Michigan Founders Fund’s Post

A Revolution is Brewing in Tech ⚡

We’ve hosted incredible Black Tech Events, connected innovators from Queen City to the Triangle, and celebrated Black excellence along the way—but now, we’re taking it a step further. Today, we launch the Black Tech Initiative, a movement that goes beyond gatherings to create real, transformative change. Why This Matters: 
The disparities in tech aren’t new—access, funding, and representation are still painfully lacking. But imagine the groundbreaking startups and life-changing products waiting to be unleashed when we remove those barriers. That’s our mission: to empower Black founders, students, and professionals to excel in a tech world that has often overlooked their brilliance. Our Vision: Make HBCU campuses accelerators for tech entrepreneurship Turn ideas into thriving, well-funded companies Ensure diversity isn’t a checkbox but the norm How We’re Doing It: 
We’re rolling out targeted programs, forging new partnerships, and debuting innovative resources (stay tuned!). Our upcoming event, “The State of Tech: Advancing Black Futures in Tech,” on January 23, 2025, marks just the beginning of this next chapter. Join Us: 
Our past was about showing up; our future is about leveling up. We’re calling on everyone—entrepreneurs, investors, allies, and dreamers—to build a tech ecosystem where Black talent shines without limits. This Is More Than a Launch—It’s a Movement. Ready to redefine the future of tech? #BlackTechInitiative #FromEventsToAction #BlackInTech #TechRevolution #JoinTheMovement

Join us in the Zone👊🏿 We are so excited to announce that Black Entrepreneurship Alliance, Black Founders Network, Nobellum, Federation of Black Canadians, Black Opportunity Fund, BlackNorth Initiative, DMZ, Tribe Network, and African Impact Initiative are uniting to form the Black Innovation Zone - featured at this year’s Collision Conf 2024! 🎉This collective is dedicated to increasing access and visibility, by amplifying the voices and innovations of Black founders, investors and professionals across Canada and beyond.🙌🏿 The Black Innovation Zone is more than just a collective; it's a movement aimed at empowering Black entrepreneurs, investors and professionals by providing them with the platform they need to showcase their talents on an international stage. Our goal is to foster professional development, community building, and to serve as a beacon for those navigating the challenges faced by Black founders in the tech industry and other sectors. Join us at our booth (E167) during Collision week, and stay tuned for exciting updates about the events, opportunities and activations we will be curating for Black innovators. We’re here to promote cross-cultural collaborations and inclusivity within the global business ecosystem. It's time to share the stories and innovations of Black founders at Collision. 🎉Here's to building a legacy and creating a road map for future Black innovators in Canada and around the globe! 🌍 Help us shape the Black Innovation Zone experience, by filling out our programming survey in the link below. With your feedback, we can continue to build for the community, with the community. 💪🏿 https://lnkd.in/gkUXq4nt #BlackInnovationZone #Collison2024 #TechConference #BlackEntrepreneurs #ProfessionalDevelopment #Community 

Join us in the Zone👊🏿 We are so excited to announce that the BlackNorth Initiative, Black Founders Network, Nobellum, Black Entrepreneurship Alliance, Federation of Black Canadians, Black Opportunity Fund, DMZ, Tribe Network, and African Impact Initiative are uniting to form the Black Innovation Zone - featured at this year’s Collision Conf 2024! 🎉This collective is dedicated to increasing access and visibility, by amplifying the voices and innovations of Black founders, investors and professionals across Canada and beyond.🙌🏿 The Black Innovation Zone is more than just a collective; it's a movement aimed at empowering Black entrepreneurs, investors and professionals by providing them with the platform they need to showcase their talents on an international stage. Our goal is to foster professional development, community building, and to serve as a beacon for those navigating the challenges faced by Black founders in the tech industry and other sectors. Join us at our booth (E167) during Collision week, and stay tuned for exciting updates about the events, opportunities and activations we will be curating for Black innovators. We’re here to promote cross-cultural collaborations and inclusivity within the global business ecosystem. It's time to share the stories and innovations of Black founders at Collision. 🎉Here's to building a legacy and creating a road map for future Black innovators in Canada and around the globe! 🌍 Help us shape the Black Innovation Zone experience, by filling out our programming survey in the link below. With your feedback, we can continue to build for the community, with the community. 💪🏿 https://lnkd.in/gkUXq4nt #BlackInnovationZone #Collison2024 #TechConference #BlackEntrepreneurs #ProfessionalDevelopment #Community

"Revolutionary Insights: Glen Ford's Must-Listen Commentaries on Black Empowerment, Justice and Wellness!" Navigating the innovational sphere successfully requires a world-class guide and who better than The Center For Black Innovation, enriching Miami's entrepreneurial ecosystem, especially for entrepreneurs of color. As we straddle the sweet spot between fostering creativity, advocating access to resources, and encouraging economic empowerment, we're creating a stirring ripple effect across the Miami business landscape. In a city teeming with diverse communities, such inclusive impetus is heartening. Want proof? Look no further than the Black Tech Week, a prominent feature on The Center's calendar where luminary guest speakers host workshops and share insights. With a laser-like focus on tech transformation, this event fuels entrepreneurial enthusiasm while serving as a beacon of business brilliance. Imagine you could be part of this transformative trajectory! You're just a click away from discovering the disruptive thinking and innovative strategies that are reshaping the entrepreneurial sphere in Miami. Swing by The Center For Black Innovation's website to read about their upcoming events, learning opportunities and sign up for programs designed to push the boundaries of success. #TechInnovation #MinorityEmpowerment #MiamiTech #EntrepreneurialBoost

Let’s ensure every Tech Workforce Development Organization gets the recognition it deserves. Join us in highlighting the powerful organizations making a difference in Atlanta. 🗣️ How can you contribute? Tag an organization, program, or leader in the comments that meets these criteria: - A Tech/Computer Science Organization or Community - Based in Atlanta or has a chapter here - Black-led or primarily serving Black tech professionals Think of examples like tech/coding bootcamps, community meetup groups, conferences, and more! If you get tagged, don’t forget to tag someone else to keep the momentum going! Black Women in Science and Engineering (BWISE), Black Atlanta Corporate Connect, Black Product Managers Network If you get tagged, don’t forget to tag someone else to keep the momentum going!

Yesterday, I published a post about creating opportunities that get female founders in front of decision-makers/investors, not just courses. And by some mystic chance, this was the first thing i saw when i woke up this morning: A post by Morgan DeBaun, ↳ Founder of Blavity Inc. , which founded AFROTECH. ↳She announced AFROTECH Founder's Circle. ↳ They give FREE access to AfroTech conference, 25K people attended in 2023;, ↳ Leadership charisma coaching by Olivia Fox Cabane ∞;, ↳ and most importantly - the point I made in yesterday's post: ↳ they provide warm intros to VCs and Partner companies! Sure, this program is not just focused on women ↳ but it's open to women and serves underserved founders. ↳ Additionally, they are practicing both training and ↳ providing material benefit, by removing that barrier to VCs through warm introductions. Of course, I applied for Aeone, and I would encourage every diverse founder to apply.

🔥 A Vision for Equity, Innovation, and Self-Determination 🌍✨ "If I’m not working to create Black wealth, then I’m not doing my job." 💡 These words from Derrick Johnson at AFROTECH 2024 aren't just a statement—they’re a rallying cry for building systems that empower, uplift, and sustain Black communities. 🚀 💭 Reimagining Education and Innovation: “It is being able to be self-determined that our human essence is an exploited second stool for cheap or free labor… and we are able to create more critical thinkers.” Johnson's reflection is a challenge to leave behind outdated systems—stale classrooms and obsolete textbooks—and instead build innovative frameworks that inspire the next generation. 📚🌱 COVID-19 unveiled systemic cracks, and Johnson’s bold critique of traditional approaches—“I could be in a room with elected officials. They’re boring, and they lost, and I ain’t got time for them”—reminds us: Change isn’t polite; it’s unapologetic, disruptive, and action-oriented. 💥 The launch of NAACP Capital—a $200M fund aimed at uplifting startups and fund managers bridging the wealth gap in communities of color. 💰💼 💡 Johnson’s reminder: Protect intellectual property and empower Black entrepreneurs to overcome funding hurdles. 💪🏿 Dominic K. Hawkins, Jay Lundy NAACP lets dicsuss on how we can increase Black homeownership rates and create an actionable strategy for building generational wealth. 💪🏿 Samantha Katz Mike Green Gillian Marcelle, PhD Elizabeth Leiba https://lnkd.in/eAsGjSvd

Ten years ago, I embarked on a journey that started with a simple yet bold idea: to create a platform where Black voices could be heard, where our stories and successes weren't just footnotes but headlines. That idea became Blavity Inc., and it has been an incredible ride filled with challenges, learnings, and triumphs. Back in those early days, one of the toughest challenges was simply navigating the landscape as a founder who didn’t attend Stanford, Harvard or any other pipeline to the valley. From the jargon, to the unspoken etiquette of fundraising, I often felt like a fish out of water. While this journey honed my resilience, it also opened my eyes to the systemic barriers that many founders face, particularly in the tech space. Today, I find myself reflecting on those early days and how they’ve shaped AfroTech’s commitment to support and uplift the next generation of entrepreneurs. Access shouldn't be a privilege for the few but a fundamental opportunity for all who dare to innovate and dream big. That's why I'm thrilled about the launch of the Founder Circle at AfroTech Conference, a program to ensure the power of AfroTech is used to accelerate Black startup’s growth. This year we are particularly inspired by startups working on health equity issues, accessible sustainability, voice tech, and B2B software.  This initiative is a commitment to opening doors that were once closed and creating pathways that were once nonexistent. It’s about giving 200 tech founders FREE access to: 1) Ticket to AfroTech Conference in Houston Texas 2) Leadership and charisma group coaching from renowned expert Olivia Fox Cabane, to ensure you not only lead in your businesses but also lead in life. 3) Top-tier networking opportunities and warm intros that connect you with the right people at our partner companies and VCs. If you're a tech founder on the brink of something great, or know someone who is, I encourage you to apply to the AfroTech Founder Circle: https://lnkd.in/gnxwgT7g Here’s to building a future where we continue to build our own table and everyone has the tools they need to succeed.

We are thrilled about the launch of Black Tech Scotland—a bold initiative empowering Black immigrants in tech. This platform is here to showcase talent, foster connections, and inspire growth. Dive into this journey with us and see how collaboration fuels innovation. Together, we redefine possibilities. Watch the video and be part of the story. #BlackTechScotland #DiversityInTech #BlackLeadersInTech #TechInnovation #EmpowermentThroughTech

Join us in the Zone 👊🏿 We are so excited to announce that Black Founders Network, Nobellum, Black Entrepreneurship Alliance, Federation of Black Canadians, Black Opportunity Fund, BlackNorth Initiative, DMZ, Tribe Network, and African Impact Initiative are uniting to form the Black Innovation Zone - featuring at this year’s Collision Conf! 🎉This collective is dedicated to increasing access and visibility, by amplifying the voices and innovations of Black founders, investors and professionals across Canada and beyond.🙌🏿 The Black Innovation Zone is more than just a collective; it's a movement aimed at empowering Black entrepreneurs, investors and professionals by providing them with the platform they need to showcase their talents on an international stage. Our goal is to foster development, community building, and to serve as a beacon for those navigating the challenges faced by Black founders in the tech industry and other sectors. Join us at our booth (E167) during Collision week, and stay tuned for exciting updates about the events, opportunities and activations we will be curating for Black innovators! We’re here to promote cross-cultural collaborations and inclusivity within the global business ecosystem. It's time to share the stories and innovations of Black founders at Collision. 🎉Here's to building a legacy and creating a road map for future Black innovators in Canada and around the globe! 🌍 Help us shape the Black Innovation Zone experience, by filling out our programming survey in the link below. With your feedback, we can continue to build for the community, with the community. 💪🏿https://lnkd.in/gkUXq4nt #BlackInnovationZone #Collison2024 #TechConference #BlackEntrepreneurs #ProfessionalDevelopment #Community