisee-owned vehicles. The first, Goldsainte XL, offers Infiniti QX80s to lease or own by the franchisee and is available for franchising across 38 states . Goldsainte Premium is available in select U.S. markets, according to...
Co-founders Jillian Anderson and DeVynne Starks are breaking ground in one of the nation’s busiest airports. Anderson and Starks are leading HERide, a rideshare company that prioritizes women’s safety. The concept was born in 2017 after Anderson dedicated time to pursuing a professional basketball career. Anderson then moved to Atlanta, GA, and worked in the gig economy as a rideshare worker. On her routes, she recognized a pattern among female passengers — they expressed hesitation about rideshares. “There were a lot of women that were hesitant with riding with men at night using Uber and Lyft. I realized that this was just a consistent problem that those platforms did not have any intention on solving. So I decided to solve it myself,” Anderson, 31, chief technology officer, told AFROTECH™. Bootstrapping the venture, HERide launched in 2019. Anderson brought her insights from her undergraduate years at Albany State University in Albany, GA, where she completed a Bachelor of...
Ball may be life but so is business! From early days of playing basketball to now acting as partners on a new rideshare venture that will bring innovation to the states like never before, Ray Young and Khalid Taylor alongside former NBA player turned entrepreneur, Matt Barnes, are here to change the way you catch a ride from here on out. According to a press release provided to AfroTech, HOPP — the first geosocial ride matchmaking app — offers an added layer of comfort to drivers that it claims the competition does not. The app allows users to book rides based on a personality profile set up within the platform that matches them with people whose interests they align with the most. While the partners stress that you can make money just like you would when driving for Uber and Lyft, that is not the driving factor with the new app, which was founded by co-founders Antoine Allain, Eve Mitchell, and Fabrice Allain. “This is a ‘help you’ service. So, if I’m going in a certain direction,...
In an effort to provide safety for women and the LGBTQ+ community, one Black woman-owned rideshare app was launched in the south. Atlanta native Kiersten Harris grew up on the southside of the city and has always been committed to the betterment of her community. The 22-year-old entrepreneur is now the co-founder and CEO of what’s said to be the first female-friendly rideshare app in the south , HERide, according to Reckon. “Our motto is ‘Choose to be unbothered,’” said Harris in an interview with Reckon. “We wanted to create a platform for women to feel safe and welcome. Our drivers and passengers come first. Here’s how you can stay safe during this time of COVID-19. Stay updated by following @CDCgov for tips and updates. If you are showing symptoms please inform a medical professional. pic.twitter.com/ss1rE79bAj — HERide™️ App (@getheride) March 15, 2020 On top of providing safe, reliable transportation for members of the LGBTQ+ community and women, Harris had the vision to create...
North Carolina native, Diondre Lewis, is adding his own flare to the rideshare industry. His Charlotte-based rideshare and logistics company, ScoopM, is giving riders a different option other than mainstream companies like Uber and Lyft. ScoopM sets itself apart from other rideshare apps with its focus on safety. According to the official ScoopM site , the company promises no creepy drivers, dashcam stream, and an emergency panic button. The Charlotte Post reports that ScoopM’s safety measures are designed with women and children in mind. In light of past misconduct of Uber rideshare drivers , ScoopM also incorporates mandatory FBI screenings, driver interviews, and random drug tests. Along with maintaining rider safety, ScoopM also aims to provide drivers with higher pay and better benefits. “The awesome thing about rideshare is that it has been created by these entities,” Lewis told The Charlotte Post. “Uber and Lyft, they’ve also created a connected economy, gig economy where...
Wall Street day traders found themselves shocked and confused last week when Reddit’s stock price climbed to heights of 58 percent, surpassing the expectations of even the most liberal investors on r/WallStreetBets. The social media site , which is primarily used for sharing opinions, discussing niche topics and delivering daily news to millions of user-generated in-groups, reported $348.4 million in Q3 revenue according to data on Yahoo Finance . While these sky-high figures would be a bit surprising to most financial analysts, they were especially shocking to Wall Street insiders , who were reportedly planning to short the RDDT stock based on their expectation that the site would lose money during the most recent earnings report . In order to understand why and how the Reddit stock was able to surpass expectations, we’ll have to take a brief look at what’s changed in the site’s business model in recent months, watch similar stocks such as META and NVDA, and study the industry...
Lyft is continuing its decade-long mission of eliminating barriers that hinder people from getting to the polls on Election Day . On Nov. 5, the rideshare service will offer 50% off ride codes (up to $10) nationwide for all transportation options — including bike or scooter — using the code VOTE24. The promotion is valid from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. in every time zone, making it easier for voters to reach polling places despite logistical challenges. “Lyft has always believed in removing barriers to transportation, and voting access is no exception,” Heather Foster, Lyft’s senior director and head of global public policy, told AFROTECH™. “This election is further heightened due to the ongoing challenges many communities face in getting to the polls and is more important than ever as new barriers to voting have emerged.” According to Lyft , there are currently 100,000 fewer polling places available than in the 2020 election, representing a 50% decrease since 2018. As a result of...
Authenticity has remained Kordell Beckham’s superpower beyond the villa. Beckham and his girlfriend, Serena Page, were crowned the Season 6 champions of Peacock’s “Love Island USA,” which had become the most-watched series on streaming platforms in the U.S. ahead of the season finale in July 2024, per NBC Universal. Beckham and Page also made history as the first Black couple to win on the show, The Hilltop mentions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Jennifer Hudson Show (@jenniferhudsonshow) Investing Cash Prize The couple — who now have 7 million followers combined across their TikTok and Instagram accounts — earned a $100,000 cash prize on the show, which they split evenly, according to US Weekly. Beckham has decided to be wise with a portion of his earnings going toward investments, and this will include the launch of his own clothing brand now in the works with his team. “We’ve been talking with a bunch of businesses to see what we can do to jumpstart a clothing...
Serena Williams’ legacy extends far beyond her greatness on the tennis court. Following her retirement in September 2022, Williams focused more of her attention on the investment arena. With over a decade of investment experience, she took a pivotal step in 2014 by establishing Serena Ventures, a venture capital fund specifically designed to champion women and underrepresented founders, according to its LinkedIn profile. “I invest in a lot of companies, early companies, and I’ve always done this. I’ve actually been investing for over 14 years and just been an entrepreneur while I was playing tennis. It’s super important for me to make a plan B while I was doing my plan A,” Williams explained in a TikTok video. The VC endeavor resulted from Williams discovering the evident absence of venture capital directed toward certain demographics, which prompted her to become a vessel for change. As noted on its website, the company’s portfolio comprises 79% underrepresented founders, 54% women...
A Lagos, Nigeria-founded mobility fintech has secured a historic investment. TechCrunch reports that Moove has announced a $100 million Series B funding round led by Uber — marking the rideshare company’s first investment in Africa. Now, Moove’s valuation is $750 million. “ Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone for us,” Moove Founder Ladi Delano shared in a press release. “When we founded Moove in 2020, we were motivated to solve the acute shortage of vehicle financing that over two million African mobility entrepreneurs faced.” He continued, “This validation from Uber and others stands as a testament to the fact that what was once a dream is now a palpable reality. This infusion of capital is set to amplify the immensely positive impact our products have in the lives of our customers on a much broader spectrum. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated team of Moovers for their relentless effort and commitment, which has been pivotal in reaching...
Rilwan Lawal is enhancing the lives of gig workers. Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, since the age of 1, the entrepreneur and founder was accustomed to self-starters. Both his mother and father were entrepreneurs who owned several businesses. “I don’t think I grew up seeing anyone around me waking up and getting ready to go to work,” Lawal, 33, told AFROTECH in an interview. “I feel like everybody around me had their own thing going on. And it was ingrained in me that at some point, I would be doing something on my own.” He added, “My mom is the ultimate entrepreneur. I witnessed her start multiple businesses and saw it come to fruition. That has been very helpful. My dad was also an entrepreneur in the real estate space. So just seeing both sides, and being able to execute on just an idea and bring it to life, really gave me that positive thinking that I could essentially just do anything.” When Lawal was 17, he left his family to pursue higher learning in the United States. He was...
An attorney declared a “nationwide crisis” at a recent press conference to describe allegations that rideshare company Lyft failed to protect its passengers and drivers. According to information provided to AfroTech, 17 major new suits were filed against the San Francisco-based company. There were brought forth by both passengers and drivers who have allegedly been the victims of physical and sexual assault that took place while engaging in activity with Lyft. “Lyft has a responsibility to protect its passengers and drivers. Its refusal to do so has resulted in acts of violence that left our clients with disabilities, permanent deformities, and lifelong trauma,” said Tracey Cowan, partner at the Peiffer Wolf Kane Conway & Wise, the legal company representing the plaintiffs in the case during a press conference announcing the news. “Nothing can undo the pain and suffering they endured, but it’s their hope that by sharing their stories, they can make Lyft hear them, force Lyft to...
Snap Inc. is introducing its latest efforts to push diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to the forefront with the launch of 523, its first content accelerator program, according to information provided to AfroTech. The goal of 523 is to champion small, minority-owned content companies and creatives. The program counteracts those whose support and resources don’t match the massive influence they bring to the Snapchat community. Courtesy of 523 “The voices of underrepresented groups have long helped shape mainstream culture, yet these creative minds often don’t see the equitable benefits from their impact,” Starr Nathan, 523 Program Manager at Snap Inc., said in a statement. “If you want to make a real change, you have to embed equity in the business. That’s why we are designing tailored workshops, providing funding and helping participants build sustainable businesses.” The fuel behind Snap Inc.’s mission to help build minority-owned content companies and creators is Snapchat’s...
Online shopping can be a breeze when you’re a pro. However, even the savviest online shoppers can find online checkout experiences to be extraneous. In fact, 7 out of every 10 customers will abandon their cart due to difficulties, according to Sleek Note. Since checkout concerns hit home for founder Samuel Eze — who observed the frustration of his mother’s shopping experiences — he decided to found Nigerian startup OnePass to rectify e-commerce checkout problems. “I watched my mother struggle to shop online where I saw her set up multiple accounts on different platforms while going through a rigorous checkout process,” Eze shared with TechCrunch. “In many cases, she ended up dropping the card and moving on to a different online store. Seeing the same pattern happen with other friends and family, I had to dive into it and found that it was actually a major headache for consumers and online retailers.” To ease the headache, Eze designed a platform that allows shoppers to navigate...
Early-stage investment fund Collab Capital is continuing its mission to support Black communities and Black-founded companies with its inaugural fund. Today, the Black-founded company announced the close of their $50 million fund to support its overarching goal to build generational wealth in Black communities. According to the company, the purpose of the debut fund is to invest “financial, human, and social capital” to effectively grow and sustain innovation amongst Black-owned businesses. “For far too long, Black founders have been overlooked despite being the fastest growing entrepreneurial segment remaining the most under-funded and under-resourced group,” Collab Capital founder Jewel Burks Solomon tells us. “As founders ourselves, we’ve witnessed first-hand how difficult it can be to attract VC attention and secure funding, despite having successful business track records. We truly believe this is an important step in narrowing the racial wealth disparity while driving...