Panic buying a $2,245 Peloton; Fitness app for pre and postnatal bodies; Peanut, the social network for new and expectant mothers; Spanx to give millions to women-run businesses.
A weekly newsletter for Black and Brown women highlighting entrepreneurship and venture capital in the tech ecosystem.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Celebrations this year will look and feel different amid COVID-19, but, there are lots of creative ways to celebrate our moms and motherhood, albeit socially distanced. I am a new mom, my son is 8-months old, so today marks my first time enjoying the festivities, and it sort of feels like I am finally crossing the “burning sands” into the motherhood tribe after months of sleepless days and nights.
So here’s to my mom, future moms, new and old moms alike. Enjoy this day of (semi)rest and enjoy the love and appreciation from your family. I am.
Ida B. Wells, civil rights activist and investigative journalist, receives posthumous Pulitzer Prize. Little Richard, the flamboyant rock 'n' roll pioneer, died yesterday at 87. Google and Facebook told their employees to get comfy working from home. Robot dogs are patrolling Singapore parks, warning people to socially distance. Peloton, the connected fitness firm added 1.1 million users to its digital platform. The Food and Drug Administration approved the first at-home saliva collection kit to test for the coronavirus.
USA
Facebook named 20 people it is appointing to a new content oversight board; four are of African American and/or African descent.
Every Mother, a streaming fitness program for pre and post-natal women, raised $1.5 million in seed funding. Courtside Ventures led the round with participation from investors including Serena Williams’ Serena Ventures and Techstars Ventures.
Airbnb, Uber, and Lyft layoff thousands.
Spotify is now testing video podcasts in its app.
Twitch plans to fund a slate of original, unscripted series that would be live and interactive- game shows, dating shows, sports, music, and talk.
Electric scooter company Lime raised $170 million in funding. Uber led the round and was joined by Alphabet, Bain Capital Ventures, and GV. Lime will also acquire Uber’s JUMP business.
Lyft and Uber will require drivers and riders to wear face masks.
Alphabet’s Sidewalk Lab pulls out of its plans for a smart-city project in Toronto.
AFRICA
Nigerian startup Helium Health closes $10M Series A round to expand into new markets.
Egyptian mobility startup Swvl raised over $20 million in a newly completed funding round.
Flutterwave launches SME e-commerce portal.
Instabug, a mobile app feedback platform, raised $5 million in Series A.
Tanzanian agri-tech company East Africa Fruits closed a Series A funding round worth $3.1 million.
Pravica, an Egyptian blockchain email startup raises a $500K pre-seed round led by 500 Startups.
Netflix announces second African Original Series 'Blood & Water'.
EUROPE
Peanut, the UK-based social media app for new and expectant mothers, raised $12 million in its latest round of Series A funding.
The Fund, a US early-stage venture capital firm, is launching in Europe, aiming to raise $3 million to invest in European founders.
38% of European tech firms have frozen most or all recruitment as the pandemic rages on.
Europe’s largest digital banking apps are seeing slow user uptake in the US.
French startup, Back Market has raised $120 million for its refurbished device marketplace.
INSIGHTS
The new world needs diverse founders more than ever
-Katja Toropainen/Inklusiiv
65 Foundations & Investors Who Fund Education Ventures in Africa
-Kat Pattillo
Emerging Tech Trends for 2020
-Quantitative Futurist Amy Webb/ Future Today Institute
Top Ten 2020 Macro Demographic Trends to Watch
-Harlem Capital Partners
Accelerating into a New World of Edtech
-Mercedes Bent/Lightspeed Venture Partners
STARTUP FUNDING AND COMPETITIONS
The Entrepreneurship World Cup 2020 is accepting worldwide applications. They are offering $1 million in Cash Prizes. Learn more + apply.
The Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation donated $5 million to support female entrepreneurs in the wake of COVID-19. Applications open until May 11, 2020.
The 2020 MEST Africa Challenge geared to tech start-ups in Abidjan, Accra, Addis, Kigali, Dakar, Dar Es Salaam, Lagos, Nairobi, and Johannesburg! Deadline is May 13, 2020.
SoGal presents, The Build Without Burnout Program. Apply before May 15, 2020.
Taraji P. Henson wants to give Black communities free therapy during the pandemic.
Venture for Africa three-month Global Fellowship program (remote) aimed at matching skilled global talent with leading African tech startups. Apply now.
Showrunner Ben Cory Jones launches Virtual TV Pilot Writing Workshop.
AfriLabs, Global EdTech Hub, mEducation Alliance and Global Innovation Exchange are searching for EdTech responses to support learning in low and middle-income countries during the lockdown. Rolling Applications.
UPCOMING (VIRTUAL) EVENTS
Founders of Color Showcase, May 11, 2020.
Tech Inclusion Global Summit, May 12, 2020.
Vinetta Project DC Pitch & Panel Showcase. Four female founder semifinalists will pitch their companies, May 12, 2020.
Pitchers and Pitches, a TechCrunch free, interactive elevator-pitch feedback session, May 13, 2020. Register now to participate!
Raising your personal profile on LinkedIn, hosted by Tech London Advocates, May 14, 2020.
Bullish on Africa, hosted by TechCabal in partnership with Pariti, May 15, 2020. Startups in health or edtech willing to join the investor matchmaking session, please fill in this form. Investors interested in meeting startups can apply here.
Harnessing the Power of the 1- Minute Pitch Powered by Google for Startups, co-hosted by Black Girl Ventures Foundation, May 19, 2020.
ON OUR RADAR
In Philanthropy, Race Is Still a Factor in Who Gets What, Study Shows.
World's first Animal Crossing interior design service launches, offering consultants £40 an hour to perfect in-game homes.
The Forgotten Tale of How Black Psychiatrists Helped Make ‘Sesame Street’.
A List Of Live Virtual Concerts To Watch During The Coronavirus Shutdown.
Thank you for reading and see you next week!
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