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Slutty Vegan has named tech executive Lauren Maillian as its new president, signaling the company’s latest chapter of expansion and innovation, Founder and CEO Pinky Cole Hayes announced. According to Black Enterprise, the first outlet to break the news, Maillian officially stepped into the role on June 4, a strategic shift for the Atlanta, GA-based vegan fast-food chain . The move, which Cole Hayes told the outlet is “Slutty Vegan 2.0,” comes after she recently reclaimed control of the company following a challenging stretch, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. Marked by a car accident and internal ownership issues, that chapter left her with some powerful lessons. Starting a new leadership direction, Maillian is a seasoned entrepreneur who will bring a wealth of brand and marketing knowledge to the role, having spent over two decades working in venture capital, media, technology, and the food and beverage industries. Cole Hayes told Black Enterprise that Maillian’s appointment makes...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. For many founders in the beauty and lifestyle space, the measure of success isn’t just in sales but also in the value of an exit. Recently, Hailey Bieber’s beauty brand, Rhode, was acquired by e.l.f . for $1 billion. Founded in 2022, the beauty brand has reached its valuation quickly thanks to Bieber’s name recognition and viral social media campaigns. But while Bieber has been praised for selling her company, the majority of Black founders are accused of being sellouts by Black customers when they do. Over the past several years, Black-owned brands like The Honey Pot Company, Mielle Organics , and Briogeo Hair Care have been acquired by large conglomerates. For every acquisition, a large portion of their Black customers have complained or claimed that they would no longer buy from the brand because they view the acquisition as a form of selling out. Black founders are held to a different standard...
Award-winning cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson is inspiring the next generation. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Robinson is making an imprint within his industry through his career trajectory, which includes contributions to skin care at Rhode, a lifestyle beauty brand founded by Hailey Bieber that was recently acquired by e.l.f. Beauty for $1 billion. “Proud day for science. Hailey, Michael @ratty Lauren @laurenratner and the entire @rhode team – Thank you for bringing us on as partners from the very beginning,” he expressed on Instagram. “While some may have experts just for marketing, you truly leaned into the science and allowed us to be part of the team. Because of you, brands have taken notice and now value the need for science-led formulations. This has been the journey of a lifetime and we are proud to be a part of it.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ron Robinson (@ronrobinsoncosmeticchemist) Partnership With Girls In STEM Beyond his work at Rhode, Robinson is...
Founder Melissa Butler says The Lip Bar was impacted by the Target boycott. How Target’s DEI Stance Impacted Its Q1 Earnings As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Target made the decision to scale back its three-year diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, which included dismantling a program that worked to feature Black-owned businesses in its stores. The company also stopped sending reports to an external diversity-focused organization. This prompted a 40-day consumer boycott led by Rev. Jamal Bryant, which attracted participation from nearly 200,000 consumers, per Atlanta News First. Target experienced a decline in foot traffic for 11 consecutive weeks, and its first-quarter earnings were $23.8 billion, which was 2.8% lower than the same period the previous year, according to a press release. To no surprise, business owners shelved at the store have felt the brunt of the boycott. This includes Butler who shared that sales had plummeted between 30% and 40%. “When people ask me...
A new center is set to be the first of its kind for Black-owned businesses and professionals in Charlotte, NC. Innovation Center According to The Charlotte Observer, a project called the Innovation Center is underway, guided by a mission to promote economic growth and combat food disparity. The initiative is led by Cathay Dawkins, an entrepreneur and chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce, along with other members of the organization. “Think of it as a one-stop shop for professionals and small businesses,” Dawkins told the outlet. Why It Was Needed After visiting similar establishments in cities such as Atlanta, GA; Washington, DC; and Durham, NC, Dawkins says he felt it was essential for Charlotte to have a center of its own. Now, the Innovation Center is set to become the city’s first hub specifically geared toward amplifying Black business people. “As things in the community get taken away, like federal funding and grants, we want to be a safe space,”...
Martha’s Vineyard is a place of solitude for Black families during the summer. The island in Dukes County, MA, was recently featured in the popular Netflix series “Forever” directed by the legendary creator of “Girlfriends,” Mara Brock Akil. In the new show, characters Keisha Clark (played by Lovie Simone) and Justin Edwards (played by Michael Cooper Jr.) reconnect in Martha’s Vineyard after a breakup. Edwards’ family resides particularly in Oak Buff each summer. History Of Martha’s Vineyard Explained Furthermore, the location of their reconnection was intentional, per Brock Akil, who lives part-time in Martha’s Vineyard, according to Netflix. The series is adapted from Judy Blume’s 1975 YA novel of the same name, and Episode 5 takes viewers to Martha’s Vineyard, serving as a love letter to the island. “Understanding the essence of the island, even in the way it shaped the story, is important,” Brock Akil told Netflix. “You think you’re just arriving on the island, and you don’t...
Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” proved to be good business for Chicago, IL, locals. The entertainer who won Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards for “Cowboy Carter” is currently touring its tunes with a stop in the Windy City. According to USA Today, the three planned concerts took place on May 15–18 at Soldier Field . View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) The tour brought great momentum for the city and was beneficial to several Black-owned businesses, including Bronzeville Soul. The restaurant first benefited from the Carter family in 2023. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Hip-Hop mogul Jay-Z had been in the area to celebrate his wife Beyoncé’s second night of her “Renaissance World Tour,” which was also held at Soldier Field. The soul food restaurant had been “up and down” for nearly a year before Jay-Z’s visit, but it was able to gain new momentum afterward. “The element of that surprise was huge. It was overwhelming,” Bronzeville Soul Co-Owner Mario...
Chef Kwame Onwuachi is taking his culinary talents to Las Vegas, NV! As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the James Beard Award-winning chef opened the Afro-Caribbean restaurant Dōgon inside the luxury hotel Salamander in Washington, DC, on Sept. 9, 2024. Two years before, he had opened his flagship Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi in New York City, NY, which earned the top spot as the city’s best restaurant, per The New York Times. Now, Onwuachi is spreading his wings yet again, this time with Maroon, a Caribbean steakhouse that will be opening at the Sahara Las Vegas. “We were intentional in selecting Kwame Onwuachi as our partner for the next chapter of Sahara Las Vegas’ culinary journey,” Sahara owner Alex Meruelo told Travel + Leisure. “His incomparable fusion of storytelling, culture, and outstanding cuisine is uniquely captivating. Maroon will not only advance chef Kwame’s personal vision but also revolutionize the current steakhouse experience on the Strip and beyond.” As for what...
Millions have been raised to simplify the workflow of tax returns. Founded in 2024, Filed is an accounting software company that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to prepare tax returns in minutes rather than hours, according to its website. Its inception was inspired by real-time observations of accounting firms, including those in India, which revealed that their challenges stemmed not from a lack of tools but from labor shortages. This is where AI comes into play. “Filed automates the most time-consuming parts of tax prep. It organizes documents, validates returns, and flags anomalies based on the logic your team already uses. It integrates directly with CCH Axcess, UltraTax, Lacerte, Drake, and other major tax software,” a post shared by the company read. So far, Filed has proven to be a success. Tens of thousands of tax returns were processed using Filed in the Q1 2025 tax season with firms sharing hopeful testimonials, as seen on the company website. One includes Josh...
Candace Mitchell wants Black founders to think generationally. Mitchell is the founder of MYAVANA, a haircare company powered by artificial intelligence (AI). According to its website, the company’s offerings include MYAVANA HairAI™, which leverages AI to provide users with instant product recommendations, saving them time and money. It has also launched MYAVANA HairSI™, a hair strand analysis kit that provides a personalized haircare plan and access to expert haircare specialists. MYAVANA’s innovations have allowed its footprint to scale to Ulta Beauty in 2023. Additionally, it has expanded to a brick-and-mortar retail store in Uganda, Africa, which also carries products from Black-owned businesses including Moisture Love, Texture Crush, Afro Unicorn , U Go Girl Hair, and LushUs Hair, as AFROTECH™ previously told you. “From a business standpoint, it made more sense for us to start our franchise in the motherland and actually target each nation to open up global product...
Married couple Mike and Nicole Nicholas prioritize making an impact in their community through their business. In fact, a gentleman who met them through their plant-based Caribbean cafe and concept shop, Aunts et Uncles , in Brooklyn, NY, ended up becoming close friends with the pair and even invited them on a trip to Colombia to celebrate his 50th birthday, a major milestone as he had survived cancer and overcome two heart attacks. The friend had first met the couple after his cardiologist suggested he dine at Aunts et Uncles for its heart-healthy options, and after his last surgery he even wanted to have his first meal at the cafe. Mike and Nicole opened the shop in 2020 with menu items such as a smash burger, a lobster roll made with hearts of palm, sweet potato oatmeal, and various bowls and salads, along with coffees, cocktails, and teas. “He wanted to make sure he had his first meal and it had to be Aunts et Uncles,” Mike said during an interview with AFROTECH™. “You realize...
In a story that epitomizes Black excellence, ambition, and resilience, a mother and son are making history together. According to ABC 11, Tamika Stanton and her son, Tomantae Stanton-Jones, were recent graduates of the class of 2025 at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham, North Carolina. They walked the same graduation stage, celebrating degrees that represent not only academic achievement but decades of determination. Stanton became pregnant with her son at 15 but did not allow that moment to define or limit her. After earning her bachelor’s degree at NCCU, she returned to pursue her master’s degree in social work, officially earning “Double Eagle” status, according to the news outlet. Stanton-Jones, meanwhile, graduated summa cum laude from NCCU’s School of Law, one of the top HBCU law schools in the country as AFROTECH™ previously reported. He was already building a legacy of excellence inspired by his mother’s unwavering example, as he became a Gates Scholar at...
Cleveland, OH’s first Black-owned brewery has touched down. The origins of Black Frog Brewery traces back to 2014 when its founder Christopher Harris, who is also a husband, father, and veteran, began working on the craft from his garage, an Instagram post reveals. Two years later, he scaled the business from his garage to its first location in Holland, OH, and it has been a part of the nearby community ever since. According to its website, Black Frog Brewery offers five different core beers crafted in-house: Amphibian (Pale Ale); Flying Frog (India Pale Ales); Cream of the Frog (Cream Ale); Ebony Prince (Milk Stout); and Froglicious (Honey Brown Porter). It also offers specific brews for its summer, spring, fall, and winter seasons and has a lineup to honor legends in the Hip Hop community such as Left Eye (Kolsch Watermelon) and Aaliyah (Kolsch Raspberry). “Our Hip Hop Beer Series, where we raise a glass to hip hop legends! Each brew is crafted with inspiration from our...
Atlanta, GA, will continue to be a city of opportunity, according to Mayor Andre Dickens. Affordable Housing Dickens assumed his post as mayor in 2022, and since then he has implemented various plans to the benefit of the city, including providing affordable housing. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Atlanta’s first rapid housing initiative launched in January 2024 in south downtown on city-owned property. It featured 40 shipping containers that were turned into private living quarters, with the one room including a bed, bathroom, and kitchenette. The initiative encompasses a city-wide goal to establish 20,000 affordable housing units by 2030, which will benefit the unsheltered, senior citizens, families with children, school teachers, and young adults who are not earning a large salary, and other populations. Already, 11,000 affordable housing units have been built. These efforts have also been supported by a $50 million bond proposed by Dickens in 2024, along with $10 million the...
Aisha Bowe nearly failed high school but she never allowed her dreams to escape her, leading her into space. Choosing Her Own Path In high school, a guidance counselor suggested that Bowe, a first-generation Bahamian-American, consider a career in cosmetology, since school had not been her strong suit at the time. However, it was through her father — who passed away in 2025 — that she found encouragement to pursue mathematics and reject the limited path the counselor had envisioned for her. On the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast hosted by AFROTECH™ Brand Manager Will Lucas, Bowe acknowledges that the counselor’s restrictive views made her feel “demoralized,” so she chose not to apply to a four-year university and instead enrolled in a community college. Following a reality check, Bowe decided she wanted to become a NASA rocket scientist, a dream first envisioned by her father, who had initially moved to the United States to pursue this goal, notes Travel Noire. “I wanted to do...