AI messaging company Holler is well on it’s way to proving that Black founders can obtain VC funding to help power their startups and fuel their missions to change the world. According to TechCrunch, the Black-owned tech company has just announced the raise of a $36 million Series B funding round, bringing its total funding to $51 million overall. The round was co-led by CityRock Venture Partners and New General Market Partners, with participation from other investors such as Gaingels, Interplay Ventures, Relevance Ventures, Towerview Ventures and WorldQuant Ventures. MarTech Series reports that Holler plans to use the new funds to “invest in the research, engineering and development around conversational media, and the original creative content intended to drive its use.”   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Holler (@holler.io) Holler — which is described as a conversational media company — initially launched with a mission to become a news and video content app before...

For the first time in history, five generations are working side by side in the modern workplace. From Baby Boomers to Gen Z, employees bring unique values, work styles, and expectations that influence workplace dynamics. While these differences can sometimes lead to misunderstandings, businesses that embrace generational diversity can drive innovation, improve collaboration, and strengthen employee engagement. Yet, despite 83% of global executives recognizing the importance of a multigenerational workforce, only 6% have implemented unbiased recruiting processes, according to AARP. Understanding how different generations work, communicate, and respond to change allows organizations to develop a more inclusive and productive environment. Each generation has been shaped by distinct historical events and technological advancements, influencing their workplace behaviors. Traditionalists, born between 1925 and 1945, tend to be disciplined, loyal, and value hierarchical structures. Baby...

JPMorgan Chase has begun removing any mention of its DEI efforts from its website, according to The Wall Street Journal. As AFROTECH™ previously mentioned, the bank’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, had vowed to maintain its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as well as environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) policies, despite pushback from the conservative National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC). The center had also suggested that JPMorgan Chase, which employs 300,000 people globally, reexamine executive compensation tied to DEI goals — an initiative it introduced in 2020 through its “accountability framework.” That same year, the company had launched a $30 billion program to promote racial equity in personal finance as well. In response to the recent pushback, Dimon said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last month, “Bring them on. We are going to continue to reach out to the Black community, the Hispanic community, the LGBT community, the...

Amazon has updated its company policy and a section of its website that provides employment information, removing language that ensures protection for Black and LGBTQ+ employees. In late December 2024, the company removed statements supporting and advocating for transgender rights protections as well as expressing “solidarity” with Black employees and customers, according to The Washington Post. Amazon also removed language supporting laws to address misconduct and racial bias in policing, initiatives to protect and expand voting rights , and efforts to promote better health and educational opportunities for Black people. The sections titled “Equity for Black People” and “LGBTQ+ Rights” no longer exist in the company’s policy, along with all references to the term “transgender.” The “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” section now states that “inequitable treatment of anyone — including Black people, LGBTQ+ people, Asians, women, and others — is unacceptable.” A page once titled...

If you tend to spend any time analyzing stock market data , you may have been struck by the sudden surge in Salesforce shares on Tuesday morning. Per reports, the shares saw a more than 12 percent single-day rise as Salesforce’s third-quarter earnings were reported in full. Not only did the corporation, listed as CRM on the New York Stock Exchange , manage to out-earn their Q3 projections in 2024, their recent pivot to artificial intelligence has led analysts to project significant additional growth in quarter 4 and beyond. Expectations for fourth-quarter sales have now been reported at highs of over $10 billion. Though these figures seem massive in scope, some analysts have successfully predicted this rise, as Salesforce has been on a financial uptick throughout all of 2024. To understand why these figures are significant, and what this means for the Salesforce market moving forward, we’ll have to take a brief look at the company’s existing business model, financial structure, and...

From one of the most impactful singles, “Where Is The Love,” to the catchy hit “Boom Boom Pow,” will.i.am has been an integral part of the music industry and still places a massive stamp on the world. As a member of the iconic music group Black Eyed Peas, the Grammy-Award winner has released many popular studio albums. Will.i.am has also played the role of record producer by working alongside other artists such as Michael Jackson, John Legend, Lady Gaga, Chris Brown, and Kendrick Lamar, to name a few. Born William Adams, will.i.am grew up in Los Angeles, CA. He has always been encouraged to pursue music and stand out. His music career began in the eighth grade, performing with a group around the city. After becoming the Black Eyed Peas, their recognition continued to soar, which landed the group a contract with Interscope Records. The Black Eyed Peas released their first studio album, “Behind The Front” in 1998. With over 25 years in the music industry, will.i.am decided to expand...

Will.i.am sees great value in the upcoming AFROTECH™ Conference. The breeding ground for tech professionals who are looking to learn and be submerged in a collaborative atmosphere is making its way to Houston, TX, for the first time, and it will be held Nov. 13-16 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH™ Conference (@afrotech.conference) Among the panels announced, so far, is the Women’s Summit Stage, which will uplift women in their professional journeys. For the first time, the conference will also host the Health & Environmental Equity Summit in addition to the AI Stage. It is the activations being held this year that have the interest of will.i.am as he sees various changemakers across the industry coming to the conference. Haven’t purchased your ticket yet? Click here now. “Getting things off the ground and bringing people together, inspiring people to come, travel, and be a part of something and belong to something,...

According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), Black business ownership is growing at the fastest pace in 30 years. That’s an amazing headline, but let’s do the numbers: Black Americans make up about 12.4% of the U.S. population, but we only represent 2.4% of all business owners, per USA TODAY. We’re making progress, but there’s so much wide open space for us to claim as entrepreneurs. I believe that Black Americans have been so underserved by product and services companies that there are no saturated markets. Imagine creating a product that fills the gap for a Black consumer and scaling that product to Black consumers throughout the US, then the Caribbean — and don’t get me started thinking about the possibilities on the continent of Africa. I dream big, but I’m not the only one. In fact, we’re in the midst of what’s being called the Black Business Boom, where 77% of Black professionals are dreaming of starting their own business. This surge isn’t just a trend; it’s a...