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The Gathering Spot has secured strategic funding. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, The Gathering Spot, co-founded by Ryan Wilson and TK Petersen, is a private membership club that has made its way to major cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Detroit, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Houston. The Gathering Spot, which prides itself on creating an inviting and collaborative atmosphere, recently rolled out The Retreat, a 60,000-square-foot space that includes a pool, private dining rooms, and cabanas, all while overlooking Atlanta’s skyline. “I wanted our community to have access to the best spaces around,” Wilson said on “The Black Tech Green Money” podcast. “This is world class space that we we can go head-to-head with any favorite rooftop that you have around. It really is that sort of product. But the second thing is that I’ve always known that people connect or want to connect for different reasons.” He added, “If there’s a meaningful community conversation...
Former Division I athlete Nyla Pollard is now innovating in the sports world as a founder. Ballin AI In 2023, Pollard, along with a team of coaches, evaluators, and seasoned AI engineers, launched Ballin AI, a sports technology company that helps high school and college athletes assess their performance and serves as a recruiting resource for coaches, its website mentions. Through the platform, athletes can gain insight into how they are playing as well as how college coaches view their game. Players upload their film, which is then analyzed by a nationally recognized evaluator and scored across key criteria such as defense, shooting, rebounding, scoring, transition, ball handling, and finishing. This platform was a three-year effort led by Ballin AI Chief Development Officer Tenishia Benson, Pollard mentioned on LinkedIn. “Our report gives you an in-depth look at your skills, shooting, defense, and IQ to show you where you’re thriving, but also where you need to improve,” Pollard...
Shon Jones traded what would have been a career in pharmacy for a future in technology, where he found a lifelong passion. The Houston native was raised by parents who both worked in technology. As a teen, he recalls going to work with his father to put computers together for the summer and later working for Compaq for a few years. His career took a pivot, one that nearly led to him become a pharmacist. In 1997, he geared his studies around that career field but had a change of heart after considering the impact of charging $100 for medicine he said was valued at 30 cents. “That didn’t seem to align with my spirit. That’s not for me,” he told AFROTECH™ in an interview. Jones decided to focus on computer information systems. He enrolled at the University of Houston while simultaneously working as a network administrator, according to his LinkedIn. When he obtained a degree in c omputer and information technology administration and management at the University of Houston, he already...
Sola Babatunde reveals his standout experience that attracted major tech companies within the UX/UI sector. The Dallas area native’s foray into technology can be traced back to studying film in high school. He did not have a knack for the camera or other areas of film such as director of photography or acting. However, he discovered his strong suit was within the tech side of the field in sound engineering and editing, and as his skills strengthened it would introduce him to UX and UI. “Both of those have these modules you can script like a plugin,” he explained. “So I practiced scripting and coding plugins, and that was my first entry into the world of tech. And eventually those plugins had graphical user interfaces, and that was my first exposure to UX/UI.” Babatunde didn’t take an immediate detour into the field as a career . He obtained a bachelor of science degree in mechatronics engineering. According to his LinkedIn, he then landed a role as a part-time s ystem software...
Despite the tumultuous landscape these days, The Gathering Spot CEO Ryan Wilson believes the tide will turn back toward prioritizing diverse communities. The U.S. has seen sweeping changes across industries. In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled race-conscious admission programs at colleges and universities were no longer legal, notes NPR. In retail and big tech, companies such as Target, Walmart, Lowe’s, Meta, and Amazon pulled back on DEI commitments. At the federal level, President Donald Trump also moved to eliminate DEI programs, initiatives, and offices in the early months of his new administration, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. However, regardless of current attitudes being upheld, companies will ultimately have to include the Black community in their strategies if they hope to meet their goals, Wilson shares. “If you go back to 2021, 2022, some of these companies were falling over themselves trying to figure out how to get to Black consumers. And then now those same...
Stephanie Dinkins is merging AI and art for an exhibition in Brooklyn, NY. An “artist by birth,” Dinkins began with a display of her photography from a trip to Central America — a trip prompted by her interest in learning Spanish. This exhibit, held in Staten Island, would become her first. Fast forward to 2025, and she has launched an exhibit that is merging art and AI with the goal of creating a more equitable future. Dinkins told AFROTECH™ in an interview that she’s always been drawn to technology, and in 2014 a pivotal moment pushed her to deeply explore how the future is being shaped. She witnessed a humanoid robot on YouTube, called Bina48, being interviewed by reporters. The technology was launched by Hanson Robotics four years earlier based primarily on the personality and appearance of Bina Aspen Rothblatt, a Black woman, the company website mentioned. Dinkins reached out to the company, which permitted her to talk to the robot that was being trained through conversations...
Building on the work she did at six previous funds, Himalaya Rao-Potlapally is now leading one with a focus on Black entrepreneurship. Black Founders Matter Fund Founded in 2019, the Black Founders Matter Fund is an early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to investing in Black and diverse founders building solutions across a variety of sectors, including health, wealth, and economic mobility. The fund gained traction one year later following the racial justice movement caused by the murder of George Floyd. At the time, the Black Founders Matter Fund invested in A Kids Company About (founded by Jelani Memory), which launched a series of books co-authored by experts to help children navigate challenging topics such as autism, trauma, and racism. “It was a really cool business model, a really cool impactful model, and so we had invested in them. And then post-George Floyd’s murder, that book [“A Kids Book About Racism”] actually took off as one of the things that people were...
Is a $2000 stimulus check from the IRS on the way? $2,000 Stimulus Check Over the past couple years, taxpayers have received varying stimulus checks (Economic Impact Payments) dependent on certain qualifications. Under the first Trump administration, and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARES Act ( Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) provided eligible individuals with up to $1,200, plus an additional $500 per qualifying child under age 17 in 2020, a press release mentions. Married couples were given up to $2,400, notes PhillyBurbs. Payments were reduced for those with an adjusted gross income of less than $75,000 or married couples who filed a joint return and earned $150,000. Later that year, in December 2020, a second round of payments was issued under the COVID-related Tax Relief Act, providing up to $600 to qualifying individuals; $1,200 to married couples; and $600 per child under 17. A third stimulus check was sent out in March 2021 allowing eligible...
Brandy and Monica’s R&B tunes are still high in demand. The pair released “The Boy Is Mine” in 1998, which was a single featured on Brandy’s album “Never Say Never” and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine,” both launched that same year. The song led to the first Grammy win for both artists in 1999, according to That Grape Juice, and went double platinum, notes “Good Morning America.” It has stood the test of time. In fact, the classic was also remixed by pop star Ariana Grande in 2024, introducing the hit classic to a new generation. In 2020, it became apparent that fans wanted to see more collaborations by Brandy and Monica. The pair lit up Verzuz, a one-on-one music battle platform co-founded by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, garnering 1.2 million viewers on Instagram, Billboard reported. That battle played a key role in the women’s upcoming co-headlining “The Boy Is Mine Tour,” which was announced on June 24, 2025. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 4 e v e r b r a n d y ♠️ (@brandy)...
Rejection led Druski to bet on himself. The comedian and content creator, born Drew Desbordes, has brought belly laughs to the masses. His content creation journey started by propping up a phone in his mother’s home. Today, the grind has led him to establish a loyal fanbase, which includes over 20 million followers, and changed the course of his life trajectory. He went from being a broke college student to being named among the 2025 Forbes’ Top Creators list — with an estimated $14 million in earnings — all while self-funding his dreams. “A lot of those skits, you get nothing in return money wise, because it goes on TikTok or Instagram or X or Facebook. It’s a big sacrifice, but it’s worked for me so far,” Druski said during an exclusive interview with AFROTECH™. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DRUSKI (@druski) The decision to self-fund his own ventures followed after several rejections while attempting to seek a traditional deal. While he isn’t opposed to that route,...
Lloyd understood the importance of being a student of the game when he entered the music industry as a child. Industry Journey The R&B crooner is known for hit songs such as “You,” his “biggest earned streamed song.” He spent a lot of time in the studio learning from those who paved the way such as Dallas Austin, Gerald Busby, Tricky Stewart, as well as Joyce Irby, a mentor of his who signed him to Atlanta-based teen pop group N-Toon in 1997 when he was just 10 years old, noted Foxy 107.1/104.3. “She basically just poured a lot of time and love into me so that I wouldn’t make kinda the same pitfalls in the beginning. So by the time I was 18 years old, I was really headstrong. I knew exactly what I wanted. I knew exactly how to find my sound, and I wasn’t gonna let anybody tell me what I already knew, “ Lloyd said following a performance on the Coca-Cola Stage at the Convention Center during the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture, held in his hometown of New Orleans, LA. Photo Credit:...
Chris Goode’s love for his grandmother lives on through his journey as an entrepreneur. The Kansas City, MO, native is the proud founder of the health and wellness brand Ruby Jean’s Juicery, which is making healthier food options more accessible to underserved communities. His personal call to action, and the name of the venture, was inspired by Ruby Jean, his grandmother, who stepped in to help his single mother raise four children. Ruby Jean didn’t speak much, but she showed her affection through cooking soul food, Goode explained in an interview with AFROTECH™. However, Ruby Jean developed various chronic illnesses, including type 2 diabetes, which eventually led to her being rushed to the hospital. She later passed away after her family made the decision to remove her from life support. Goode was 14 years old at the time, and since that day, he has pledged to keep her spirit alive. “The agony in myself and my mom and my siblings and my aunts, it’s something that I would never...
Bogan High School 2025 graduate Aaron Williams is still sorting through college acceptance letters. According to ABC7 Chicago, Williams has already been accepted into more than 83 colleges and universities, and this is only after opening half of the letters he has received. Additionally, he’s already earned at least $8 million in scholarships. This is more than any of his six siblings. Per the outlet, one of his older siblings has earned $1 million in scholarships. “And, they’re still coming in. Daily, he gets emails. They’re a little bit behind,” his mother, Ericka Smith, told the outlet. Williams also added, “To know that all the hours of me applying for scholarships, and having to log them on school links, and just putting in the effort, and having a community to support me and guide me through this process is relieving to know that it paid off in the long-run.” Williams may not be surprised by the influx of great news, as he had already predicted a path of excellence when he...
NBA player Jalen Williams is paying it forward to his parents. Williams was drafted into the league in 2022 by the Oklahoma City Thunder as a 12th overall pick, notes ESPN. He was signed to a four-year rookie contract valued at $20.3 million, data from Spotrac reveals . That milestone felt like a natural next step as Williams had long believed the league was within reach due to affirmations instilled in him by his parents, according to Andscape. “I would say my parents were big on if I wanted to get to the NBA, I could,” Williams recalled to the outlet. “From when I was young, I knew what I wanted to do, so I always had a good support system in regard to that. There was never a time that I didn’t think I could.” NBA Championship Fast forward to 2025, and Williams has already secured the league’s most coveted honor as the team won the 2025 NBA Championship during Game 7 on June 22, 2025, at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, NBC mentions . Williams was instrumental in the team’s stretch...
Odell Beckham Jr. has no regrets with going against the grain. Decision To Accept Bitcoin In 2021 As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Beckham made the decision in 2021 to accept bitcoin as the form of payment for his contract at the time with the Los Angeles Rams, in partnership with Cash App. In doing so, he followed in the footsteps of Russell Okung, who was the first player in the NFL to be paid in bitcoin. In fact, Okung reportedly agreed to receive half of his $13 million salary at the time ($6.5 million) in the form of bitcoin, which was later worth $20 million by 2024, according to Bleacher Report. As for Beckham’s investment, he reportedly received a $750,000 payout from the Rams, which was converted into bitcoin, a separate article from the Bleacher Report mentions. To commemorate the announcement, Beckham Jr. also gave money to his fans in the form of bitcoin. “It’s a NEW ERA and to kick that off I’m hyped to announce that I’m taking my new salary in Bitcoin thanks to Cash...