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Robert F. Smith is positioning his portfolio for success in generative AI and wants to do the same for HBCU students. Per IBM, generative AI takes a user prompt and creates original text, images, audio, or software code. In a fireside chat with Harold L. Martin Sr., Ph.D. — chancellor emeritus of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University — Smith, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, discussed the impact of generative AI on the tech industry and his work with the technology. Smith said he has already been able to position his portfolio companies as frontrunners within their sectors through the use of gen AI. “I have the good fortune that our organization is of the size that we are top-five customer for Amazon, Microsoft, and Google,” Smith said during the conversation. “So I get unique sets of access to resources for my portfolio companies to enable them to be first in the industries that they’re in to have gen AI-enabled products in those...
Baron Davis has come a long way from being a young boy raised in South Los Angeles. Davis is likely a familiar face. He was recently dancing his heart out as a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars,” paired with Britt Stewart, for its 34th season. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Davis’ time on the show ended on Tuesday night, Sept. 23, with him having performed a Cha Cha to “U Can’t Touch This.” “I haven’t been coached in a while,” Davis said, according to E! News. “So to get off my butt was awesome.” https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOtpuZQkmm_/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=f90f7cc7-e022-4c47-b68d-d44d9691263a Now, he will return to his day-to-day as a founder and investor. Davis comes from humble beginnings, but creativity was always his safe space. He admitted on the “LeBatard Show” that basketball was his art and escape. His grandparents raised him during a time that coincided with the crack epidemic, which his parents were affected by. He also credited his grandfather with...
Russell Wilson and Ciara’s interest in fashion has grown into a thriving empire. 3BRAND The married couple are the founders of 3BRAND, a children’s apparel brand launched in June 2021. Forbes reports that its inception traces back to their Los Angeles home the day before their son Win was born. Thinking of his own childhood and putting pen to paper, Wilson drew the brand logo using his initials, creating a lightning bolt. 3BRAND’s goal is to inspire children to achieve greatness, which he can attest to as an NFL pro and serial investor. 3BRAND launched with a 40-piece collection that has scaled to 100 items in partnership with Haddad Brands and Nike. The collection includes shirts, hoodies, shorts, sweat pants, and accessories such as hats, backpacks, and more. Online stores carrying the brand include its own website as well as Macy’s, JCPenney, and Nordstrom Rack. Additionally, over 150 Dick’s Sporting Goods stores sell its products. View this post on Instagram A post shared by...
A feature prioritizing women’s safety is launching by a major rideshare company, but there are already women entrepreneurs who have been paving the way. Uber’s Latest Feature Promoting Women’s Safety CBS News reports that Uber will roll out a “Women Preferences” feature in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit , which will allow women users to select women drivers for their rides. This follows just over a year since Lyft also launched its Women + Connect feature, according to a press release. In a statement, Uber confirms there was a demand from U.S. women riders and drivers who wanted to match with other women. The company had already rolled out the feature in 40 countries, fulfilling 100 trips. It’s important to note that women riders also have the option to pre-book drivers, but should expect longer wait times, as only one in five Uber drivers are women. “We would like to get this into as many cities as we can during this pilot phase,” said Camiel Irving, Uber VP of operations...
Target’s latest collaboration with a popular streaming group is sparking controversy. AMP, one of the top streamer groups in the world, has scored a deal with the major retailer for its unisex personal care brand, according to a press release. The group, which also releases videos on YouTube, includes Kai Cenat, Duke Dennis, Fanum, Agent 00, ChrisNxtDoor, and ImDavisss. They have collectively earned millions of dollars. Cenat alone earned $8.5 million over the past year, which earned him a spot on Forbes’ 2025 Top Creators list , according to the publication. Together, the group leveraged their platforms, which garner 1 billion monthly views, to launch TONE in February 2025. TONE is formulated with natural and clean ingredients and is dermatologist-tested, according to its website. Additionally, it’s now available in Target stores and on Target.com as of July 6. “We really saw a gap in the shelves for a new brand to break through — and for a brand that is fresh and represents who we...
Ice-T has officially opened a cannabis dispensary in his home state. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the Jersey City Cannabis Control Board (CCB) approved his adult-use cannabis dispensary application in partnership with The Medicine Woman — owned by married couple Charis Burrett and her husband, Luke Burrett — in 2022. “We want everyone to have access to safe cannabis. You are the first application who have said something about the price point. I commend you on that,” CCB member Stacey Flanagan stated . Fast-forward to 2025, and the dispensary has officially touched down in Jersey City, NJ. The Medicine Woman Jersey City held its official soft opening on Thursday, March 27. It will host its grand opening on Saturday, April 19th, and Sunday, April 20th, 2025, according to a press release shared with AFROTECH™. This also marks its first location outside of California. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ICEMFT (@icet) “We’re thrilled to be officially opening the doors of...
Tabitha Brown has claimed a new title to strengthen her commitment to small businesses. In her journey as an entrepreneur , she has leveraged her social media platforms—originally catapulted to fame by a viral video of her enjoying a TTLA (tempeh bacon, tomato, lettuce, and avocado) sandwich from Whole Foods Market—to foster meaningful connections with her community. Through her vibrant spirit and authenticity, she has also cultivated a strong following base, leading her to benefit from customer acquisitions. That support is evident through ventures such as her natural hair care brand, Donna’s Recipe, which is available at retailers such as Ulta Beauty. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DONNA’S RECIPE™️ (@donnasrecipe) “Social media has been EVERYTHING for my business – it’s how I got my start! I know people say that ‘Followers are not dollars,’ but for me, it has been the secret ingredient to my success,” Brown said in an email Q&A with AFROTECH™. “It has allowed me to...
Fayetteville, GA, shoppers can support various businesses at a new Black-owned shopping plaza. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Kingdom Corners is the brainchild of married couple Felicia and Winchel Elibert. The duo had previously ventured into entrepreneurship, owning a range of businesses, including a Smoothie King franchise, multiple Winchell’s Barbershops, and a location of Felicia’s Cleansing Waters Wellness Center. “Right across from our Smoothie King and Cleansing Waters location in Fayetteville, there was a sign that said land for sale,” Felicia told 95.5 WSB. “We made a phone call to ask about the land, which was at a good price. We checked with our realtor and were encouraged that this was a really good investment.” The four-acre plaza took three to four years to complete. When it was completed, it made history in the city as the first Black-owned shopping plaza. “We have been getting phone calls, texts, and folks stopping by—just to say what an inspiration we are in the...
Several Black women-owned businesses are making their way to JFK airport. According to TRBusiness, six small, women-owned businesses based in New York will now have a new home at Terminal 8 (T8) due to a $125 million redevelopment program. They were selected through an accelerator program launched by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports. The chosen entrepreneurs were also offered adaptable deal structures and smaller storefront spaces to minimize entry hurdles and lower design expenses. “Helping local businesses access concessions opportunities at Terminal 8 is an asset for our passengers, who will enjoy products unique to New York that are made and sold by local artisans and vendors,” said Dominic Lowe, US chief operating officer of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, per TRBusiness. “These six local women bring the energy and enthusiasm of a small business owner to Terminal 8 while offering one-of-a-kind products, which are made right here in New York.” Lowe added, “Working with the...
A Black-owned pharmacy has opened in Toledo, OH. After seeing health disparities within communities during his residency with Kroger, pharmacist Anthony Pattin was driven to provide better access to underserved citizens. At the time, Pattin had already completed an undergraduate degree in pharmaceutical sciences and a PharmD from the University of Toledo, Toledo Blade reports. “One of my first projects was looking at African-Americans’ perceptions of vaccines,” he told the outlet. “I learned a lot. One thing is, not everyone feels the same way. I had a group of people who wanted vaccines but said ‘As a matter of fact, when I go to the pharmacy, they don’t offer it,’ and that’s how I found out that there are some pharmacies, even in their community, that didn’t offer that service. So that was a disparity — that you were saying that maybe they don’t want the service, but they don’t have it available.” While Pattin took note, the idea for a pharmacy was catalyzed by an elderly neighbor...
Kwame Christian leverages his expertise to inspire and equip professionals with the tools to succeed. Christian’s journey can be traced back to Tiffin, OH, where he was raised as a first-generation Caribbean American, often standing out as the only Black student in his classes. A defining moment in sixth grade shaped his path: being rejected and ostracized by peers on the playground. This experience ignited a deep desire for connection and acceptance. By high school, he channeled that drive into leadership, rising to become the captain of both the basketball and tennis teams. Reflecting on his journey in an interview with AFROTECH™, Christian admitted he adopted a “people pleaser” mentality, often prioritizing others’ approval over his authentic self. “I wasn’t my authentic self in many ways,” he said. “I still had really great connections, but when it came to difficult situations and difficult conversations, I would always agree, even if I disagreed, I wouldn’t speak up if I didn’t...
Seasoned tech executive Omar Johnson is leveraging his experience to revolutionize how brands market themselves. Raised in Brooklyn, NY, Johnson’s exposure to technology was initially limited to video games and consumer electronics. However, his inquisitiveness grew and ultimately helped him secure roles with major tech giants. “A lot of my curiosity was sort of like self-driven,” he told AFROTECH™ in an interview. Tech Journey Johnson’s interests also lay in marketing, leading him to earn an MBA from Emory University in 2004. Following a brief stint at Campbell Soup Company as an associate brand manager, he transitioned to roles with brands such as Coca-Cola and Nike. At the latter, he began as an assistant brand manager before being promoted to content manager of advising and innovation, which remained his focus. “Find the most important things that the company is betting on for the future and work on those things,” Johnson explained. “I always had that sort of lean when I was at...
Former NFL player Mark Clayton sketched his vision for entrepreneurship while in business school. Clayton founded LIVV Audio, which offers high-performing headphones designed for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. The product was inspired by his experiences as an athlete. Drafted to the NFL in 2005 by the Baltimore Ravens, he signed a five-year deal valued at $8.2 million, according to Spotrac. Around 2008, he was among the many athletes sporting Beats headphones. Over the years, Clayton recalled breaking two pairs. In 2010, he was traded to the St. Louis Rams but suffered a season-ending injury. During his recovery, he turned to aquatic therapy but faced challenges using over-the-ear headphones during his sessions. “I made it to St. Louis and had a season-ending injury. And a lot of the rehab we did was in the swimming pool,” Clayton told AFROTECH™. “So, of course, I want to wear my over-ear headphones, but they would start to fall off, and then I have to take ’em off because I...
Life can change at any given moment, and this was the case for entrepreneur Parker Barbee. In 2022, Barbee was laid off from his job just before the Christmas holiday. This moment of uncertainty led him to jumpstart his passion for a staple dessert in his family — banana pudding. KSL News reports Barbee is the founder of dessert sweet shop Parfé Diem, located in Salt Lake City, UT’s Sugar House neighborhood. According to its website, it features a variety of pudding parfait flavors, including banana, strawberry cheesecake, pistachio, and chocolate. It also offers shortbread cookies and a creative twist on the classic ice cream sandwich, using pudding as the filling. View this post on Instagram A post shared by parfé diem 😋 pudding parfaits (@parfediem) Now, just in time for the holiday season, Barbee’s venture has received a significant boost through the NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant, established by investor Daymond John of “Shark Tank.” The grant is $25,000 and is funded with...
Snoop Dogg and his son Cordell Broadus are winning in business together. Among their shared ventures is Dr. Bombay Ice Cream. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the brand was inspired by a moment of frustration Snoop Dogg experienced while trying to mix different flavors during a bout of the munchies. Now the ice cream brand, which hit the ground running in July 2023, comes in countless flavors such as: Strawberry Cream Dream Baked Blueberry Muffin Tropical Sherbet Swizzle Peanut Butter Jelly Time Iced Out Orange Cream Syrupy Waffle Sundaze S’more’s Vibes “Ice cream is more than just a snack to me; it’s a way to chill, relax, and get happy. That’s exactly what I want Dr. Bombay Ice Cream to do. Bring a smile to your face and ease your mind. I’ve poured my heart and soul into perfecting these first seven flavors…,” Snoop Dogg said when launching the brand, according to Dairy Foods. Blavity reports that the company has expanded into Walmart and convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and...
