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...

Editorial note: Opinions and thoughts are the writer’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. All the recent talk about Black jobs got this career expert thinking about one of the best career development investments money can buy for Black professionals — AFROTECH™ Conference. And no, the Blavity team is not paying me to say this. It truly is not your average conference. In 2023, AFROTECH™ Conference had 35,000 city-wide participants, over 160 enterprises, and more than 200 speakers, solidifying it as the largest gathering of Black tech professionals. Keep in mind that it’s also not a cheap ticket. The companies that show up, host events, and sponsor employees and recruiting teams to attend are signaling their willingness to make a substantial investment in Black businesses and Black talent. I’ve been going since the very early days and can attest that it’s a place where connections are made, ideas are sparked, and careers are launched. I was surprised last year when I saw some...

You’ve successfully subscribed to the AfroTech Daily newsletter. Welcome to the community! Get ready for the latest news to be delivered right to your inbox. You can view our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy here. Didn’t mean to join, or would like to opt out? You can easily unsubscribe right here .

Holidays and major events all introduce the need for traveling and recreational fun. With planning happening in group chats across the globe, all good planning must include organizing the trips’ logistics. Traveling and lodging are mandatory, but they don’t have to be cumbersome. Marriott is stepping up with its technological offerings to ensure patrons can easily book and enjoy their stays. Global Chief Technology Officer at Marriott International, Naveen Manga is confident in the future direction of Marriott’s technology and its impact on its consumer base. The global lodging provider is creating innovative solutions for its consumers and establishing itself as a workplace of choice, leading the way in the future of travel. “At Marriott, we have made a concerted effort to identify opportunities to address pain points and delight customers across all experiences via technology innovation. The impact of these technologies vary across the target personas,” Manga described. A part of...

A new report has revealed the list of cities across the globe where the highest number of millionaires reside . In May 2024, Henley & Partners released the “World’s Wealthiest Cities Report 2024.” According to the firm’s Group Head of Private Clients Dominic Volek, seven out of the top 10 cities listed are in countries that host investment migration programs , which work to foster foreign direct investment in return for residence or citizenship rights. “You can secure the right to live, work, study, and invest in leading international wealth hubs such as New York (NY) , Singapore (Singapore) , Sydney (Australia) , Vienna (Austria) , and Dubai (UAE) via investment,” Volek said, per a press release. “Being able to relocate yourself, your family, or your business to a more favorable city or have the option to choose between multiple different cities across the world is an increasingly important aspect of international wealth and legacy planning for private clients. The more...

When it comes to building a healthy social ecosystem in the workplace, camaraderie amongst colleagues is a must. Beyond breakout rooms, holiday parties and company retreats , ice breakers play a fundamental role in letting your employees feel a sense of human connection. Helping coworkers get to know each other better, energize a room, and get people engaged from the start of a meeting, they’re crucial when it comes to workplace bonding. The key is choosing the right ice breaker questions, striking the balance between prompts that are meaningful enough to learn something new about your colleagues while avoiding anything too personal in a professional setting. Before kicking off your next team meeting, consider facilitating from this list of 101 best ice breaker questions sourced across a variety of categories. Getting To Know You Ice Breakers These prompts allow coworkers to share fun facts and insights about themselves and their lives outside of the office. What’s your favorite...

Posthumously, Josephine Wright has successfully secured ownership of her land. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Wright encountered a legal challenge concerning a 1.8-acre plot of land situated on Hilton Head Island, SC, which had been in her family’s possession for over 30 years. Wright presumed ownership in 2012 following the passing of her husband. Per a 2023 lawsuit, Wright was being sued by the Bailey Point Investment Group for encroachment on its land next door where it was planning to build 147 homes. The group had offered $30,000 to Wright to buy her land to include in the project. However, Wright showed no interest in selling her property and maintained this stance despite alleged tactics employed by the investment group including “intimidation, harassment, [and] trespass,” Wright’s lawyers said. “My porch is not on their property,” Wright told CNN at the time. Wright’s story attracted the attention of Snoop Dogg and Kyrie Irving, who collectively donated $50,000 toward...

Robinhood is embarking on a journey into sports and entertainment and tagging this businessman for assistance. According to CNBC, the financial services company will join forces with Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports Group as it looks to expand its reach. “We’re massive sports fans at Robinhood and we know our customers are as well,” said Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev to CNBC. “Working with Rich and the team at Klutch Sports, it’s really a way to get the Robinhood brand out there to a wider audience and partner with athletes and organizations that are aligned with our customer needs.” Launched in 2012, Klutch is home to many athletes, including LeBron James. Since its inception, the company has expanded its reach across teams, leagues, properties, and more. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, despite people saying that Klutch was a company that “wasn’t gonna last,” Paul confirmed that the business has negotiated more than $2 billion in deals. “I look forward to helping guide Robinhood as they...

A young Malawian inventor has taken matters into his own hands to support his community. VOA Africa reports that Ernest Andrew sparked electricity in his village through an air-powered generator that he created. Andrew claims that what he’s innovated doesn’t require fuel, oil, or batteries. “After realizing that we were facing a lot of problems without using electricity, I thought of trying to make electricity,” Ernest told the outlet. “Now, here we are.” According to Andrew, his generator creates 1,000 volts of electricity and has helped to power nine homes. He aims to build out capacity to connect his entire village as well as a nearby primary school. “This system generates electricity using air. To make a lightbulb illuminate, I use power stored in bottle s,” he explained . “I experiment with magnetic power to determine how much electricity I can produce. After that, I generate power based on the number of houses I want to supply.” The outlet shares that Andrew’s generator has...

Allen Iverson grew up loving Jordan shoes, and he almost could have signed with the brand. During an interview with Complex, the basketball legend expresses feeling enamored with Michael Jordan and always desiring to sport his shoes. Little did the Hampton, VA, native realize, he would not only grow up to land his own shoe deal before his rookie season in the NBA but he would be in talks for a signature sneaker with the Jordan Brand. Sports Illustrated mentions that when Iverson was drafted to the NBA in 1996, he caught the attention of every major sneaker company. The Jordan Brand even created a prototype named after Iverson’s nickname “Bubba Chuck” to entice him. Had he signed to the Jordan Brand, he would have became its first signature athlete, Sports Illustrated reports. However, Iverson found Reebok to be the most convincing in its pitch. “Remember that like it was yesterday because that was a big decision for me,” Iverson told Complex. “Just looking back on it, I feel good...

Being open about her mistakes in love turned Reesa Teesa into an Internet sensation. Born Teresa Johnson, the New Jersey native has had people on TikTok tuned into her 50-part series, “Who TF Did I Marry?” — millions of viewers to be exact. Released in February 2023, the first part from the series, which details the deception and turmoil she experienced with her ex-husband, “Legion,” has 39.4 million views, as of this writing. What’s more, Reesa Teesa’s followers on TikTok jumped from 8,000 before the full series to now, 3.6 million, as of this writing. @reesamteesa Who TF Did I Marry- Part One #pathologicalliar #reesateesa #fypシ #fyp ♬ original sound – ReesaTeesa Reesa Teesa’s popularity skyrocketing in a short period had people online sharing theories about how much she’s pocketed from her transparency. However, in an interview with The Cut, she cleared the air on the speculation. While social media may have believed that Reesa Teesa raked in $100,000 through TikTok’s creator...

A family-owned restaurant in Brooklyn, NY, has received financial gains. Torri Clayton, a Harlem native, is the owner of Cheri’s Bedstuy, a venture that opened in 2019 to pay homage to her family and provide more southern cuisine comfort food in Brooklyn, NY. According to Black-Owned Brooklyn, Clayton collected the recipes her family passed down for generations to begin her own restaurant. The venture required sacrifice and risks. The restaurant owner maxed out her credit cards and took out personal loans to bring Cheri’s Bedstuy to life, “Good Morning America” mentioned. What she now calls a “labor of love” has led to menu items including grilled lamb chops, shrimp scampi, and fried lobster tails to be enjoyed by locals. “A labor of love. It was a dream that was realized,” Clayton expressed during a taping of “Good Morning America.” “It was a surprise to my family and the way that they just rallied, and trusted, and stood behind me to make this happen. I cannot be more thankful to...

Russell Westbrook is back again with an initiative to support his hometown. The Los Angeles Clippers star has joined Evermont, a project to build 180 affordable housing units in South Los Angeles, CA, reports FOX 11, an affiliate of FOX in Los Angeles. Anchored by Target, the housing development plans to build on a site where the Los Angeles riots happened following the police officers being acquitted after brutally beating Rodney King in 1992. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) In addition to the affordable housing for seniors and families, the Westbrook-backed project will include a SEED school and “community-centered businesses,” the outlet details. Moreover, new jobs will be available for residents. The overall mission is to play a role in shifting the narrative of South Central Los Angeles by leading with civil and community engagement. According to Russell Westbrook Enterprises’ website, Westbrook founded the Russell Westbrook Why Not?...

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has dished out a proposal for Microsoft. Bloomberg reports that back in 2021, the technology corporation shared it would build a new complex in Grove Park in Atlanta, GA, with a goal to create 15,000 jobs for the city. However, by 2023, it’s reported that Microsoft placed the project on pause due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Dickens is putting the spotlight back on the initial commitment from Microsoft. According to the outlet, he is set to reach out to the company about the status of the complex. What’s more, if the plan isn’t going to move forward, he aims to either help seize back the land for Atlanta or team up with a developer. “We really want them to develop their property or offer it back to us so we can develop it,” Dickens told the outlet. “Even if you don’t know what you want to do, just let us know what you know you won’t be able to do.” While Bloomberg notes that Microsoft has yet to comment on Dickens’ statement, the...

Taraji P. Henson, Mo’Nique, Gabrielle Union, and Octavia Spencer. Many Black actresses have been vocal about pay disparity in Hollywood with these women being some of the latest to address the issue. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, Henson was transparent about her debating on whether to quit acting. “I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do, getting paid a fraction of the costs,” Henson said in a Sirius XM interview with Gayle King. “I’m tired of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over. You get tired. I hear people go, ‘You work a lot.’ I have to. The math ain’t mathin’.” Henson isn’t the only one who has faced the unfortunate reality of stepping back from being an actress due to Hollywood’s pay gap. During an appearance on NPR’s “It’s Been a Minute,” Jada Pinkett Smith shared that while her “heart broke” for Henson, she was also happy that she was courageous enough to speak up. In addition, she related to her fellow actress’ sentiments, but in...