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Betting on himself took Newark, NJ, native Vaughn Crowe from initially wanting to be more involved in finance as a career to being a managing partner of a VC firm. During his time working at philanthropist Ray Chambers’ family office, Wesray Social Investments, Crowe was a founding limited partner in Newark Venture Partners (NVP) — founded by Audible’s Don Katz — on behalf of the family office. At AFROTECH™ Executive Newark, Crowe recalled investing in NVP as he had a desire to be an entrepreneur. “ When the opportunity presented itself to go and run a fund and run a firm that I had backed as an investor, it was a natural transition for me doing what I was doing inside of a single-family office to becoming a fiduciary of a number of different investors and having responsibility for catalyzing next-generation software businesses and backing extraordinary founders,” Crowe shared in an interview with AFROTECH™. NVP focuses on health tech, industrial, and fintech with plans to build “a...
In June 2024, AFROTECH™ Executive Newark engaged attendees on several of today’s hot topics in tech and business including AI. Helming the discussion “How Harnessing AI Could Potentially Future-Proof The Workplace” at the Newark, NJ, event were Sam Caucci, founder and CEO of 1Huddle; Michele Alcazar, vice president of workforce transformation strategy at Prudential Financial; and Daniel Adeyanju, director of partnerships at The Knowledge House. During the panel, Caucci shared a Gallup report, which estimated that 70% of skills and the tasks that make up work will change over the next decade. While there is set to be an increase in reskilling, Caucci believes that AI could not only help organizations improve skills mapping but also improve low rates of employee engagement. “I think the opportunity we have in this moment when I think about the opportunity for AI is, how do we tackle these really big community labor workforce opportunities that organizations have always struggled with?...
Angela Rye is one of today’s leading voices in political advocacy and social justice. Recognized for her politics and culture commentary on networks like CNN and ESPN as well as her own podcast “Native Land Pod” with co-hosts Tiffany Cross and Andrew Gillum, the award-winning host, commentator, and lawyer transformed her passion into IMPACT Strategies. Launched in 2013, the political advocacy firm creates strategic partnerships and coalitions to birth societal change. In an interview with AFROTECH™ before her fireside chat, “Bridging the Gap for an Equitable Community,” at AFROTECH™ Executive Newark, Rye shared the backstory of one of IMPACT Strategies’ most impactful partnerships to date. Moreover, it came following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. “A lot of companies were coming asking for Black support, Black help, Black input, Black advice, and strategy,” Rye recalled to AFROTECH™. “A t the time, I represented PayPal and worked really diligently with them on their [$535...
On June 28, 2024, AFROTECH™ held its first-ever event in Brick City. Hosted at Prudential Tower, AFROTECH™ Executive hit Newark, NJ, in partnership with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). For AFROTECH™ Executive Newark, attendees convened for discussions about tech innovation, financial responsibility, and creating wealth in the community. The sessions were led by speakers Angela Rye, principal and CEO of Impact Strategies; Will Lucas, brand manager of AFROTECH™; Erica Duignan Minnihan, founding partner of Reign Ventures; Vaughn Crowe, managing partner of Newark Venture Partners; Sam Caucci, founder and CEO of 1Huddle; Michele Alcazar, vice president of workforce transformation strategy at Prudential Financial; and Daniel Adeyanju, director of partnerships at The Knowledge House. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) Among the sessions was a panel titled “Future-Proofing Workplaces by Harnessing AI,” which included Caucci,...
Half the battle of achieving career goals is being in the right room at the right time. For Black professionals in tech, AFROTECH™ Executive is a time to get the ball rolling further to learn what it takes to reach new career heights. As a reminder, AFROTECH™ Executive is an event that brings founders, executives, and techies together to join discussions revolving around today’s pressing topics and gain important knowledge that is imperative for the community. In addition to the engaging fireside chats, AFROTECH™ Executive has time carved out specifically for networking. During the networking reception, attendees can connect with fellow professionals from the local area of the events, as well as from across the U.S. “It was a really great opportunity to bring people together in the community, and it was also really great to see people fly out for the event,” shared Christina Tymony, senior diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) strategist and enablement manager at...
In case you missed it, AFROTECH™ Executive is heading to New Jersey. If you’re unfamiliar with the event, previous stops included Seattle, WA; Washington, D.C.; Brooklyn, NY; and more. As the event heads to Newark, NJ, on June 28, attendees will have the opportunity to explore topics like practical AI applications, equitable resources for entrepreneurs, tech advancements, and innovative economies. In addition, the highly anticipated AFROTECH Executive Newark will allow attendees to hear from speakers like A ngela Rye, principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies and co-host of the Native Land Pod. Her fireside chat will focus on bridging the gap for an equitable community. The conversation, moderated by Black Tech Green Money host Will Lucas, will explore a world where opportunities and access are endless, ensuring that entrepreneurs who represent the community are equipped with the tools needed to be successful and can inspire others to build a more accessible, diverse, and thriving...
AFROTECH™ Executive is back on the road for 2024! Last year, the multi-city series made stops in Seattle, WA; Washington, DC; and Brooklyn, NY. The discussions led by tech leaders and founders ranged from finance and fintech to artificial intelligence (AI). Moreover, the likes of Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan, Fearless Fund Co-Founder and CEO Arian Simone, and Esusu Co-Founder and Co-CEO Wemimo Abbey were in the room for AFROTECH™ Executive. As previously shared by AFROTECH™, in 2023, for the closing event in Brooklyn, NY, the fireside chats focused on the critical role of corporate responsibility in addressing the wealth gap and the impact that fintech has in creating new avenues for wealth-building and financial inclusion. “One thing that I really took away is that these speakers are all very authentic and just made me feel very welcomed and comfortable to be in this space,” first-time attendee Annellyse Munroe shared at the time. “And they gave us real tangible tips to be...
The date Sept. 22 marked AFROTECH closing out the AFROTECH Executive series for 2023. Held in Brooklyn, NY, the event was an opportunity for people to gain insights about creating wealth, fintech, and tech innovation. Speakers that graced the stage included Arian Simone, co-founder and CEO of Fearless Fund, Wemimo Abbey, co-founder and co-CEO of Esusu , and Abim Kolawole, chief audit executive at Northwestern Mutual . The first fireside chat of the day was titled “Corporate Responsibility in Closing the Wealth Gap: The Blueprint, Presented by NorthWestern Mutual” with Kolawole. The discussion, moderated by Co-founder and CEO at Zirtue Dennis Cail, was about the critical role of corporate responsibility in addressing the wealth gap through real-time examples of NorthWestern Mutual’s initiatives. There was also a fireside chat with Abbey centering on “The Importance of Investing in Innovative Fintech.” Moderator Ollen Douglass — who is an investor in Esusu — and Abbey spoke about the...
As summer 2023 is coming to an end, so is AFROTECH Executive. On Sept. 22, the multi-city series is making its last stop in Brooklyn, NY at The William Vale. The event will feature conversations with Arian Simone, co-founder and CEO of Fearless Fund, Abim Kolawole, chief audit executive at Northwestern Mutual, Wemimo Abbey, co-founder and co-CEO of Esusu, and more. Closing out the event, there will be a networking reception presented by Remitly. To secure last-minute tickets, click here. While you’re in the city of Brooklyn, below are Black-owned businesses to pay a visit to.
AFROTECH Executive is set to close out in Brooklyn, NY. On Sept. 22, the last stop of the multi-city series will focus on wealth, finance, and innovation, including a fireside chat with Northwestern Mutual’s Abim Kolawole on corporate responsibility in closing the wealth gap. Snag your tickets for AFROTECH Executive here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech)
AFROTECH Executive is back! On Sept. 22, AFROTECH Executive is taking place in Brooklyn, NY, at The William Vale. During the final stop of 2023 for the multi-city series, attendees will have the opportunity to network and collaborate with some of today’s industry leaders and executives. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) Focused on wealth, finance, and innovation, the event is set to hold conversation-starting discussions including a fireside chat with Abim Kolawole, chief audit executive at Northwestern Mutual, moderated by Dennis Cail, founder and CEO of Zirtue, about corporate’s responsibility in closing the wealth gap. In addition, there will be a chat between Wemimo Abbey, co-founder and co-CEO of Esusu, and Ollen Douglass, CEO of Hanover Street Advisors, on investment in fintech. To close the event out, there will be a networking reception presented by Remitly. Grab your tickets here. Ahead of the event, AFROTECH wanted to highlight Black...
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.
Omi Bell is perseverance personified. During AfroTech Executive D.C., the Black Girl Ventures Founder and CEO recalled her journey to get to where she is today. Bell shared that her mother was her first investor. Believing in her daughter’s dreams, she gave Bell $10,000 from her retirement fund.
On May 11, AfroTech Executive made its latest stop in its event series — Washington, D.C. At The Gathering Spot, the Chocolate City’s ever-growing community of executives, investors, founders, and tech professionals convened to discuss ways to create partnerships that connect local and global talent as well as ways to take real action. Photo Credit: Jemal Countess
Some would argue that how a person starts the day is a critical process for overall productivity. Whether it’s a gym routine or roasting your favorite coffee blend, the morning typically sets the tone for how people kick off their day. Starbucks’ new CEO Laxman Narasimhan begins his busy days by delaying his morning brew and opting instead to start with a moment of reflection through meditation. Narasimhan’s future plans for the global coffee brand include more than his approach to each day. He intends to fully immerse himself in the organization’s inner workings to “earn his green apron.”