Brent Faiyaz and his business partner Ty Baisden have invested in Black women-led S.T.E.M. companies. Through Faiyaz’s Lost Kids label, the artist entered into a 50/50 partnership with Baisden, who serves as his manager, Billboard reported. The agreement also allows both parties to operate various business ventures. “That was basically our handshake to one another in the beginning,” Baisden told Billboard. “Those projects and his tours are the financial seeds for Brent and me to go out and make individual investments.” Under Lost Kids, their most significant investments are in the real estate markets of Atlanta, GA, and Dallas, TX. The pair has also invested in at least 20 startups, including Athletic Greens, Therabody, Audio Shake, and Seed. “And the great thing is three of those four companies — Seed, Audio Shake, and Athletic Greens — are led by women,” Baisden told the outlet. The commitment to women-led businesses does not stop there. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the duo...

Piersten Gaines wants to bring luxury to the textured hair community. Her mission stems from several trips to the salon and not receiving proper care. She describes some visits as even “traumatic” after losing all her hair under the care of two licensed stylists. Gaines would later attend Harvard Business School and conceptualized Texas-based silk blowout bar Pressed Roots following a class presentation that allowed her to pitch the concept to “ Shark Tank” judge Kevin O’Leary. “Once I matriculated into business school, I became hyper-aware that there was a huge underserved market who were searching for the same hair care experience that I had been searching for for years — one that was reliable, affordable, luxurious, and one where the stylists actually understood the needs of my hair texture,” she said in email interview with AFROTECH™. “That is how Pressed Roots was conceptualized. I envisioned a chain of luxury, silk blowout bars that celebrate and specialize in the specific...

Although Shante Frazier and Lauren Mitchell grew up in an entrepreneurial family, they never anticipated becoming entrepreneurs. Inception Frazier first worked as a consultant at PwC upon graduating from New York University in New York City, NY, with an MBA. At the time, her plan was to climb the corporate ladder with an overarching goal of becoming a partner at the company. Mitchell also worked as a consultant at Deloitte for six years, followed by an additional year at Grant Thornton. Their transition into entrepreneurship was triggered by Frazier’s opportunity to participate in a venture studio — a company that provides capital to launch startups — in the wake of COVID-19. While brainstorming a business concept, Frazier’s aunt suggested a rental company for weaves and hair extensions. After further consideration, Frazier recognized the key aspects that would be necessary to turn the idea into a venture, which included an extensive sanitation process and bringing Mitchell on...

Claudette McGowan has raised significant funding to address cybersecurity concerns. Protexxa McGowan founded Protexxa, a Canada-based cybersecurity firm launched in 2021. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help companies and individuals resolve cyber issues or attacks faster. Examples of this include detecting exposed passwords, taking down online images, and developing response plans for customers in the event of an attack, a press release mentioned. With human error accounting for 90% of cyber attacks, the company’s solutions focus on improving personal cybersecurity hygiene to reduce business risk, per the press release. “People aren’t prepared for the reality of this risk, plus AI is helping attackers to scale, every device is connected, and there’s a shortage in cybersecurity talent to help reduce these risks,” McGowan told TechCrunch. “Using simple passwords, not using MFA [multi-factor authentication], ignoring privacy settings or over-sharing are all ways humans play a...

A skincare company geared towards empowering those with melanated skin has raised new funding. Established in 2021, co-founders Sneha Mehta and Jade Oyateru launched Uncover in Kenya. The company offers resources that include quizzes and interactive features to tailor a skincare routine to the user, its website mentions. So far, Uncover has a digital audience of more than 200,000 women across Kenya, Nigeria, and the diaspora, Shoppe Black reports. It has also just expanded to Ghana and Uganda. Products are sold on its e-commerce platform and are also available in major retail stores in Kenya and Nigeria. “Our shelves are filled with international products that are simply a geographical expansion strategy, with little thought on tailoring products to women in Africa. We are on a mission to change that, to make Africa a priority and not an afterthought. We hear you, we see you and we value you and we are specifically making skincare with U in mind,” a statement from the company...

History has been made by Sheila Jackson and Natasha McCrea. They are reportedly the first Black women entrepreneurs to own a whiskey brand in the state of California. The founders’ vision stemmed from a 2020 conversation held over dinner when they bonded through a shared interest in whiskey. It was then that they came to an understanding they could make their mark in the industry by entering into business together. “…Many women love whiskey but we are never included in the conversation,” McCrea said during an interview with Canvas Rebel. “We talked about how whiskey sales were on the rise and how we had both thought about starting a whiskey brand. In that moment we decided we should be the women who disrupt an entire industry.” In 2022, Jackson McCrea was launched. Both founders bring together past career experiences in separate fields. Jackson helms a production company uplifting Black woman and leads “The Good CEO” podcast, speaking with “bold, unapologetic CEOs.” “My entire...

Angela Rye is one of today’s leading voices in political advocacy and social justice. Recognized for her politics and culture commentary on networks like CNN and ESPN as well as her own podcast “Native Land Pod” with co-hosts Tiffany Cross and Andrew Gillum, the award-winning host, commentator, and lawyer transformed her passion into IMPACT Strategies. Launched in 2013, the political advocacy firm creates strategic partnerships and coalitions to birth societal change. In an interview with AFROTECH™ before her fireside chat, “Bridging the Gap for an Equitable Community,” at AFROTECH™ Executive Newark, Rye shared the backstory of one of IMPACT Strategies’ most impactful partnerships to date. Moreover, it came following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. “A lot of companies were coming asking for Black support, Black help, Black input, Black advice, and strategy,” Rye recalled to AFROTECH™. “A t the time, I represented PayPal and worked really diligently with them on their [$535...

Two Black women are entering into business to help other Black- and woman-owned businesses thrive. Aya House According to Crain’s Detroit  Business, Nina Love and Tequion Brookins are opening Aya House, a 3,000-square-foot co-working space that will be a home to other businesses. The founders also will donate a portion of monthly proceeds to a nonprofit. The space will be located at 2055 Gratiot Ave in the Eastern Market area of Detroit, MI, and open towards the end of August. The founders are fueling the venture with their background knowledge as well as their respective experience in hospitality (Love’s The Love Experience) and event production (Brookins’ Tequion Brookins LLC). It will also be supported through a $130,000 investment from the founders in addition to a $40,000 cash grant from Motor City Match. As for what customers can expect, there will be monthly and annual memberships available. Additionally, private events can be held at the location for a rate of $300 per hour,...