AfroTech

Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students put their knowledge to use in the asset management field. According to a press release shared with AFROTECH™, the United Negro College Fund’s (UNCF’s) sixth annual HBCU Stock Pitch Competition — held at Acadian Asset Management’s Boston headquarters — provided student teams from HBCUs with resources to empower them in the asset management field to ensure they can fine-tune their investment decisions in real-world settings.

Unconventional Ventures has announced the second close of its Fund II. The Nordic impact venture capital firm is led by a group of European founders and was launched to “unlock the potential of diverse founders building impact tech companies,” according to its website. Nora Bavey (general partner) and Thea Messel (general partner) serve as founders of the firm, which has raised funding to address biases in venture capital, according to Tech Funding News.

Crowned Skin founder Darrell Spencer and investor Rashaun Williams are now united in business. As AFROTECH™  previously reported, Spencer launched the science-backed skincare and grooming company in 2024, bringing experience from customer sales and advertising departments at tech companies such as Facebook, Google, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. He helped “generate millions of dollars in revenue” for these companies, he said at the time.

Black male enrollment at the Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Benedict College, is on the rise. This counters overall data indicating that Black men’s enrollment at HBCUs has decreased. According to research from the American Institute for Boys and Men, 26% of Black men were enrolled in an HBCU in 2024, down from 38% in 1976.

After heating up the Atlanta food scene, Chef Virgil Harper is debuting a new concept in Houston, TX. The Atlantic City, NJ, native was 16 years old when his spark for cooking was lit. He took a summer job as a line server at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, where he was referred by his cousin, who had worked there as a chef in the early 1990s.

Marvel Studios has been impacted by Disney layoffs. Josh D’Amaro, a 28-year company veteran, is currently leading The Walt Disney Co. as CEO, succeeding Robert A. Iger, according to a news release. The decision, which was approved in a unanimous vote by the Walt Disney Board of Directors, was informed by D’Amaro’s qualities including leadership, spirit of innovation, and discernment for strategic growth opportunities, according to James Gorman, chairman of the board.

Angel Reese returned to her hometown to empower young girls in STEM. The WNBA player who represents the Atlanta Dream teamed up with 2K Foundations — the philanthropic arm of video game company 2K — which supports STEM education, access to mentorship, and sports programming, according to its website.

The NAACP has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s xAI. The lawsuit, which also lists its subsidiary, MZX Tech, as a defendant, was filed on Tuesday, April 14, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, and concerns power data centers in and near Memphis, TN, according to CNBC. The lawsuit claims that 27 gas turbines are now operating in Southaven, MS, 13 miles south of Memphis, E&E News by POLITICO reports.

Kyle Kuzma is now an E1 team owner. According to a press release shared with AFROTECH, the NBA champion, who currently plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, has joined the ownership group of Sierra Racing Club, which competes in the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF, “the world’s first all-electric foiling raceboat championship.” The league was launched to advance electric marine technologies while promoting sustainable urban waters and coastal environments.

At a time when technology is rapidly evolving and screen time is on the rise, schools across the United States are scaling back classroom tech after early adoption efforts produced unintended consequences — including increased distractions and declining student engagement. At McPherson Middle School in Kansas, cell phones were banned four years ago, Fortune reports.