Black-Owned Tech Startup Raises $225M

BLACK-OWNED TECH STARTUP IN LOS ANGELES RAISES $225 MILLION, THE LARGEST INVESTMENT EVER FOR A TECH STARTUP LED BY AFRICAN AMERICANS

Los Angeles, CA -- A new Black-owned startup is making history as they have now received the largest investment ever for an African American led technology startup in the nation.

Black Unicorn Factory is an African American Accelerator program that is about to take the US by storm with its game-changing accelerated growth strategy for small businesses. This enterprising new development program, now commonly referred to as an 'accelerator' has raised $225 million dollars in funding from investors.

This is historic because currently only 1% of all venture capital is invested in African American startups. Currently, there are over 500 unicorns in the world but not one is owned by an African American.

HBCU Grad Launches $10.7M Venture Capital Firm

ENTREPRENEUR LAUNCHES $10.7M VENTURE CAPITAL AND PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM CALLED HBCU SEED

Nationwide -- While attending Oakwood University as a business major, Terrel Davis became a serial student entrepreneur who recognized three significant problems that HBCU students faced: lack of resources, services, and funding. As such, he decided to establish HBCU Seed, a venture capital and private equity firm that solely invests in businesses owned by HBCU students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

As an HBCU student, Davis witnessed firsthand the socioeconomic difficulties that student entrepreneurs had to face. HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) generally only receive minimal financial support and amenities. That in turn leaves less money for them to support student entrepreneurs.

Experts say that the future of HBCUs is bleak since state legislatures and the federal government have reduced their funding in favor of financing institutions with larger endowments. When Davis established his own business, he was met with the same problems.

Personal Finance Expert Rahkim Sabree Weighs In On How to Spend Stimulus Checks

PERSONAL FINANCE EXPERT GIVES TIPS ON THE BEST WAYS TO SPEND STIMULUS CHECK

New Britain, CT -- Author, Tedx speaker, Non-profit cofounder, and personal finance expert Rahkim Sabree has built a platform of advocacy for financial education especially in the black and brown communities. He declares in his TED talk that he grew up to the mantra "Each one teach one, each one reach one. If you know, teach. If you don't know, learn" and that's exactly what he's done creating and sharing content across the popular social media sites like Instagram and Twitter, writing a book on financial empowerment, co-founding a non profit rooted in ending homelessness through education, delivering a TED talk, and most recently contributing to publications like TheGrio on personal finance matters.

"I believe that the best financial investment is an investment in financial education," writes Rahkim Sabree. "Here are 5 ways to spend your stimulus check regardless of the amount."

Rahkim then lists 5 ways including:

1. paying yourself first
2. investing in your future
3. paying your bill
4. investing in education and
5. investing through traditional mediums such as stocks and real estate." To read the full write up from TheGrio click HERE.

Rahkim is mission driven to inspire people who "look like him" to embrace financial education by "building a team," he explains. "This is a conversation that should be had at every dinner table, in every classroom, over the course of every holiday."

Tax Reduction Strategist Launches New Services

LAUNCHES TAX PLANNING SERVICE TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS LOWER TAX LIABILITY BY 30-50%

Dalaine Waller

Nationwide -- Meet Dalaine Waller, founder and CEO of Vraiment Financial, which helps millennial business owners develop legal tax strategies that can help their companies save a lot of money during tax season. A fiancé and mother of 3, Waller is already a rising trailblazer in the tax industry. She is a certified tax specialist, tax reduction strategist, certified bookkeeper, financial educator and speaker.

Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, her certified woman-owned small business is an educator that assist seasoned business owners as well as new entrepreneurs in understand the importance of the financial health of their company with tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll and business consulting.

Her company's newest service tax planning has helped over 20 business owners save from 30-50% from their tax bill for the 2019 tax year. The goal is to educate companies on understanding why staying organized and prepared in their finances is the key approach to their success.

Tech Genius' Platform Dubbed "LinkedIn of Africa"

NEW WEB PLATFORM LAUNCHED BY NIGERIAN AMERICAN TECH GENIUS DUBBED "THE LINKEDIN OF AFRICA"

Nationwide -- BomaLink, a web-based, professional networking working platform for entrepreneurs and business professionals in the African Diaspora just launched. The platform is the brainchild of Nigerian American tech genius and IT guru, Shola Salako. 

After extensive travels to Africa and meeting former African Union Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency, Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, Shola recognized a need for all peoples of African descent to be informed about wealth building business opportunities on the continent.

Get in Early on Wealth Building Opportunities & Win Contracts on the African Continent

The African Union and other African based business leaders are always looking for skilled talent in the Diaspora. For so long they haven't had a great way of connecting with them.

BomaLink has been designed to change that. Business professionals that register on BomaLink and create a profile outlining their career experience and skills will be able to access business and job opportunity listings, inquire about them and bid on contracts.

How BomaLink Differs from Other Professional Networking Platforms -- Funding

BomaLink users show interest in opportunities through the platform (and win) will soon be able to apply for funding to cover the cost of fulfilling those contracts.

This funding will be similar to contract financing offered to businesses in the United States that bid on government contracts (and have to wait 30 days to 6 months to be paid) which can often cause cash flow issues for business owners. The Africa Boma Fund will be launched to help our members fund the completion of the contracts they win through our platform.

Black Millionaires Inspire New Online Community for Entrepreneurs

LESSONS FROM BLACK MILLIONAIRES USED TO LAUNCH ONLINE NETWORK & MASTERMIND FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Nationwide -- Brother Bedford, best-selling author and creator of Conversations With Black Millionaires, has launched The Masters Of Business Network & Mastermind as an online community that provides lessons and training from successful Black entrepreneurs. The M.O.B. also provides the space for users to share their business experience, network and mastermind with brothers and sisters from around the world.

Bedford, who is the best-selling author and creator of Conversations With Black Millionaires, believes entrepreneurship is the answer to curtail the serious economic and social problems we have in our community. He is not alone.

According to the recent McKinsey Report, "Automation and Artificial Intelligence will disrupt -- meaning kill or replace -- 4.5 million jobs held by African Americans by 2030." The report goes on to say further that, "African American workers are at a 10% higher risk to losing their jobs from automation than the general population."

Al Sharpton And Highly Regarded Speakers Converge On The Cincinnati State of the Black Culture Event

AL SHARPTON AND ANDRE PERRY TO SPEAK ON THE STATE OF BLACK CULTURE, JULY 23

Cincinnati, OH (BlackNews.com) -- Vibe Cincinnati, presented by the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau and The Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce, has announced The State of Black Culture, July 23, 1-3 p.m. at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The free event will feature Andre Perry of the Brookings Institute speaking on the "Devaluation of Businesses in Black Communities," followed by a keynote address on the "State of Black Culture" from the Rev. Al Sharpton.

"The State of Black Culture will explore the lifestyle, development and ethnology of our communities, families and businesses. It presents a unique opportunity for businesspeople, entrepreneurs and those who wish to start their own business to learn more about the challenges that face Black businesses and the solutions that can lift our region as a whole," said Eric Kearney, president and CEO of the African American Chamber.

"Black people represent 12.7 percent of the U.S. population, but only 4.3% of the nation's 22.2 million business owners. Nearly 96 percent of business owners in the United States are non-Black people. Mr. Perry and Rev. Sharpton will show us hard data as to why - and what we can do as a community to develop the next generation of business owners and leaders.

Couple Launch $100M Affordable Housing Initiative

MILLENNIAL COUPLE LAUNCHES $100 MILLION DOLLAR AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE

Atlanta, GA -- Majesty and Elize are two career driven individuals who happened to match on a popular dating app. The pair quickly utilized Majesty's entrepreneurial prowess and Elize's marketing savvy to launch a successful real estate company.

Within their first year of business, their company, INTL Realty Partners, cleared over $1.5 million dollars in revenue. The now married couple focuses their efforts in property development by serving a greater purpose.

"I want to target metropolitan areas and improve the communities where African Americans reside. If we upgrade the environment, people will elevate their mindsets and make better decisions that serve their best interests," explained Majesty.

Engineer Develops Patented Solar Power Technology Being Used By HBCUs

BLACK ENGINEER DEVELOPS PATENTED SOLAR POWER TECHNOLOGY BEING USED BY HBCUS

Solar-powered workstations developed by Matthew N. Portis are already being used by several HBCUs across the country including Bowie State University and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). His other clients include Shell Oil Company and the City of Orlando Florida.

Fort Washington, MD -- SolGreen is the first and only Black-owned and operated company to develop and bring to market innovative clean technology solutions for communities internationally. Founded by inventor and engineer Matthew N. Portis, the company has installed their Evoida Solar Power Workstations at several HBCUs including Bowie State University and UDC, and they have just recently installed their 80th workstation at Park of the Americas in the City of Orlando, Florida.

The Evoida Solar Power Workstation is a commercially available green energy technology serving as a sustainable renewable energy solution for everyday on the go device users. This renewable energy solution is a groundbreaking net zero technology, being a commercially available solar powered workstation that delivers safe, reliable and long-lasting grid-free clean energy for powering on the go digital devices.

Evodia solar power workstation combines extraordinary photovoltaic power with exceptional user comfort and ease of use. This durable system has survived a Category 4 hurricane (Irma 2017), up to three feet of flooding and over 140 MPH winds.

The fabricated steel and fiberglass structure are custom developed for long term durability and off the grid power collection, storage and distribution. SolGreen Evodia uses fabricated built-in user interface software and patented PVSE system to provide a reliable safe experience with safety sensors that automatically shut down power to all power outlets once impending weather conditions are detected via the Evoida's rain sensors.

Black-Owned Financial Tech Firm MoCaFi Raises $3 Million To Help Close Racial Wealth Gap

BLACK-OWNED FINANCIAL TECH FIRM MoCaFi RAISES $3.5M IN SEED ROUND AS THEY ADVANCE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP

Newark, NJ -- Mobility Capital Finance (MoCaFi), a financial technology company that is committed to bringing financially underserved communities in the United States into the digital banking economy, has closed $3.5 million in a Series Seed funding round. Wole Coaxum, founder of the company, is an African American former Wall Street and insurance industry executive.

The Series Seed round was led by Radicle Impact Partners with other institutional investors including Newark Venture Partners (NVP), Partnership Fund for New York City, Social Venture Circle of Philadelphia, SustainVC, WinWin, Portfolia, and Capital Access Holdings. Several family offices participated as well. Winston & Strawn served as Company counsel.

"MoCaFi delivers high quality, appropriately priced products and services to communities across the country," said Coaxum. "Financially vulnerable people, especially communities of color deserve the opportunity to bank smart and build their credit.

The funding that we have received will be utilized to focus on expanding opportunities for traditionally underserved communities, bringing more people into the financial mainstream – lowering their cost to borrow, increasing their access to quality products and services, and providing a resource in the journey of creating wealth."

Checkout How To Vote For These Young Authors Inspiring Other Young People To Travel And Become Authors

 Vote For These Young Authors Inspiring Other Young People To Travel The World And Become Authors

Nationwide -- Based in Atlanta, Jennaye Fennell and her three children are on a mission.  Jennaye and her 3 children are  all successful published authors.

Combined, they have written 7 books in total, and most of their books are based on a series called Fennell Adventures that encourages young people to take an interest in traveling.

They are looking to inspire other young people to travel and become authors.  Traveling helps to broaden a person's scope and view of the world.

Great leaders like Malcolm X, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, and Gandhi among many others, all became more enlightened thinkers in part from traveling.  Recently the Fennell family has entered the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest to help them expand their operations.  You can vote to support them by March 8th.

To help them inspire other young people to read, write, and travel you can vote for them for the FedEx Small Business Business Grant Contest if you please click here

For more info: click here

How it all started

During a family trip to Hawaii, Jennaye's 9-year old son, Jace, told her that he wanted to write a book to inspire other children to enjoy reading and traveling just as much as he does. After returning home, he got started immediately and soon after released his first book entitled Journey through Hawaii with Jace. He later wrote a second book, Journey through Cuba with Jace.

This made a huge impression on Jace's younger brother, 8-year old Merl; He quickly became inspired to become an author just like his big brother. Merl said, "Mom, I go on these trips too. Can you help me write a book like Jace?" Soon after, Journey through Texas with Merl was added to the Fennell Adventure series. And since then, Merl has written another book entitled Journey through New Orleans with Merl.

Take A Look At The Annenberg Foundation Grants

Today's Grant Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Foundation

The Annenberg Foundation seeks to fund large-scale projects designed to improve education and also have a greater impact on the community. Priority is given to organizations in the Los Angeles County area.

Grants range from $10,000 to $250,000.

Black-Owned CPA Firm Helping IRS Targeted Taxpayers

FOUNDER OF BLACK-OWNED CPA FIRM RESTRUCTURES TO HELP DELINQUENT TAXPAYERS

Nationwide -- Kedra A. Flowers, founder of her own Dallas-based CPA firm called Kedra A Flowers CPA PC, has successfully negotiated and settled cases in the millions over the last two decades for taxpayers being targeted by the IRS. These cases include individual and businesses from all industries, cultures, and walks of life without exception.

However, she doesn't hesitate to share that in her experience, the majority of the cases impact those on the lower end of income spectrum and those of minority and immigrant backgrounds.  With the arrival of the new decade, it is not likely to change for the better.

Discover How Muria Nesbitt Went From Poverty To One of America's Top Mentors For Black Business Coaches

FROM EXTREME POVERTY TO BECOMING ONE OF AMERICA'S TOP MENTORS FOR BLACK BUSINESS COACHES

Nationwide - Meet Muria Nisbett, who grew up in extreme poverty on the Caribbean island of Tortola. She was raised by her grandfather who was a struggling farmer, and her grandmother who baked and sold bread as a side hustle.

Despite her background though, Muria is now founder of Coaching For The Culture, and she is one of the most sought after business coaches in the country that focuses exclusively on training other African Americans to also become business coaches.  If you marry passion, ambition, strength and tenacity, the end result would be Muria Nisbett.

She is a dynamic individual with a life-long passion of bringing love and healing to everyone she meets. This passion has fueled her decision to become a Rapid Transformational Hypnotherapist, Reiki healer, Yoga Nidra instructor, and Business Coach.

CEO Opens 4th Real Estate Company in 6 Years

MEET THE CEO WHO JUST OPENED HER 4TH REAL ESTATE COMPANY WITHIN 6 YEARS

Nationwide -- Tamairo Moutry, a very successful real estate broker, is celebrating the launch of her fourth real estate company. She now has real estate companies in four different states - Wisconsin, Georgia, Florida, and Illinois.

She operates all of her businesses virtually, has close to 25 realtors working on her team, and has recently beefed up her recruiting efforts for all four companies. Tamairo, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been in the real estate business since 2004.

She passed the Illinois Managing Broker exam at the end of September 2019, and received her license three months later. She has a background in education, teaching and mortgages, a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, and 18 graduate credits towards a Master's degree in Educational Leadership.

Twin Brothers, Black Entrepreneurs Launch Series to Teach Business Success

TWIN ENTREPRENEURS LAUNCH 'YOUNG MILLIONAIRES SERIES' TO TEACH BUSINESS SUCCESS AND GENERATIONAL WEALTH

Nationwide -- Dr. Sterling Carter and Stephen Levi Carter, MBA, also known as the Carter Brothers, announce the launch of the Young Millionaires Series, a four-city tour that teaches existing and aspiring entrepreneurs how to scale their businesses to millionaire status in an effort to build generational wealth.  The four-city tour kicks off in Houston, TX, on Saturday, February 22, 2020, and will be followed by events in Chicago (Saturday, May 9), Washington, D.C. (Saturday, August 29) and Atlanta (Saturday, October 24).

The Young Millionaires Series will include workshops, networking opportunities, panels featuring top professionals from various industries, and one-on-one mentorship with the Carter Brothers, who are themselves multi-million dollar business owners, speakers and co-authors of the Amazon best-selling book, Double Your Success: Principles to Build a Multimillion-Dollar Business.

Using the Young Millionaires Series as a catalyst, the Carter Brothers will work collaboratively with successful entrepreneurs and corporations to address the economic inequality and wealth gap in urban communities across the United States.

Factors such as under-employment, lack of education, mass-incarceration, poor access to healthy foods, inadequate healthcare, poverty tax, and media misrepresentation inhibit the ability for urban communities to break through the economic glass ceiling. By focusing on the creation of generational wealth by way of entrepreneurship, the Carter Brothers hope to help reverse this trend.

Successful Real Estate Investor Once Lived in the Projects

FROM THE PROJECTS... TO BECOMING A WEALTHY REAL ESTATE INVESTOR -- NEW BOOK "POVERTY CURSE BROKEN" EXPLAINS IT ALL

Nationwide -- "Nothing is Impossible." That is what Dr. Roberta Hoskie wants everyone to understand. This isn't just a commonly spoken platitude, but a mantra - a way of thinking that she wants those reading her book, Poverty Curse Broken: The Roberta Hoskie Story, to adopt and apply to their life.

"If my story can help inspire and have someone believe IT is possible, whatever IT is, then, to me, that's fulfilling," she explained from her car parked in front of the gym. Dr. Hoskie's revelatory first publication seeks to show readers how anyone can rise above circumstances to achieve greatness.

Known worldwide as Ms. Millionaire Mind$et, Roberta is a real estate investor, inspirational speaker, entrepreneur, and community activist. Her many accolades and accomplishments include numerous awards from hometown organizations such as New Haven, Connecticut's Chamber of Commerce, African American Affairs Commission, the New Haven Register person of the year and many others.

This Weeks Grants

This Weeks Grant Funding Opportunities

GRANT ALERT!

STOP School Violence Grant Program

The FY 2019 Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Grant Program is designed to improve school security by providing students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to, and help prevent acts of violence.

OJJDP Awards More Than $320 Million in Grants in Fiscal Year 2019 (Sub-grant Opportunities)

In fiscal year (FY) 2019, OJJDP made approximately 320 awards totaling more than $320 million to protect public safety, ensure offenders are held accountable, and empower youth to live productive and law-abiding lives. In addition, OJJDP grants supported states' efforts to fulfill the core requirements of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act . 

Learn To GET RICH WHILE BLACK... Without Being an Athlete, Entertainer or Drug Dealer

This book is the only known book on Black wealth building that takes into account the racial discrimination that exists in this country.

Article and Exclusive Interview With Chuck Starks On "Get Rich While Black... Without Being An Athlete, Entertainer or Drug Dealer"

Author and Award Winning Inc. 500 Entrepreneur Chuck Starks Pens His New Powerful Book

Chuck Starks, Inc. 500 Award Winning Entrepreneur (CEO), has written a book that every Black American should read. Racial discrimination in America has changed the way Black People must see themselves and their options to becoming financially wealthy.

This book is a must-read for anyone who aspires to live an abundant life with more than enough money to spend, live well, give and leave a robust inheritance to heirs.  Black Americans have literally built this Country yet have not been able, because of discrimination, to reap the benefits of their labor without taking major risks that jeopardize not only their health but their life, family and legacy.

Very few Black Americans have the ability to play professional sports, act, model or entertain at a star level and get rich. Anyone can sell drugs or commit crimes but we all know how that story ends – prison or death (or both).