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If you want to advance in your professional career, it is imperative to obtain guidance from the right supporter. Keith Chaney learned this while working at technology company Google as the strategy and operations lead of its global partnerships and at McKinsey & Co., where he served as a management consultant. That’s when he decided to exit those jobs to pursue his own career as a founder. During the South by Southwest (SXSW) 2024 pitch competition, he recalls his experience as a first-generation graduate navigating the intricacies of post-college life. He later realized the importance of gaining peer support to be successful in the long term. “When I started my career, I was surrounded by an amazing family. Unfortunately, no one in my family had worked for Google, McKinsey, or any of the places I found myself during my career. So, despite their best efforts, no one was ever able to tell me the information that I needed to win in those spaces,” Chaney said at SXSW 2024. His desire...
During the initial outbreak of the coronavirus, the entertainment industry was hit with the glaring reality that many in-person events would be canceled indefinitely for health precautions. Months later, many brands and media giants are still recovering as they explore new ways to push forward and deliver quality events that give the same experience for consumers and fans. In March of this year, the annual tech, music, and film festival SXSW announced it would cancel its 2020 events due to the virus. Even after companies like Amazon, Facebook and Twitter pulled out as sponsors, SXSW’s organizers tried to salvage the in-person event, but ultimately Austin City officials eventually stepped in to shut it down. However, the cultural fest has bounced back to announce a new pivot that moves toward a digital future with the launch of SXSW Online . “The challenge of building a new future is one that we’re excited to tackle, said SXSW CEO and Co-Founder, Roland Swenson, in a statement ....
Each year, thousands of tech workers, founders and investors travel to Austin, Texas for the SXSW conference and festival to discover how the world of music and media is evolving. The conference is filled with networking opportunities, demos and pitch competitions from the country’s most innovative creators. This year, Roshawnna Novellus and her team at EnrichHer are part of that group. They’ll competing during the annual SXSW Pitch — a competition that hosts more than 50 companies across 10 divisions. The categories include artificial intelligence, social and culture, sports and performance data, and transportation and delivery. EnrichHer is one of the few women-led companies participating in the pitch contest and is competing in the Social and Culture category for its work in helping women founders secure funding through its platform. Founders and investors can create profiles on the platform and investors can directly give funding to whichever companies they choose. Since 2017,...
South by Southwest Conference and Festivals announced Black Girls Code , along with five other organizations, as the recipient of the Community Service Award for their commitment to making a difference. The organization opened a newly redesigned New York Tech Exploration Lab at the New York City headquarters giving students experiences with new technologies like robotics, virtual reality, blockchain and more. Earlier this year the tech non-profit partnered with Microsoft to launch a chapter in Seattle . The tech giant also put $250,000 into a partnership that will support the mission of ensuring young Black girls have opportunities to learn computer science. Born2Walk , HRA Studios & Foundation , Lights Camera Discover , StreetBooks ATX , and The Mobile River (Colorado River Alliance) were also awarded for their community service work. “The recipients selected for the 2019 Community Service Awards are using their creative talents to change the world for the better, and we’re honored...
I, like most of my peers, have been noticing the lack of diversity in the work place, but especially in tech, for years. According to recent data, blacks and Latinos make up less than 5 percent of the tech workforce, and it's white men who mainly comprise the sector. In light of this data, programs like Opportunity Hub’s (OHUB) HBCU@SXSW aim to disrupt these statistics by offering students like me early exposure and recruitment opportunities in tech, entrepreneurship and investment. Here’s a look at my first experience at SXSW during the interactive week. The Golden Ticket As a rising senior at Hampton University (the real H-U!), I’ve been on a mission to take advantage of all the opportunities I can that will help build my network and potentially lead to a “dream job” placement. I first learned about HBCU@SXSW during Spotify’s 20/20 Shift conference last year. After a rigorous application process that required the submission of several essays, a “shark tank” pitch, recommendation...
Blavity Fest 2025 lit up Atlanta, GA’s Lee + White complex last weekend in celebration of Black innovation , cultural expression, and collective wealth-building. Attendees experienced inspiring panel discussions led by experts in entrepreneurship , personal branding, creative development, and financial empowerment, while hands-on workshops offered practical skills in areas including stock trading, book launching, and event planning. The event, held from May 31 to June 1, also featured networking opportunities at community meetups, a Black-owned small business market, and immersive installations designed to spark creativity and connection. The high-energy, high-stakes, and high-impact success of the 2025 Blavity Fest was no accident, as Atlanta is, for the third consecutive year, the nation’s leading hub for Black-owned businesses, as previously reported by AFROTECH™ . According to a LendingTree analysis, nearly 14,000 — or 11.3% of all businesses in the city — are Black-owned as of...
will.i.am missed out on an investment that would have made him millions today. During an interview with Fortune held at SXSW, the multi-platinum music artist, producer, and tech entrepreneur revealed he had a chance to invest in Airbnb, a vacation rental company. The opportunity was introduced to him by Airbnb’s co-founder, Brian Chesky. Founded in 2007, the company raised funds in its early stages and allowed individuals to invest up to $200,000. However, will.i.am wasn’t fully convinced by the concept at the time. “’What’s up with concierge? Y’all don’t got that?’ ‘No,’” he explained to Fortune. “What’s up with room service? Y’all got that? He’s like, ‘No.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I think I’m gonna have to pass on that one.’” Airbnb did become a success. According to its website, it has more than 5 million hosts and has attracted 2 billion guests from more than 220 countries and regions. Hosts have earned more than $250 billion. Today, Airbnb has a market cap valued at more than $78...
Mark Cuban believes Black women founders should prioritize bootstrapping their businesses. Cuban has found great success and is a well-regarded entrepreneur, businessman, and billionaire. His impressive list of business ventures and investments includes being the majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks. In 2023, he sold most of his stake and now owns 27% of the organization, per NBC News. Cuban is also a serial investor with a portfolio that includes Black-led edtech company Beanstack. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the company, owned by married couple Felix Brandon Lloyd (CEO) and Jordan Lloyd Bookey, appeared on Shark Tank and scored a $250,000 investment from Cuban, who later participated in its $1.5 million seed round led by Riverside Acceleration Capital and Evoce Capital. According to CNBC, Cuban launched his journey into entrepreneurship by launching MicroSolutions with a personal investment of $2,000. The software company found itself in difficult circumstances after...
Issa Rae is applauding those who are upholding DEI efforts. During SXSW 2025 in Austin, TX, the actress, producer, and newest part-owner of San Diego FC participated in a keynote conversation where she shared her thoughts on the evolving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) landscape, according to The Hollywood Reporter. A racial awakening occurred in 2020 following the death of George Floyd due to police brutality. This led to an influx of support and a record-breaking $4.3 billion in venture capital and corporate investments towards Black-owned businesses, per ABC News, as well as a 55% increase in DEI roles created, notes NBC News. As time has gone on, many of these bold commitments around DEI have faded out. This has only worsened due to pressures from conservative groups challenging such efforts in litigation, with some success. Legal wins for the right have included the dismantling of Fearless Fund’s Strivers Grant program, which awarded Black woman-owned businesses, and the...
Calaxy wants creators to become more independent. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Calaxy is the brainchild of tech entrepreneur Solo Ceesay and NBA star Spencer Dinwiddie. It serves as a social marketplace where users can create more meaningful experiences to engage their fans. With the added benefit of direct-to-consumer monetization, Calaxy eliminates the need to rely solely on brand and advertising deals. In 2022, Calaxy raised $26 million in a funding round led by The HBAR Foundation and Animoca Brands, with participation from Polygon. A portion of the funding was dedicated to expanding into the Web3 space. Calaxy has since developed “Worlds, ” allowing creators on the decentralized social marketplace to customize no-code apps. These apps enable creators to set up shops to sell subscriptions and digital experiences directly to fans and customers, otherwise known as the “population.” Additionally, creators can access wallets that store cryptocurrencies and NFTs, according to...
Hello Alice’s steadfast commitment to supporting small businesses remained strong, even amid adversity. Founded in 2017 by Elizabeth Gore and Carolyn Rodz, Hello Alice is driven by a mission to support the growth and success of small businesses. This dedication was evident from the outset, especially when the company faced a financial setback due to the cancellation of South by Southwest (SXSW) at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Instead of moving forward with a large marketing campaign as planned, Hello Alice redirected those funds to launch a grant program, offering critical support to small business owners in need during a challenging time. “It was the biggest amount of money we’d ever spent on anything at the time. And then the world shut down and there’s initially that moment of us saying, ‘Oh my gosh, like what’s gonna happen to us?’ And then we said, ‘If we’re dealing with this, and here we are that we had the luxury of having raised capital, we had investment...
Richualist Founder Dawn Myers has scored an investment from “Sharks” Mark Cuban and Emma Grede. On Friday April 5, the founder was featured on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” The purpose of the show is to offer opportunities to entrepreneurs who are looking to start or scale their business by securing funding from its lineup of venture capitalists, its website mentions. The episode starring Myers featured “Sharks” Cuban and Grede, along with Lori Greiner, Kevin O’Leary, and Robert Herjavec. Photo Credit: Christopher Willard Myers was seeking a $150,000 investment in exchange for 10% stake in her company. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Myers launched The Mint, a hair tool that includes six attachments to detangle and style all hair types, with a special focus on curly to coily types, classified as 3A to 4C. Its technology warms liquid hair products between 130 degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit for deeper penetration into the scalp. Myers said on the show she is currently in talks...
Melissa Joyner has worn a myriad of hats, but she has now added another layer to her repertoire, stepping into the role of a first-time virtual reality (VR) director. According to information provided to AFROTECH™, the actor with screen credits including the FX network’s miniseries “Mrs. America” and Spectrum Originals TV series “The Bite” has reimagined the Southern Nigerian folktale “The Woman with Two Skins.” The original tale follows the story of Adiaha, a Spider’s daughter who is given two skins. One is her external skin, perceived as unpleasant to the eye and a way of protection, and the other is her inner self, later revealed as beautiful. Joyner drew many questions from the original storyline that transformed it into a source of inspiration. “I dove deep, searching for an African-American ‘fairytale’ and was graced by ‘The Woman with Two Skins’ from Nigeria. Immediately struck, first by the title, then by the premise,” Joyner told AFROTECH™ in an email interview. “We all...
Dwyane Wade is working to diversify the wine industry. The former basketball athlete is accomplishing this as the founder of his own wine brand, Wade Cellars, established in 2014, and as a University of California (UC Davis), Davis board member. According to a news release, Wade joined the school’s Executive Leadership Board for the Department of Viticulture and Enology in 2021. At the time of appointment, David Block , a professor and chair of the viticulture and enology department, shared in a statement: “All of our new board leaders have really unique skills to help the department achieve our strategic goals. They bring excellent communication skills, a passion for diversifying the industry and making sure students receive a great education and fulfilling career, and a passion for wine. Past and current members will help us to reach even a higher level of teaching, research and continuing education for the industry.” Wade’s participation was to serve as a doorway for expanding...
Upon retiring, Lisa Leslie sought new ways to move the needle in women’s basketball. The WNBA superstar and hall of famer said goodbye to the game after her 2009 season, as reported by ESPN. Recently, Leslie discussed her involvement in another industry since the big decision. During the South by Southwest (SXSW) 2024 Conference, Leslie stated that she started developing an interest in the digital space shortly after her retirement. This new passion prompted her to become an investor in LootMogul, a company enhancing relationships among fans, athletes, teams, and brands through the sports metaverse, its LinkedIn page mentions. “Once I retired, you saw where everything just started to shift, whether it was the NFTs or just different ways to engage,” Leslie said during SXSW 2024. “So, I became an investor in LootMogul, which is one of the digital platforms that also can help with fan engagement and how they see it and giving fans the in-arena opportunity in a stadium or if they’re at...