Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the writer’s own and not those of AfroTech. Five years ago, I started my business, Beaux & Paws, making bow ties, which are in my personal opinion – the perfect complement to any formal outfit. When I launched the business, I knew I wanted to do more than just sell a product. I wanted to make a difference. My idea sparked when I saw all of the displaced pets following Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey. Some of these animals were understandably not looking their best given what they’d been through. And while we know we shouldn’t, many of us judge books by their covers. I’ve always gotten compliments on how I present myself — my signature bow tie and dapper look is even how I got the nickname “Sir Darius.” That’s when I had the thought: what if, by wearing my bow ties, these dogs could find their “furever” homes faster? After all, who can resist a puppy in a bow tie!? I started by donating some bow ties to the ASPCA in New York City. Soon, I...

President Barack Obama knows how to rule a country — and how to make money. Since leaving office in 2016, AfroTech has been keeping up with America’s favorite President and his subsequent money moves. Whether he’s teaching college courses, joining NBA Africa, or launching a podcast series with Spotify, Barack Obama has been working hard for the money. In fact, Obama has been richer than he’s ever been in his life. Since leaving office, he’s grown his net worth by $70 million, and according to some sources, that’s actually a low-ball estimate. Business Insider reports that the Obamas probably have a much higher net worth than $70 million. When fees for their speaking arrangements, a six-figure pension that all presidents receive, and their Netflix deal are all taken into account — not to mention their new business deals that seem to pop up regularly — the Obamas most likely have a net worth of $135 million. But Barack Obama doesn’t just make his money from speaking fees and pensions....

People are leaving Twitter at alarming rates following the news that billionaire Elon Musk has now acquired the company. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the follower counts for high-profile accounts like former President Barack Obama (the most-followed Twitter user) and Katy Perry have seen a significant drop on the social media platform. “Obama, who is Twitter’s most-followed user with 131.7 million followers, saw his follower count fall by 300,000 since Monday, NBC News says. Perry, who has 108.8 million followers, lost 200,000,” the outlet reports. And, what’s more, the decrease is allegedly happening due to Elon Musk’s estimated $44 billion purchase.  

Michelle Obama is nothing if not a legend. According to Forbes, she has “been busy cementing her legacy as an advocate for the arts, education, and, above all, nutrition. Among the initiatives from her eight-year stint as First Lady is Let’s Move, a nationwide campaign to combat childhood obesity, which included revamping school lunches, and the Partnership for a Healthier America, which will remain in effect after the Obamas leave the White House. Obama’s Turnaround Arts program, which brings art instruction to underperforming schools, will also continue, under the mantle of the Kennedy Center. But perhaps her most lasting legacy is, by appearance at least, the smallest: the label attached to food packaging.” But more than being a legend as a First Lady, Michelle Obama is an accomplished lawyer and public speaker. She’s an Ivy League graduate — a Princeton University alumnus who graduated cum laude — and an advocate for Black women. And according to Celebrity Net Worth, Michelle...

Flint, Michigan’s guardian angel Amariyanna “Mari” Copeny — also known as “Little Miss Flint” — provided 1,000 backpacks stocked with school supplies for the Flint community on Aug. 15. My event turned out perfectly despite so much going wrong leading up to the event. 1,000 backpacks 10,000 pencils 1200 packs of crayons 2000 notebooks Tons more supplies Filters Books Covid Shots Resources Inflatables Icecream and food truck https://t.co/ag4LlgjLMb — Mari Copeny (@LittleMissFlint) August 17, 2021 Flint, Michigan made national headlines in 2015 due to concerns from local residents regarding strange odors and prominent discoloration from the water supply causing hair loss, skin rashes, and legionnaires disease, Natural Resources Defense Council previously disclosed. To retain funds, the city made a collective decision to replace water provider Detroit Water and Sewerage. Upon waiting for Flint’s pipeline to connect to Karegnondi Water Authority, the government officially ruled to...

If you’ve ever had radio dreams, this Black founder is about to make them a reality. Ayinde Alakoye — a former speech contributor and message advisor to Barack Obama during a 2008 Presidential campaign — is remaining committed to the community, specifically the Black community. As a serial entrepreneur in the live broadcast space , Alakoye is no stranger to building apps. He created iHeartRadio’s mobile app and now he’s crafting his very own company from the ground up to better serve his community. Now, through his company Nēdl, Alakoye is on a mission to elevate more Black voices. The platform is a live audio discovery and creation app that allows users to start their own live call-in radio show with just the tap of a button. From there, the app transcribes, amplifies, and monetizes their words within seconds of them speaking. “If anyone can create a product for everyone, it’s us,” said Alakoye during a previous episode of AfroTech’s Black Tech Green Money podcast. “And so that’s...

A Harvard business school graduate has created the “Uber of Furniture” and raised $12 million for his efforts thanks to a little help from President Barack Obama’s former financial advisor. In a press release announcement, it was revealed that Cameron Johnson — who graduated from Harvard Business School — founded a company called Nickson in 2017. By providing “furniture as a service,” Nickson’s clientele can make their spaces move-in ready in as little as three hours. “Nickson was founded to enable frictionless relocation and afford people the opportunity to instantly have a place to call home,” Johnson said in a statement provided in the press release. “Our Series A fundraise represents a milestone that will be a catalyst for growth—we are now capitalized to meaningfully service demand and rapidly scale.” What makes Nickson have such a great “Uber of Furniture” model is its hands-off approach to moving. While the idea had its germination back in 2017, the COVID-19 pandemic made it...

When talking about Maya Penn, the question to ask isn’t “what does she do?” The better question is, “what doesn’t she do?” At just 21-years-old, the Atlanta native is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, animator, artist, and CEO. She’s spoken at the TEDWomen event in San Francisco, which was subsequently broadcast live on TED’s official website — after which she did both a TEDx Talk and two official TEDTalks. She’s an animator and an artist, and was named to Oprah Winfrey’s SuperSoul 100 list of visionaries and influential leaders in 2016. Maya Penn is, in a word, a force of nature. But though she’s known as the CEO of Maya’s Ideas — a sustainable fashion company that she established long before it became chic to up-cycle clothes and accessories — she makes it clear that she prefers to be known for her work outside the industry. “The fashion, while enjoyable, is just one part of a bigger picture,” she told AfroTech. “I’m happy I’m able to do Maya’s Ideas. But what’s more important to...