When passion exuded by investors matches that of the founders, it could be a win-win situation. On the latest episode of AfroTech’s Black Tech Green Money (BTGM), Blavity COO Aaron Samuels is joined by Slauson & Co. founders Austin Clements and Ajay Relan to discuss all things venture capital, which includes sharing their expertise on the world of investing. As an early-stage venture capital firm, Slauson & Co. invests in the tools and platforms of people to grow and expand small businesses. Their belief is rooted in the power of entrepreneurship with a focus on empowering founders regardless of their proximity to the traditional venture capital ecosystem. They truly believe that intentionality and inclusivity will take investors a long way when it comes to finding the best pool of founders to partner with. “There are a lot of diversity funds popping up, or a lot of people that are going after those markets and the question that comes with that is — ‘Is it too crowded or too niche...

Chick-fil-A has just announced that it will donate funds to various nonprofits across the nation that are either Black-led or serve communities of color. According to a press release, through the 2022 Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards grants, 34 organizations will receive a portion of the $5 million donation. “Despite the challenges these organizations have faced in the past few years, the 2022 grant recipients have demonstrated incredible passion, perseverance, and leadership as they have continued to enact meaningful change in their communities,” Chick-fil-A, Inc. Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility Rodney Bullard said in a statement. “We are inspired by the impact these organizations have on their communities every day, from providing essential items to those affected by Hurricane Ida, to enabling access to online education for students during the pandemic. We’re honored to invest in the future of these organizations and help them grow their incredible impact.”

Dolly Parton will always love Whitney Houston and her new noble revelation is proof of that. During an appearance on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen” this week, the singer and songwriter revealed that she’s been using royalties that she’s collected from Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” — which was originally sung by Parton — to invest in a Black Tennessee community, TMZ reports. In her interview with Cohen, she went on to explain how she purchased “my big office complex down in Nashville” and decided to buy the property in honor of the area’s Black community and Houston’s legacy. “I bought a property down in what was the Black area of town, and it was mostly just Black families and people that lived around there,” she said. “And it was off the beaten path from 16th avenue and I thought, ‘Well I am going to buy this place, the whole strip mall.’ And thought, ‘This is the perfect place for me to be,’ considering it was Whitney.” “So I just thought this was great,...

The global neobanking market is expected to reach an estimated $723 billion by 2028, according to Grand View Research. As more people handle their finances online, the neobanking industry has been getting a lot of love, but what are neobanks anyway? Neobanks are digital-only financial institutions that operate similarly to traditional banks, but without physical branches, The Balance explains. You typically access neobanks through mobile applications and online platforms. While neobanking can be convenient, have lower costs and are more easily accessible, they don’t have the same accreditation as traditional banks and are regulated much less. Above all, neobanking requires access to technology and internet, a luxury that not everyone has. Another thing to think about with neobanking is that even with access to technology and internet, consumers have to be comfortable and trust tech in order to invest in using online-only banking systems. Some neobanks like N26, Atom Bank and Monzo...

Steps by major companies and organizations are still being taken to ignite change and empower the Black community. On Wednesday, the NBA Board of Governors — in partnership with the National Basketball Players Association — announced that it will be contributing $300 million toward establishing the first-ever NBA Foundation dedicated to strengthening the Black community economically in an official press release . “On behalf of the NBA Board of Governors, I am thrilled to announce the creation of the NBA Foundation,” said NBA Board of Governors Chairman and Toronto Raptors Governor Larry Tanenbaum, according to the press release. “All NBA team governors recognize our unique position to effect change and we are committed to supporting and empowering young Black men and women in each of our team markets as well as communities across the U.S. and Canada.” The foundation’s mission is to strengthen access and extend support for high school, higher education, and “career-ready” Black men...