Black Tech Saturdays

MIAMI 🌴12.07.24 | Connect with creatives and innovators who put their genius to work for their industries and communities—creating economic mobility for all. Bright Future, Black Genius: Harnessing Art and Technology for Economic Mobility 🚀 Free entry + Special Detroit musical guests + Open bar + Appetizers ✨ RSVP NOW ✅ https://bit.ly/49CVgch In partnership with Let's Grow Michigan, You Can In Michigan, Knight Foundation 🌟 #BrightFutureBlackGenius #ArtBaselMiamiBeach #AFROTECH24 #BlackTechSaturdays #Miami #Detroit #BlackExcellence #InclusiveTech

Many thanks to Fast Company for recognizing how Black entrepreneurs and investors are writing an exceptional story in #Michigan. While work remains to provide greater access to dollars, Michigan has incredible people challenging norms, changing minds, and breaking the status quo: Alexa Turnage, Johnnie Turnage, Derek Batts/Union Heritage, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, and Michigan Economic Development Corporation staff like Ben Marchionna, Amy Rencher, MBA, Christopher Cook, Hilary Doe, Matt Casby, and Aileen Bovan, to name a few. And, continued political leadership from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, bipartisan state legislators and an engaged federal delegation is setting a conducive policy atmosphere to create wealth for ALL residents, disrupting the color line in the process. We don’t just expand the pie in Michigan; we bake whole new pies with new ingredients. #MakeItInMichigan

ICYMI The Business Development Bank of Canada is investing $200M CAD ($140M USD) in Indigenous and Black-led businesses to drive inclusive economic growth. The government-owned bank is also launching a $50M CAD ($36M USD) financing and training program to support women, Indigenous, and Black entrepreneurs.

🎉 Kicking off 2025 with Funding Opportunities: Join Me and a Room of Investors at the House of Scale! 🎉 I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be the MC and curator for Culture Shift Labs' House of Scale NYC on January 15, 2025, sponsored by Verizon and hosted at Morgan Stanley’s New York office. This isn’t just an event—it’s a movement. We’re bringing together over $1 billion in actively managed capital from leading investors committed to supporting ALL founders. 💡 Here’s why this matters:  - In 2025, we’re creating new opportunities despite headwinds. - The room will be filled with brilliant entrepreneurs and some of the most forward-thinking investors from Andreessen Horowitz, Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Group, Techstars, Zeal Capital Partners, Anthemis Group, Level Up Ventures and more. 🚀 What to expect:  - Fireside chats with trailblazers like Alysia Reiner (award-winning actress and storyteller), Jon Gosier, Founder of Audigent, a part of Experian (who scaled and exited his startup via a $350M sale to Experian) and John Pasmore (founder of Latimer.AI).  - Panel discussions featuring investors like Nasir C. Qadree of Zeal Capital Partners, Kofi Ampadu of Andreessen Horowitz, LaToya Wilson and Alice Vilma of Morgan Stanley, Shashi Srikantan of Level Up Ventures (Hearst) Andres Barreto of Techstars NYC, Sherrise Pond of Anthemis Group, Abdul Abdirahman of F-Prime Capital, and Ashley Ryder of VamosVentures. - Moderator insights from incredible leaders like Kange Kaneene of Level Up Ventures, Dominic-Madori Davis of TechCrunch and Monica Wheat of Techstars Detroit.  - We will offer select founders the opportunity to pitch the investors in the room. My mission has always been to close the network gap and help ALL founders gain access to the capital and connections they deserve. That's why I founded MyCofoundr.AI. This event is a reflection of that mission, and I couldn’t be prouder to curate this experience. Special thanks to Andrea Hoffman for the opportunity. If you’re a founder ready to scale or an investor seeking the next transformative idea, this is your chance to start the new year with intention. 🎟️ Seats are limited—register today: https://lnkd.in/e47t79zA Let’s step into 2025 with optimism, action, and the right connections. Together, we can turn bold ideas into enduring success. 🌟 #HouseOfScale #NewYearNewOpportunities

Here's my 2024 LinkedIn Rewind, by Coauthor: In 2024, Animation Discovery Studio proved that dreams don't just need believers - they need builders. From an idea born at Apple Developer Academy to becoming a force for change in Detroit's tech landscape, every step reinforced what matters most: creating pathways for our youth. What started as a vision to empower Detroit kids through animation has transformed into real impact: • Hosted over 70 workshops reaching 300+ students • Secured game-changing support as Black Tech Saturdays Rising Star • Featured in Detroit News for innovative approach to tech education • Built a growing team through two hiring rounds • Created sustainable pathways for youth to monetize creative skills But the real story? It's in the moments that show why this work matters: • Watching students discover they can turn their love of cartoons into careers • Returning to Apple Developer Academy as an employer, not just a graduate • Building partnerships that expand access to animation education • Seeing our community rally behind Detroit's creative future Three moments that captured our journey: "Community is meant to feel like family..." On being recognized as a Rising Star by Black Tech Saturdays and receiving the regrant that's helping us expand our impact. https://lnkd.in/gSxMSavK "Yesterday, I had the incredible opportunity to return to Apple Developer Academy..." Coming full circle from student to employer, showing our youth what's possible. https://lnkd.in/gFYaVfxx "The Power of Relationships in Entrepreneurship" On how connections and community support turn visions into reality. https://lnkd.in/gyPmTkrx Looking ahead: 2025 is about scaling our impact while staying true to our mission. We're expanding access to animation education and creating more opportunities for Detroit's youth to turn creativity into careers. Animation Discovery Studio isn't just teaching skills - we're building futures, one frame at a time. To every student who trusted us with their creative journey, every partner who believed in our vision, and every team member who's helped build this dream - thank you. Detroit's creative future is bright, and we're just getting started. 🎬✨ #AnimationDiscoveryStudio #DetroitTech #YouthEmpowerment #TechCommunity #LinkedInRewind

Guess what! 😃 Google's 5-Day Gen AI Intensive Course is now available as a free, self-paced learning program for anyone interested in learning all about the fundamental technologies and techniques behind AI. 💻 Here's the entire course guide (readings, code labs, optional assignments): https://lnkd.in/dEeBq5jZ You can also view the live session recordings here: ➡️ Day 1: Foundational Models & Prompt Engineering https://lnkd.in/db4zeXse ➡️ Day 2: Embeddings and Vector Stores / Databases https://lnkd.in/dU-4zxsB ➡️ Day 3: Generative AI Agents https://lnkd.in/dbHdkNqC ➡️ Day 4: Domain-Specific LLMs https://lnkd.in/dHNS-m2H ➡️ Day 5: MLOps for Generative AI https://lnkd.in/dA-Kyqk7 Interested in learning about future events that come up? 📅 Here's the official Google-managed form for announcements: https://lnkd.in/dSwS7rRt Search on. 🔎 #ai #google #lifeatgoogle #training #education #courses

🚨🚨 BER BER BERRR!! LinkedIn!!! You know what time it is?! Internship Alert time! 🚨🚨 🚀We Are Now Recruiting for 6 Amazing Summer Internships at Rocket Mortgage for Summer 2025! 🚀 If you're ready to dive into the world of marketing and make an impact with Rocket Companies, this is your chance! We’re hiring passionate individuals for paid, full-time summer internships in the heart of Downtown Detroit. Current Openings: 🔹 Motion Design Intern 🔹 Advertising Operations Intern 🔹 Content Creator Intern 🔹 Brand Strategy Intern 🔹 Market Research Intern 🔹 Photography Intern Key Details: ✨ Full-time (40 hours per week) 💰 Paid internships 🏙️ Hybrid in Downtown Detroit, MI – Relocation assistance available for those outside the metro area 📅 Internship Dates: May – August 2025 👉 Don't miss out – we’re recruiting NOW! Apply today and get hands-on experience while contributing to a powerhouse brand! Feel free to share with your friends, classmates, and network – let's get the word out! #RocketCompanies #MarketingInternship #SummerInternship #Detroit #Advertising #MarketingCareers #Internships #PaidInternships #ContentCreation #BrandStrategy #MarketResearch #CareerOpportunities #CollegeStudents #InternshipAlert #Photography

I’m excited to announce a new program for startups at PepsiCo Labs! 🎉🎉 What would you change if you could see the impact of your decisions before making them? In today’s fast-paced world, PepsiCo is innovating to stay ahead. Our Labs program seeks smart solutions to boost decisions, profitability, and adaptability—while staying sustainable. We’re looking for innovators to bring smart tools for scenario planning, data integration, and team decision-making. AI, real-time analytics, or predictive models—let’s transform portfolio management together. Think you’ve got what it takes to reshape the future of portfolio management? Let’s connect. Link to details in the first comment.

Searching for funding? 💰 💸 At MyCofoundr.AI, we've put together this list of investors that are putting billions to work to actively fund diverse founders and reshape venture capital. 🚀 The Black Vanguard List 2025 (https://lnkd.in/ekAbZ7cG): Investors 11-15 Redefining VC 🚀 Here’s who’s making moves and how they’re investing: 🔥 15. Brian Brackeen – The Bias-Busting VC Visionary Assets under Management (AuM): $50M (Lightship Capital) Stage: Pre-seed to Series A | Check Size: $250K–$2M Thesis: Investing in under-networked founders in the Midwest, turning bias into opportunity. 🗽 14. Collide Capital – Building the Future of Venture in Brooklyn AuM: $66M Stage: Seed | Check Size: $500K–$1M -- Brian Hollins – The Brooklyn Bridge-Builder: Connecting Black founders to capital. -- Aaron Samuels – The Renaissance Investor: Blending creativity and venture to uplift diverse entrepreneurs. 💪 13. Collab Capital – The Changemakers Forging New Paths AuM: $51M Stage: Pre-seed to Series A | Check Size: $200K–$1M -- Jewel Burks Solomon – The Tech Titan Turned VC: From founder to funder, driving Black-led innovation. -- Barry Givens – The Engineer of Equity: Structuring success for Black entrepreneurs. 🌴 12. Slauson & Co. Strategists – Transforming LA’s Tech Landscape AuM: $100M Stage: Pre-seed to Seed | Check Size: $250K–$1M -- Ajay Relan – The Neighborhood Alchemist: Investing in overlooked communities. -- Austin Clements – The Equity Architect: Designing pathways to capital for diverse founders. 💼 11. GV Trailblazers – Elevating Diversity in VC AuM: $8B (GV (Google Ventures)) Stage: Early to Growth | Check Size: $1M–$5M+ -- Candice Morgan – The Diversity Dynamo: Championing inclusion as an investment imperative. -- KJ Sidberry – The Consumer Tech Visionary: Backing transformative early-stage consumer companies. These trailblazers are proving that diverse investments drive exponential returns – financially and socially. They're not just investing; they're redefining the future of VC. On Monday, I'll release the investors that we ranked 6-10. 🖤💬 Which of these investment theses inspires you most? Who are your favorite investors that you think should be added to the list who are big supporters of Black founders? Drop a comment and join the conversation! #BlackVanguard #VentureCapital #DiversityInTech #InclusiveInvesting

Morning, Daniel Wilkins the music producer for the Never Yield games as well as many other projects. His mom is looking for a little help with his final expenses. If you have a few dollars to send her way I know Dan would greatly appreciate it 🙏🏾 gofund.me/e85f65a3