ShaCamree Gowdy

AFROTECH™ Conference 2024 in Houston, TX, was packed with powerful conversations, spotlighting trailblazers across tech, business, and culture. Day 3 of the four-day conference, which wrapped on Nov. 16, 2024, featured several dynamic discussions, including a fireside chat with actress, activist, and tech entrepreneur Angelica Ross . The “Pose” actress led an inspiring talk on creating access and opportunities for LGBTQIA+ talent in tech. Photo Credit: Benjamin Esakof “Unfortunately, what happens is America loves symbols of change and not real change. So they will pluck a few of us out of obscurity and make it look like change is happening. And now everybody who’s trans can kind of live this great life,” Ross shared. “But what you realize is, for the most part, celebrity separates us from reaching it. It no longer seems as accessible. So I have to model from my own experience and with TransTech that I’m someone who became successful. I also have to teeter this line to show what it...

Increase Divine-Wisdom has been crowned the grand prize winner of the 2024 AFROTECH™ AI Hackathon. And he went great lengths to secure the “W.” Increase Divine-Wisdom traveled all the way from Nigeria to attend AFROTECH™ Conference, held in Houston, TX, where the winner was named. AFROTECH™ hosted innovators on Day 2 who collaborated on solutions for community impact, leaving with the tools to drive change in their industries and communities. Increase Divine-Wisdom took first place with his user-friendly health management app “designed for people dealing with chronic conditions.” The winner, who himself has chronic inflammatory response syndrome, shared that with the app, individuals are able to track symptoms, mood, and recovery tasks. Increase Divine-Wisdom has expertise in DevOps, CI/CD, machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and mobile development. According to his LinkedIn profile, he oversees projects from concept to delivery, utilizing the necessary tools to create...

Many users are abandoning Elon Musk’s X in favor of the emerging social media platform Bluesky. The Guardian reported that over 1 million people have joined Bluesky since the U.S. presidential election — a surge in sign-ups as users seek alternatives to X, formerly Twitter, amid growing concerns about misinformation and extremism. Currently, Bluesky reportedly has about 15 million users. “It feels like a very welcoming, safe space,” Pariss Chandler, organizer of Black Tech Twitter and founder of the recruitment platform Black Tech Pipeline, told NBC News. “I wonder if that’s because they have lots of regulations and safety protections on that platform. They provide something Twitter no longer does.” In 2019, Jack Dorsey, Twitter’s then-CEO, announced plans to fund the development of an “open and decentralized” social media standard, according to The Guardian. Thus began the Bluesky project. Bluesky became an independent company in 2021. The platform offers a familiar social media...

Beatrice Dixon has a piece of advice following the $380 million acquisition of The Honey Pot Company — It’s OK to take risks and try something new. Dixon captured the audience’s full attention during the Founder’s Summit session “Knowing When to Seize the Moment for Company Growth” at the AFROTECH™ 2024 Conference on Thursday, Nov. 14, where she shared valuable business insights. “That doesn’t mean you have to stop doing your business, but that might mean you need to also have a job, or you may need to do something different,” Dixon shared. “I just think we’re going into a time of have and have-nots, and you don’t want to be on the side of the have-nots.” @afro.tech Honey Pot CEO Beatrice Dixon had everyone hooked as she shared business tips in light of Honey Pot’s $380 million acquisition. Keep your mind open and your notepads on deck📝 More to come AFROTECH Fam 🫶🏾 #blackintech #blacktechtok #TechEmpowerment #AFROTECH24 ♬ original sound – AfroTech In January, AFROTECH™ reported that...

The AFROTECH™ 2024 Conference kicked off in Houston on Wednesday, Nov. 13, bringing tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders together for an unforgettable experience. Day 1 started with dynamic networking opportunities, engaging experiences and meaningful conversations, setting the tone for the week as attendees gathered at the Culture Park Stage, presented by Lexus, for music, wellness and community programming. On Wednesday, there was an opening ceremony featuring a marching band and a compelling address by Blavity Co-Founder and CEO Morgan DeBaun, who spoke on community, innovation and the future. The event concluded with a discussion from Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, the nation’s largest civil rights organization, focusing on “The Power of Our Now: Taking Ownership in AI and Our Rights.” One of the key issues DeBaun pointed to was the gap in funding stages, noting that Black entrepreneurs often struggle to make it past the early rounds of seed...

Jayden Daniels’ mother, Regina Jackson, has followed in her son’s NFL footsteps, but in a different capacity as a certified sports agent . Jackson passed the NFL Players Association’s agent exam in late July, officially becoming an NFLPA-certified agent within the past month. Based on conversations around the league, CBS Sports reported that she is likely the first parent of a top-three NFL draft pick to earn the certification. “For her, taking the agent’s test is because she wants to be knowledgeable and helping her son and guiding him through his NFL career,” Denise White, a public relations expert who works with the Daniels family, told CBS Sports. “It’s important for her to have all that knowledge so she can give her son guidance, which will help him focus on the field and she can help focus off the field for him.” While Jackson is now a certified agent, she is not one of Daniels’ official representatives. The Washington Commanders quarterback is represented by four agents from...

The AFROTECH ™ 2024 Conference kicks off in Houston, TX, on Wednesday, with will.i.am and Tobe Nwigwe joining an already impressive lineup of speakers. Tobe Nwigwe — a visionary, artist, and entrepreneur known for his albums “The MonuMINTal,” “moMINT,” and “HOOD HYMNS” — will take the Innovation Stage for a fireside chat on visual storytelling.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by AFROTECH™ Conference (@afrotech.conference) will.i.am, the multi-platinum artist, producer, tech entrepreneur, and philanthropist, brings over two decades of experience leading at the intersection of music and technology. From chart-topping hits to impactful tech solutions, he will participate in a fireside chat, offering insights on building a multi-faceted career that intersects creativity and innovation. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, will.i.am sees significant value in the upcoming conference. What particularly piques his interest are the activations planned for this year, which he...

A college student turned entrepreneur recently turned down a $300,000 offer on “Shark Tank,” a decision he credits to trusting his gut. Kobe Harris, then a student at Loyola University Chicago, launched his lip balm company, Kobee’s, from his bedroom in 2019 while researching sustainability and bees for a college project, CNBC reported . With $200 from his mom, he ordered ingredients on Amazon and started experimenting with simple formulas, using beeswax, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and mango butter, according to CNBC. Kobee’s offerings now includes lotion, lip scrub, cuticle butter, and hand salve — all packaged in eco-friendly, compostable materials and priced from $5 to $42. The company primarily sells through Amazon and its direct-to-consumer website, and once generated $15,000 in sales in only a day. Appearing on the Nov. 1 episode of “Shark Tank,” Harris sought a $300,000 investment in exchange for 6% equity, looking for mentorship and support in scaling distribution. Kendra...

As of late October, Boeing’s global diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) department has ceased to exist. Bloomberg reported , citing sources familiar with the matter, that the aerospace company shuttered its DEI team , integrating employees into a human resources group that will focus on talent management and enhancing the employee experience. Sara Liang Bowen, the former vice president of the DEI department, announced her exit via LinkedIn on Oct. 31 after more than five years, but she did not specify whether the closure was the reason. She said it had been the “privilege of my lifetime” to lead the company’s DEI efforts. “Our team strived every day to support the evolving brilliance and creativity of our workforce. The team achieved so much – sometimes imperfectly, never easily – and dreamed of doing much more still,” Bowen wrote. “All of it has been worth it. Because behind every effort there has been a person: An unheard voice, an idea waiting to bloom,” she added. “The people...

Jayson Tatum is making moves on and off the basketball court as he explores potential investment opportunities in a WNBA franchise in St. Louis, MO. As interested parties compete for ownership of the league’s upcoming 16th team, the Boston Celtics star has informally committed to supporting the franchise, according to Sportico. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Tatum secured a record-breaking five-year, $315 million contract extension in July and now plans to work behind the scenes, helping attract other high-profile investors and advocating for the WNBA team. “St. Louis is a top-tier sports market, and we believe that bringing a WNBA franchise to the region will be a defining moment in the city’s ongoing revitalization,” said Don Soffer, the spokesperson for the effort to establish the 16th team in St. Louis, per Sportico. Tatum’s potential involvement follows a change in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, ratified in April 2023, which, as OnFocus previously reported, now...

Lyft is continuing its decade-long mission of eliminating barriers that hinder people from getting to the polls on Election Day . On Nov. 5, the rideshare service will offer 50% off ride codes (up to $10) nationwide for all transportation options — including bike or scooter — using the code VOTE24. The promotion is valid from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. in every time zone, making it easier for voters to reach polling places despite logistical challenges. “Lyft has always believed in removing barriers to transportation, and voting access is no exception,” Heather Foster, Lyft’s senior director and head of global public policy, told AFROTECH™. “This election is further heightened due to the ongoing challenges many communities face in getting to the polls and is more important than ever as new barriers to voting have emerged.” According to Lyft , there are currently 100,000 fewer polling places available than in the 2020 election, representing a 50% decrease since 2018. As a result of...

Bitcoin has surged to its highest level since April, reaching $73,544. Forbes reported that the Nov. 5 presidential election is among several market factors affecting the $1.4 trillion cryptocurrency, contributing to the 6% increase recorded around 3 p.m. EDT (7 p.m. GMT) on Tuesday, Oct. 29. The rise puts Bitcoin’s October gains at 13%, outpacing the S&P 500, which advanced 1% this month. Several other major cryptocurrencies and shares of companies involved in Bitcoin mining — the energy-intensive process of unlocking bitcoins from the digital blockchain — also saw significant gains Tuesday. Ethereum jumped 4% to reach a 10-day high of $2,637, while Binance Coin increased 2% to an eight-day high of $608. Solana climbed 2%, reaching a three-month high of $182. Prominent investors, including hedge fund billionaire Paul Tudor Jones, are promoting Bitcoin as protection against inflation, particularly as government policies from presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are...

Super Micro Computer’s ( SMCI ) stock dropped nearly 30% on Wednesday, Oct. 30, after the AI server maker’s auditor resigned. Ernst & Young (EY) resigned while auditing Super Micro’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, according to Yahoo Finance. The move comes after Hindenburg Research released a brief report in August alleging “accounting manipulation” at Super Micro. “We are resigning due to information that has recently come to our attention, which has led us to no longer be able to rely on management’s and the Audit Committee’s representations and to be unwilling to be associated with the financial statements prepared by management,” EY stated in its resignation letter. The accounting firm added that it can no longer provide audit services in compliance with “applicable laws or professional obligations.” In August, Hindenburg stated that its three-month investigation uncovered “glaring accounting red flags, evidence of undisclosed related party transactions, sanctions and export...

The first patient to receive gene therapy for sickle cell disease since its approval is finally home. The New York Times reported that staff members were overjoyed as 12-year-old Kendric Cromer left Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, in a wheelchair on Oct. 16, 2024. Kendric is one of approximately 20,000 people with the most severe form of sickle cell disease. This condition results from a mutation in the hemoglobin genes, causing red blood cells to take on a crescent shape. These misshaped cells can block blood vessels, leading to severe pain, stroke, organ damage, and reduced life expectancy. “I thought I would have sickle cell for the rest of my life,” Kendric said, according to The Times. Throughout his childhood, the disease had prevented him from enjoying playing basketball or riding a bike. Such activities would trigger pain and require frequent trips to the hospital. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , about 100,000 people in the U.S....

The Department of Justice has launched a lawsuit over alleged discriminatory practices related to the appraisal of a Black homeowner’s property and the cancellation of her mortgage refinance application. Filed Monday, Oct. 21, in U.S. District Court in Colorado, the lawsuit accuses Rocket Mortgage , Solidifi U.S. Inc., Maverick Appraisal Group Inc., and Maksym Mykhailyna of actions that violate the federal Fair Housing Act. “This lawsuit is part of our ongoing efforts to bring an end to appraisal bias which prevent Black communities and other consumers of color from accessing credit and benefitting from homeownership,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in a statement . “Appraisal bias exacerbates the racial wealth gap, and runs contrary to the principles of fairness, transparency and equity that we need in our housing market today,” she added. “The Justice Department will continue to hold appraisers, lenders and others...