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Yes, We Innovate: These 8 Engineers and Scientists Are Creating the Future Today
Those of us working in down-to-earth jobs can only tip our caps to those working in more lofty professions like space travel, biotechnology and systems gaming. There is no doubt, in the age of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality gaming systems, that behind these innovations lies a talented group of engineers pushing the proverbial bar…
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6 Black Women Who Are Leading Africa’s Digital Revolution
There’s a resurgence of innovation happening across Africa as mobile phones and the internet spread throughout countries like South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. These technologies aren’t only connecting citizens—they’re also serving as a foundation for the continent’s growing tech culture in its most populous countries. At the Afrobytes conference in Paris last week, we…
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10 STEM Summer Camps for Students of Color
Don’t let the summer go to waste while school’s out. Summer break is a perfect time to introduce your children to in-demand science, technology, engineering and math skills while they have fun with new friends and mentors. We’ve pulled together a list of STEM summer camps to help your kids stand out once the school…
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#AirbnbWhileBlack: It’s Time to Seek Alternatives. Here Are a Few
The moment Charles Hunt arrived in Rome, he planned to drop his luggage at his Airbnb and go on to explore the ancient city. Except, after a series of six email exchanges with the host to finalize accommodations and pay for his stay, the host suddenly said the room was no longer available. Out of…
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The Black Women Behind Some of Technology’s Most Influential Companies
The statistics are clear: There is a stark shortage of women in leadership roles at top technology companies in Silicon Valley and beyond. When it comes to addressing the lack of black women in managerial or senior roles within the industry, the numbers are grim. Despite their gross underrepresentation, several black women are paving pathways…
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By Using Tech to Solve Social Issues, Black Innovators Have a Shot at Closing the Funding Gap
Fred Hutson isn’t one to miss an opportunity. Back in 2007, at age 24, he saw an opportunity to improve the distribution of marijuana to Florida by shipping it through FedEx, UPS and DHL from his mail store in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, that knocking sound he heard in October of that year wasn’t opportunity but…
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Atlanta Entrepreneur Paul Judge Raises $12,500,000 From Amazon.com for New Home Wi-Fi Device
Paul Judge is something of a phenomenon in Atlanta’s bustling tech scene. As a serial entrepreneur, investor and adviser, Judge lives by the challenge of solving hard problems and building companies to make the world better. Twenty years ago, the Louisiana native ventured to Morehouse to attend college; there he earned a degree in computer…
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HBCU Students at SXSW Dispel Myths That Blacks Aren’t Interested in Tech
HBCUs have come under fire in recent years as questions abound as to whether these academic institutions are doing enough to equip black students for careers in high-growth industries and fields related to science, technology, engineering and math. Despite research showing that HBCUs produce the majority of black science and engineering graduates who pursue advanced…
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How to Deal With Unconscious Bias in the Tech Industry
Scathing diversity reports from major tech companies revealed that women make up less than 30 percent of employees. For minority employees, this number staggers as low as 4 percent. The culprit? Unconscious bias in an industry largely dominated by white men. “We need to have transparent discussions on what bias is and own it. Then…
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Need to Remove Racial Bias in Hiring for Tech Jobs? There’s an App for That
The excuse that top tech companies and large firms can’t find stellar, diverse talent will become a thing of the past if Stephanie Lampkin, founder of Blendoor, has anything to say about it. Lampkin announced the app’s official debut at a rooftop party Saturday during South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. Blendoor is a mobile…