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Uncle Nearest Whiskey’s founder has a word of advice for Beyoncé as she plants herself in the spirits industry. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the “Cowboy Carter” singer released SirDavis in August 2024. The American whisky brand was launched in partnership with Moët Hennessy, and its inaugural product is inspired by Japanese and Scotch whiskies with promises to maintain “the robust and deep flavors typical of classic American rye,” a press release mentioned. The venture is inspired by Beyoncé’s paternal great-grandfather Davis Hogue, who was a farmer and worked as a “moonshiner” in the midst of the Prohibition era. “Our whiskey’s legacy dates back over 200 years to a Black man in Alabama in the 1800s… a man who was a businessman and an entrepreneur, but would have never had the opportunity to create a mainstream whiskey back then. Systemic barriers would not have allowed it,” she mentioned, according to GQ. “But it turns out that my great-grandfather’s hands planted the seed...
Pronghorn has invested in a Black-owned company disrupting the event and spirits sector. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Pronghorn aims to pump $2.4 billion in “economic value” into the Black community by cultivating their growth in the spirits industry. With a goal in 2022 to invest in 57 Black-owned spirits brands by 2032, the firm also provides guidance to Black founders as well as employment opportunities. It is already working toward placing individuals in 1,800 roles within the sector. Pronghorn has invested in numerous companies in the spirits industry, including Tequila with Friends, Den of Thieves, Ego Tequila, and singer Ciara’s Ten To One. Joining the lineup is Eventnoire, an event management and online ticketing platform created by Jeff Osuji. According to a press release, Eventnoire has over 10,000 venues and event organizers and a network of 400,000 influencers across North America and Africa, solidifying the company as a leader within the ticketing sector that is...
Mary J. Blige’s fans have been asking her for a boot collection for years. Now, the music legend has delivered on her promise. In May 2023, the “Good Morning Gorgeous” singer exclusively shared with AFROTECH™ that her signature boot line was on the way. “It’s in the works,” Blige told AFROTECH™ at the time . “For some reason, this is taking longer than everything else, but we’re gonna get there. Trust me. Everything else is here so that’s on its way.” The time has officially arrived as Blige teamed up with Giuseppe Zanotti in May 2024 for “The Mary Boot.” What’s more, she was a part of the design process. “Giuseppe Zanotti and Mary J. Blige have transformed their longtime friendship into an exclusive, limited-edition collaboration,” Giuseppe Zanotti shared on its Instagram page. “‘The Mary Boot,’ a stunning over-the-knee boot co-designed by the two talents.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Giuseppe Zanotti (@giuseppezanotti) During the 2024 Strength of a Woman Festival...
La La Anthony is representing for all the Boricuas with her latest partnership that’s just in time for the summer. Forbes reports that the multi-hyphenate talent is once again joining Baileys Colada to let the good times roll with signature drinks.
Megan Thee Stallion’s educational pursuits are inspiring others to follow suit. As AfroTech previously reported, Megan Thee Stallion received her bachelor’s degree in health administration from Texas Southern University (TSU) back in December 2021. With all eyes on the rapper, it comes as no surprise that her presence at TSU has created a buzz that is already benefitting the city of Houston.
The NBA’s household names are continuing to be seasoned basketball players turned aspiring wine connoisseurs. Essence reports that Tony Parker is next up to enter into the wine industry. The former San Antonio Spurs superstar is now taking his talents to working with French businessman Michel Reybier, who’s companies are known for being driven by luxury and hospitality. Tony Parker, a former NBA Finals MVP, looks to become a champion in the wine industry as well. “We both share a passion for wine, but also for sport,” Reybier said, according to Essence. “I’m from Lyon and particularly admire the dedication Tony shows for the LDLC ASVEL.” He continued, “Our joint commitment will allow us to go even further in the wineries’ development. I am very happy to be able to share this entrepreneurial adventure with fans of our products all over the world.” Parker’s work ahead of him will focus on Château La Mascaronne and Reybier’s brands in Champagne as “the plan to move forward on a common...
As always, it is much cheaper to just not be racist. Former Bulleit blender, Eboni Major has filed a lawsuit against spirits giant, Diageo, the owner of the whiskey brand, for disparate treatment, unlawful discrimination, and retaliation based on race. The claim says that the actions of the company violate the New York City Human Rights Law. Per reports made by Whiskey Raiders, the suit suggests that Major, who is a Black woman, faced “sever and pervasive discrimination,” which includes unfair treatment versus her white women counterparts. The case highlights that the treatment specifically included imbalanced compensation and expectation as well as the fact that her work was often credited to white employees.
Community is where the money resides! Harold Hughes is the founder and CEO of Bandwagon, the venture-backed identity infrastructure company helping customers to transparently aggregate, manage and store valuable consumer identity data, and he stresses the importance of community when building your company. “The value of community is the fact that you can bring community anywhere,” Harold Hughes told host Will Lucas on the latest episode of the Black Tech Green Money podcast. He also shares that when you build up a trusted brand, the people will follow and suggests that founders “start with one thing that people are going to pay you for.” From there, he says figuring out who that group is will determine the capacity in which your brand will be shared with the masses. “Creating [a] community allows you to do a lot of stuff better,” said Hughes. When he initially set out to begin building Bandwagon, he shares how he posted his company goals to Facebook which in turn created a sense of...
Diageo is on a mission to diversify the spirits industry! According to a press release, the global leader in beverage alcohol has teamed up with industry veterans Dia Simms and Erin Harris in order to build an inclusive and diverse economic initiative with the goal of creating the next generation of diverse entrepreneurs, executive leaders, and founders in both a sustainable and scalable way. Pronghorn is the name of the all-new partnership and it will create a standalone business with a primary focus on expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion within the spirits industry. “Diversifying the industry accelerates innovation and competitiveness, and our strategic approach to recruit, retain and advance the Black community and communities of color within the industry alongside Diageo North America couldn’t be more necessary and timely,” said Pronghorn co-founder, Erin Harris in a statement. “We understand first-hand the importance of being motivated and the critical need for ownership...
Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, one of the fastest-growing independent whiskey brands, has announced that it has partnered with a popular Historically Black College and University (HBCU) for a new grant program. In a press release announcement, it was revealed that the Diageo-distributed brand will be working with Kentucky State University (KSU) to provide financial aid totaling $25,000 for talented students. This grant/scholarship program will be available to students who apply to the Master of Agriculture Sciences in Environmental Studies (MES) program. For Bulleit Frontier Whiskey’s part, however, their goal is to promote diversity in the spirits industry — an industry dominated by white people, and specifically, white men — as well as to provide opportunities to Black men and women in Kentucky. “We hope to make a lasting impact as we provide resources, funding, and support to the next generation of pioneers through our partnership with Kentucky State University, an institution that...