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TikTok has a new creative addition on its hands that’s looking to take creators’ content to the next level. TechCrunch reports that the company has launched Effect House — its own augmented reality (AR) development platform. TikTokers will now have access to AR effects within the video app to grow their reach and level of creativity. While already known for its extensive library of effects, the launch allows for creators to build their own effects, according to the outlet. The new expansion further tightens its competition against Snap and Meta. “Effect House brings your storytelling to life through powerful, intuitive, and expressive features,” its website describes. “Our built-in capabilities — from advanced tracking to rich interactions — enable you to experiment, create, preview, publish and manage all your effects on TikTok.” Effect House has been in close beta since its creation in 2021. Now, after it’s officially gone public, TikTok is opening up beta access from its initial...
Virtual reality gaming just hit a new level courtesy of StatusPRO. In a previous interview with AfroTech, StatusPRO founders Andrew “Hawk” Hawkins and Troy Jones explained their plans to combine augmented reality and virtual reality (VR) to enhance the sports industry as we know it. Now, it looks like they are here to deliver. According to a press release, the former football players have officially inked a deal to create the first VR NFL-licensed football game. “We are a company that wants to democratize what it is like to be an athlete. In XR and VR specifically here, we want to really immerse fans into the shoes of people they watch on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis and give them something they have never experienced,” Hawkins told Boardroom. “As an athlete, being able to continue to bring those experiences to life is amazing. This is the first of many athletes from our company but as football players, you can imagine we want to bring the most authentic version of this to the...
StatusPRO continues to go against the status quo! As previously reported by AfroTech, the sports technology and gaming company combines player data and XR (augmented and virtual reality) to create a suite of training and fan engagement products for enterprise and consumers. Founded by Andrew “Hawk” Hawkins and Troy Jones, StatusPRO is a part of the less than one percent of Black entrepreneurs who receive funding from traditional venture capital firms. Plus, they have announced a list of strategic investors made up of industry leaders that will join KB Partners, TitletownTech, Greycroft, Verizon Ventures, Haslam Sports Group, 49ers Enterprises and SC Holdings. “Besides the immense credibility our new investors bring to the business, they have proven the value of creating companies and brands that prioritize empowerment, diversity of thought, experience, and culture,” said StatusPRO Chief Executive Officer, Troy Jones, in an official press release shared with AfroTech. “These are some...
This fraternity is putting brotherhood to the test with a new initiative to help startups and their respective communities build wealth. According to Watch The Yard, 18 members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. from all over the nation have partnered with 12 Black and brown executives to form an Equity Crowdfunding Portal. Seed At The Table is FINRA approved and a win-win situation as that it will provide access to capital for diverse founders and allow investors to place their stake in private businesses at lower minimums. “[Seed At The Table] is committed to spurring economic advancement and firmly believes both a founder’s ability to access capital and an individuals’ ability to invest in the business and products they consume are paramount to the viability of Black and Brown commerce,” said founding member and brother of Kappa Alpha Psi, Pierre Le Veaux, in an interview with Watch The Yard. Generally to invest in an early-stage startup, one must have an accredited investor...
Technology continues to change the world of sports as we know it, and Reebok recognizes that. For years, access to sports facilities has not been the norm for children in underserved areas often pushing them to reinvent the wheel when it comes to playing some of their favorite games. Now, Reebok is equipping those same communities with the resources that they need to play big thanks to augmented reality (AR) technology tools. Courting Greatness is a FW21 basketball campaign that was launched by the company in late July that uses technology to provide a real-world environment of playable basketball spaces where they may not exist. Photo courtesy of Reebok “Technology is undeniably just part of the fabric of our culture now,” said Inga Stenta, Head of U.S. Marketing for Reebok in an exclusive interview with AfroTech. “As you see things continuing to evolve and move, it is becoming more and more connected to the sports space. What we are really trying to do in this situation is...
Jamal Adams is proof that fighting for your worth pays off in the end! Adams had a goal to become the highest-paid safety in the National Football League (NFL), now it’s a dream come true thanks to his determination to stand by what he knew he was worth. According to The Seattle Times, on Aug. 17, Adams signed a four-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks worth up to $72 million. Not only was his mission accomplished, but the team can now rest assured knowing that their 2020 trade paid off as Adams is now set to play a pivotal role on the team during his prime years. Jamal Adam’s Seahawks journey began on July 25, 2020, when the team traded quite the package to the New York Jets, including first-round picks from 2021 and 2022, just to secure his spot on the team. Now, after five months of what coach Pete Carroll called “intense negotiations,” Adams is ready to rock and roll as a Seattle Seahawk. “This is a block off my shoulders,” said Adams. “Just so excited to be a part of such a...
When it comes to sports and technology, StatusPRO not only gets it right but encourages others to see just how significant technology is to the sports industry and vice versa. As athletes, founders Andrew “Hawk” Hawkins and Troy Jones know the importance of using technology to make training more efficient for sports professionals across the nation. The company marries technology and sports by combining player data, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) to design a suite of training and gaming products. Now, they can continue to execute the vision for their company thanks to a $5.2 million seed round, according to a press release provided to AfroTech. Led by venture capital firms KB Partners and TitletownTech, the round also received additional backing from 49ers Enterprises, Greycoft, Haslam Sports Group, SC Holdings, Verizon Ventures, and a host of other celebrity investors. This is a huge milestone for both Hawkins and Jones. “The XR [AR and VR] market has seen...