HyperionDev, a leading South African startup, has raised R95 million (approximately $5 million) to expand tech education. This latest financial infusion is part of a broader R595 million ($31.1 million) investment to accelerate the company’s expansion within South Africa and internationally, particularly in the United Kingdom. Strategic Expansion and Educational Innovation With the new capital, HyperionDev plans to broaden its reach by entering new markets and increasing tech education accessibility across its platforms. A portion of the funds will also support the expansion of the H ..read more

Gran Coramino Tequila, the premium tequila brand co-founded by Kevin Hart and Juan Domingo Beckmann, has disbursed over $1 million in grants to Black and Latine entrepreneurs across the United States to date. The Coramino Fund Since its inception in 2022, Gran Coramino has dedicated a portion of its sales to the betterment of underrepresented business owners, committing $1 from every bottle sold to this cause.  The Coramino Fund, established in partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), has now dispersed over $1 million in grants. This funding has re ..read more

PROPEL, a first-of-its-kind innovation hub for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), has announced the establishment of the PROPEL HBCU Cybersecurity Consortium (HCC) . In partnership with Southern Company, the HCC aims to empower HBCU faculty and unlock career pathways for students. Strengthening Industry-Academia Collaboration The HCC incorporates four key elements: a resource hub, professional development programs, accelerated learning opportunities, and a workforce pipeline.  By providing HBCU students and faculty with access to the latest industry trends, technol ..read more

Online resources business Hello Alice recently announced its Series C funding round closure despite facing a controversial class-action lawsuit.  The lawsuit alleges their partnership with Progressive Insurance to offer grants specifically to Black-owned businesses was racially discriminatory. Hello Alice’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion In October 2023, Hello Alice found itself at the center of a legal battle when America First Legal, Mitchell Law PLLC, and Ashbrook Byrne Kresge LLC filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination. This was due to the company’s initia ..read more

Leading software company Sage has contributed $100,000 to Morehouse College, supporting a new course for the next generation of Black tech entrepreneurs. Cultivating Future Leaders through Micropreneurship Morehouse College, the nation’s only historically Black liberal arts institution for men, and Sage have joined together to address the underrepresentation of Black professionals in technology.  With only 8% of tech workers and 3% of executives being Black, this new course will commence in Fall 2024 to help change the statistics. The 15-week Micropreneurship cour ..read more

MyFiLi is a new AI-powered edtech platform designed to transform how families, schools, and nonprofits engage with financial literacy.  The Urgent Need for Financial Literacy Currently, consumer credit card debt in the U.S. has hit an all-time high of $1.79 trillion, and savings account balances average just $4,521. MyFiLi.com addresses this gap by providing tools and knowledge that help users navigate the complex nature of financial management.  According to BlackNews, Founder and CEO Joseph Green‘s mission is to empower everyone to develop a healthy relationship with ..read more

Primary Venture Partners has partnered with over 25 leading New York-based venture firms and startups to introduce the Factor Fellowship.  This program will tackle the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) challenges head-on by connecting the city’s VC-backed startups with top talent from underrepresented groups. Addressing Diversity in Venture Capital and Startups The data on diversity within the venture capital and startup landscape shows that only about 13% of venture capital decision-makers are women. Funding for Black founders also declined in 2023, failing to rea ..read more

Campus, an community college platform that connects students with top-tier professors from universities such as UCLA, Princeton, and NYU, has raised a $23 million Series A extension round. The community college startup In American higher education, community colleges serve as gateways for students aiming to transfer to four-year universities.  However, only 16% of these students achieve a bachelor’s degree within six years.  Campus operates on a model that rethinks the approach to college education. It is reportedly the first fully accredited, nationally focused community c ..read more

Robert F. Smith’s Vista Equity Partners has raised over $20 billion for its latest fund, making it the largest in its history.  This new fund, known as the eighth flagship fund, passes the previous record of $17 billion raised in 2019.  Embracing AI for Strategic Growth Vista Equity Partners, known for its investments in technology companies, is focusing on AI with its new fund.  “You will also hear more about how we have adopted generative artificial intelligence not just as a tool but as a pivotal component of our value creation and underwriting processes,” Smith sai ..read more

Parham Aarabi, a University of Toronto researcher, has developed an AI tool, named PRE, that could change how e-commerce sites cater to users with color vision deficiencies. AI-Powered Solutions for Improved Web Navigation “Around 8% to 10% of the population has a type of color-blindness,” said Aarabi according to Texh Xplore. “I wanted to see how this might impact web navigation.” Aarabi’s AI model simulates the browsing behaviors of virtual users, tracking interactions like page pauses, cart additions, and responses to discounts.  T ..read more