Balancing a personal startup with a full-time job can seem like a bold but rewarding endeavor. Many entrepreneurs launch their ventures while still working at another company, using the stability of a paycheck to fund their ideas. However, this approach requires careful consideration of legal, ethical, and practical factors to ensure success without jeopardizing your current employment. Understanding Legal And Contractual Obligations Before diving in, it’s crucial to review your employment contract. Many companies include clauses that restrict employees from working on side projects, especially those that could compete with their business. Non-compete agreements may prevent you from starting a business in the same industry, while intellectual property clauses could mean your employer owns anything you create during your employment. If any of these terms are unclear, consulting a legal professional can help you avoid potential complications. Balancing Work And Entrepreneurship...

Serena Williams is supporting innovation in women’s health. Teal Health The tennis star has aligned herself with Teal Health, a women’s health startup founded by Kara Egan (CEO) and Dr. Avnesh Thakor in 2020. According to the company website, Teal Health’s inception trickles back to Thakor’s medical experiences over the years. He observed insufficient innovation around cervical cancer screenings and created a self-collect prototype. With Egan’s two decades of experience in finance, health, and technology, the company was formed with the vision to develop an at-home self-collect cervical cancer screening kit, currently under FDA review. A user can start by requesting a kit, which initiates a vetting process to confirm eligibility. Once approved, the kit will be delivered to your home for sample collection. The sample is then mailed to a lab, and results are shared through Teal Health’s application. Users also have the option to speak with a provider for additional support. Teal...

Annuities are often marketed as safe, reliable financial products that provide guaranteed income during retirement . While they may sound appealing on the surface, annuities can come with hidden pitfalls that make them less than ideal for many investors. Here’s a closer look at why annuities might be a poor investment choice for you. High Fees And Expenses One of the biggest drawbacks of annuities is their high cost. Many annuities come with layers of fees, including administrative charges, mortality and expense risk fees, and investment management fees. Variable annuities, in particular, can include additional costs like fund management fees and rider charges. These fees can eat into your returns over time, significantly reducing the overall growth of your investment. For instance, fees for variable annuities often average around 2% to 3% annually. Over decades, these fees compound and can cost you tens of thousands of dollars compared to lower-cost investment options like index...

Meta is discontinuing its fact-checking system. On Tuesday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan announced that the tech giant would transition to a community notes model — similar to the system on Elon Musk’s X — to “restore free expression,” according to a news release. “Meta’s platforms are built to be places where people can express themselves freely,” said Kaplan in the release. “That can be messy. On platforms where billions of people can have a voice, all the good, bad, and ugly is on display. But that’s free expression.” Kaplan noted that societal and political pressure to moderate content has pushed the company to develop increasingly complex systems to manage content across its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram , in recent years. “Too much harmless content gets censored, too many people find themselves wrongly locked up in ‘Facebook jail,’ and we are often too slow to respond when they do,” he added. Zuckerberg also believes the...

WNBA star and Nike signee A’ja Wilson is making m ajor moves. Wilson has been a cornerstone player for the Las Vegas Aces since she was drafted first overall by the team in 2018, as noted by the WNBA. She has led the Aces to two consecutive national championships and earned multiple MVP awards, including one in 2024. What’s more, Wilson has continued to dominate as the year comes to a close. She made history as the first player to score 1,000 points in a single WNBA season, according to ESPN. “It was pretty surreal but it was one of those things that I did not understand it was in reach,” Wilson said in reflection, per CNN . “It didn’t really hit me until the second half when I was like ‘oh no, this is doable.’ … Like now to live in it, I’m living my dream and so I’m so grateful to be able to say I’m here, and now I know someone is going to crush it soon and going to be 2,000 points in a season, so I am going to hold onto it now while I got it.” Wilson’s victories also extend off...

What a year for Coco Gauff. The tennis star made her way to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, marking her first appearance in the Olympics. Despite not medaling, her appearance proved to be quite memorable. She also made history as the youngest athlete and the first tennis player to serve as the torchbearer. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Team USA (@teamusa) In October 2024, Gauff made history yet again when she won the China Open. According to CNN, she outperformed opponent Karolina Muchová and became the first American to win the China Open since Serena Williams in 2013. She wraps up the year by adding another title. In November 2024, she defeated Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng during the WTA Finals held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As Forbes notes , this marks her ninth WTA Tour singles title. Gauff took to Instagram to reflect on her achievement. “In all seriousness, I’m so grateful for all the support the last few weeks. Getting to win the last tournament of the...

When it comes to AFROTECH™, think of its offerings like an Oprah Winfrey giveaway. Everyone gets a session. Although the conference has tech in its title, the annual convening is more than a gathering of tech professionals. AFROTECH™ Conference is a vibrant, inclusive event crafted for tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and professionals from all walks of life. On Day 2, Nov. 14, the agenda offers a deep dive into what attendees can expect from this year’s gathering. Regardless of your field, there’s something here for everyone. Let’s break down what to expect on Thursday. If you’re just arriving, head to the registration booths to get everything you need for a smooth experience. The Mall Of Opportunity The Expo Hall opens today, with resources and engaging experiences for all attendees. This year, the space is designed for you to connect with industry leaders, explore cutting-edge products, participate in hands-on workshops, check out sponsor booths, and stay ahead of industry trends...

Tori Bell is helping companies ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is not an afterthought. Interest In DEI Work The Agnes Scott College graduate’s interest in DEI work was sparked during her early career stages in investment banking in Atlanta, GA, at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. She served as an analyst and associate program manager between 2012 and 2015, managing the summer analyst program, her LinkedIn mentions. She later joined Jopwell, a career platform for minority students and professionals. The platform had received backing from a number of investors, including Magic Johnson, who had participated in a $3.25 million seed round in 2016, according to Inc. magazine. “What I saw during my time there was that you can hire diverse individuals into these major companies, but if they’re not prepared to support them i t’s kind of like you’re yelling into a void, ” Bell told AFROTECH™. “You’re not really doing much to move the needle, because you’re going to see turnover...