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Disney, Issa Rae, Magic Johnson Enterprises, and Chris Paul — what do they share in common? They’re all investors in Jessica O. Matthews’ Uncharted. The Nigerian-American founder and CEO started her company to be a leader in creating a world with universal access to smart, sustainable infrastructure, as previously reported by AfroTech. What’s more, Uncharted aims to reduce the costs of development across the globe.
What better way to kick off the year than with an event where Black corporate executives, investors, and tech moguls link up to discuss today’s trending topics? On March 30, AfroTech Executive Seattle convened at the Four Seasons Hotel. The highly anticipated event included top companies like Microsoft and The Collective as well as speakers such as Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan, who led the fireside chat “ Sustainable Leadership: Thriving in Your New Role.” Photo Credit: Mat Hayward
If Beyoncé and Bill Nye The Science Guy had a baby it would be Jessica O. Matthews, according to her. Matthews is the founder and CEO of Uncharted Power — the award-winning renewable power and sustainable company which is now well on its way to creating smart cities around the world. She founded the company at the tender age of 22 and has been on a mission to create a world where there’s universal access to smart, sustainable infrastructure and where people have access to the same infrastructure that could allow them to live longer. “I know I can’t cure death, but I can cure life,” said Matthews during the latest episode of the Black Tech Green Money podcast. For her, the underlying mission stems from a personal experience of losing loved ones in her home of Nigeria due to the lack of basic physical systems needed to survive and thrive. “The first step in innovation is the articulation of the problem,” she continued. “The way that you articulate that problem will then drive what you...
Business phenom Magic Johnson is adding more big boss energy to his multi-hyphenate career portfolio. According to CNBC , the former Los Angeles Lakers legend will take a seat on the Board of Directors at Uncharted Power , an award-winning renewable energy tech company founded by Jessica O. Matthews in 2011. In his new role, the CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises will help establish and expand the smart startup’s partnerships and programs in U.S. communities. “Many of America’s urban, multicultural communities are being left behind when it comes to basic human rights such as feeling safe in the community, providing for family, getting an education and, quite literally, keeping the lights on,” Johnson said in a statement. Matthews first discovered her passion for renewable energy after witnessing the issues in Nigeria’s power infrastructure. As a result, Uncharted Power’s aim is to achieve access to cost-effective, clean power networks in underserved areas by creating new energy...
Access to resources is one of the most significant barriers to entry for Black entrepreneurs. Whether it is a lack of funding or a gap in training, Black business owners have often found it challenging to tap into the same level of success–at the same rate– as some of their racial counterparts. Northwestern Mutual , a leading financial services company which has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 160 years, acknowledges this systemic challenge and is committed to investment opportunities that will help reduce the racial wealth gap. One program the company has stood up, its Black Founder Accelerator program, furthers its commitment to championing diversity, equity and inclusion. Based on recent research, Black founders receive less than two percent of venture capital funds. Northwestern Mutual is stepping in and offering each eligible entrepreneur a $100,000 investment and inclusion in a 12-week intensive program. As part of the accelerator,...
AfroTech is a platform on a mission to uplift the Black tech community, and it’s a safe space for people to take their innovative ideas to the next level. Over the past few years, various AfroTech events have set the stage for career development and elevation like never before. While the AfroTech Conference is one of the more popular, large-scale events, we also have you covered with more intimate meet-ups throughout the year. Take, for instance, AfroTech Executive — the multi-city event series which empowers corporate executives, investors, and tech moguls. On March 30, AfroTech will take over the northwest region with a stop in Seattle, WA. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) There will be a fireside chat with Laxman Narasimhan, the leader who has officially become the chief executive officer (CEO) of Starbucks, succeeding Howard Schultz, the company’s founder and former CEO. There will also be a chat with Uncharted founder and CEO Jessica O....
It’s no secret that artificial intelligence (AI) is currently the talk of the town. On March 30, AfroTech is taking the topic to center stage at AfroTech Executive 2023 in Seattle, WA, where Black corporate executives, investors, and tech moguls will convene. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) Jessica O. Matthews, founder and CEO of Uncharted, and Jonnie Bradley, Acting Director and Responsible Artificial Intelligence Official at the U.S. Department of Energy, are set to discuss how to sustainably take control and maximize AI. While AI is being utilized to advance industries, there is the danger of errors and bias on the other side of the coin. To combat such a danger, Larry Adams took action. Adams is the founder and CEO of X_Stereotype, an AI-powered platform that analyzes content through a lens of diversity and inclusion. The company’s website describes it as “the world’s first inclusion operating system eliminating stereotypes and bias in...
AfroTech Executive is still making its rounds, continuing to fuel leaders with the resources needed to not only succeed but smash ceilings, move the needle, and make room for generations to come. Before it makes its way to Los Angeles, CA, it stopped in D.C. for a sold-out event, where the room was filled with corporate executives, founders, and investors in an effort to cultivate connections and also build community. What’s more, spotlighting opportunities to cultivate Black wealth was the main course of the day on May 19, 2022, where panels included The Power Of The Black Dollar and Cultivating Capital In A Black Tomorrow. Plus, we ended the night with something sweet as DJ 5’9 set the vibes for a Networking Reception. Photo Credit: Jemal Countess
The National Black Bank Foundation (NBBF) is adding some heavy hitters to its board. According to Business Wire , NBBF is a racial justice nonprofit committed to ensuring the communities of color have access to capital in order to build wealth through the Black banking sector. Just last week the board appointed King Center CEO Dr. Bernice A. King and actor Hill Harper to its board of dynamic leaders. Harper and King will join a board of directors that includes ESPN analyst and Super Bowl XLIII winner Ryan Clark, National Bankers Association Chairman Robert James II, Aspen Institute Fellow Yolanda Daniel, and founder and CEO of Calliope Advisors Lauren McCann. “Black banks help Black families escape the continuum of poverty by building real wealth , which is why the work of uplifting these community anchors is so urgent,” said NBBF Board Chair and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones. “We’re deeply honored that Dr. King and Hill have invested themselves in our mission.” Today there are...
This program is setting former at-risk youth up for success. According to PR Newswire, the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN) is launching its Green Path Careers Program to train former at-risk youth between the ages of 18 and 24 for an energy efficiency career. “Through our Green Path Careers Program, participants will receive a comprehensive package of training and support that includes personal enrichment training, technical training, and education, and paid work experience with local companies working in energy efficiency,” said Wendy Angel , Regional Director at the Emerald Cities Collaborative in a news release. “The Green Path Careers team will also assist participants in developing a professional resume, preparing for interviews, and search support during the job application process.” As one of the fastest-growing career fields in the United States, the industry is currently responsible for employing more than 2.35 million Americans. Plus, jobs continue...
According to an official news release, Edelman has named Lisa Osborne Ross as CEO of its United States operation. Ross — who currently serves as U.S. COO — will now oversee the firm’s largest region made up of 2,360 people across 13 offices. She will succeed Russell Dubner who has just been named global vice chairman and chair of the Edelman Trust Institute. “In the four years since Lisa joined Edelman, she has made an incredible impact on the firm, particularly through her empathetic leadership during Covid and the tragic aftermath of George Floyd’s murder,” said Global President and COO, Matthew Harrington in a statement. “She is a champion of our people, and expansive in her ability to provide senior counsel to clients and drive operations. Lisa is an exemplary leader for extraordinary times, and her many talents will take the U.S. business forward from a position of strength.” During her tenure as COO, Ross led Edelman’s Covid Task Force and soon became one of the most...
Code Fellows — an organization on a mission to help minorities find careers in coding — has partnered with Memphis-based CodeCrew School to help underrepresented minorities obtain skills in cybersecurity, ops, and software development. People of all skill levels and backgrounds will be able to receive industry-relevant vocational training to gain meaningful and financially rewarding employment which in turn will strengthen the local economy in Memphis. “As part of the CodeCrew Code School mission, we seek to increase diversity in the tech ecosystem,” said Eric Johnson, CodeCrew Code School Program Director. “The Code Fellows and CodeCrew partnership will allow us to provide a flexible coding curriculum and increase course offerings to our community. This will give more individuals exposure and knowledge to be confident we have the skills to gain employment in the tech industry.” Mentors and those underrepresented in tech are encouraged and educated by CodeCrew to be tech innovators...
In honor of International Women’s Day, we here at AfroTech thought it was only fitting to recognize the work of 31 Black women in tech. Too often, Black women’s accomplishments, especially in the technology field, are overlooked or overshadowed. We encourage you not only to check out these women’s profiles and businesses but also to help shine a light on other Black women in tech this month and throughout the rest of the year. Check out the list of 31 Black women in the tech sector below: Asmau Ahmed, CEO of Plum Perfect, an app that helps women find beauty products in line with their skin tone Sheena Allen, Founder and CEO of CapWay, which works to service the underbanked Shellye Archambeau, Current Board member of numerous tech companies, former President of Blockbuster.com, and CEO of MetricStream Angela Benton, Founder and CEO of Streamlytics, which helps make transparent what users are consuming on streaming services Jean Brownhill, Founder and CEO of Sweeten, which helps to...