Yelp Adds Racism-Reporting Feature; How women VCs are working to fund Black and female founders; A $200M acquisition deal in Nigeria; Glossier is now an official sponsor of the WNBA.
A weekly newsletter for Black and Brown women highlighting entrepreneurship and venture capital in the tech ecosystem.
Hello everyone,
I’m going to be brief today as I am heading out for a family vacation. French schools are closed this week for the school holidays so we’ve packed the kids in the car and are driving to Quiberon (in Bretagne aka Brittany). Have a lovely Sunday!
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wins a second term. Twilio will acquire Segment for $3.2 billion. Facebook and Twitter have banned Holocaust denial. Stripe acquires Nigeria’s Paystack for $200 million. Snapchat launched its TikTok rival, Sounds on Snapchat. Zoom launches its events platform and marketplace.
INSIGHTS
How the finance industry can combat racism
-BY Erika Seth Davies / Fortune
Opinion: Why I Speak Up for Black Women
-Megan Thee Stallion / NY Times
‘We have to change who the investors are’: How women VCs are working to fund Black and female founders
-Anne Sraders / Fortune
Europe’s start-up ecosystem: Heating up, but still facing challenges
-McKinsey & Company
Breaking Into VC: The ultimate guide
-Pietro Invernizzi / Stride.VC
The Wing Founder Audrey Gelman apologizes to former staff
-Audrey Gelman
New Site Solicits Pledges to Black Causes, Starting at $100,000
-Isabelle Lee / Bloomberg
OPPORTUNITIES, FUNDING & COMPETITIONS
Arctic15 LP Summit: Investment Thesis Pitch Competition + VC Lab Demo Day. Current/prospective investors and fund managers can submit their investment thesis for a chance to pitch at the Summit in front of family offices, and corporates investors. October 20, 2020.
Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program- offers 50 women entrepreneurs a $5,000 business education grant, virtual education resources and workshops and more. Apply by November 12, 2020.
Female FinTech for Good Challenge. A worldwide competition to select the Top 2 Women-Led Startups building the future of Finance. Apply by November 15, 2020.
Target Takeoff Beauty 2021. A five week, consumer product startup accelerator to help elevate beauty brands to the next level. Apply before November 30, 2020.
Plexo Capital Investor in Residence Program. A 3-month paid position with a competitive salary.
UPCOMING (VIRTUAL) EVENTS
The Plug presents "Evolution of Next." A virtual live summit discussing the trends shaping the growing Black innovation economy. October 22, 2020.
Black Men Talk Tech Unicorn Ambition 2020. October 23, 2020.
Virtual Fireside Chat with Arlan Hamilton by Zahn Innovation Center of the City College of New York. October 23, 2020.
Chase for Business will host "Black Entrepreneurs Day," curated by Daymond John. October 24, 2020.
BGV Virtual Pitch Houston by The Black Girl Ventures Foundation. October 25, 2020.
Founder University (Jason Calacanis) is a two-day curriculum for founders who have launched their product but haven't raised Series A. October 26-27, 2020.
Startup Grind presents: Black Leaders Month: Funders, Founders, and Innovators. October 29, 2020.
ON OUR RADAR
How Speech-Recognition Software Discriminates against Minority Voices.
Coachella Organizers Unveil New Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives.
Opinion: We're a group of female executives at some of America's most innovative companies. It's clear to us that Joe Biden is the right choice for our economy, businesses, and working women.
Amy Cooper Made 2nd 911 Call to Falsely Accuse Black Bird-Watcher.
Millennials Embrace Baby Boom Icon Folgers Coffee.
PEOPLE / ANNOUNCEMENTS
Beyoncé, Rihanna, Serena, and Oprah make Forbes’ list of Richest Self-Made Women in the US.
GV, formerly Google Ventures, promotes Terri Burns, its first Black female investing partner.
Black Founders Fund Recipients. Awards winners of the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund.
StockX has hired Leander LeSure as its first-ever global chief people officer.
Glossier is now an official sponsor of the WNBA.
Robert Smith, Billionaire Who Promised to Pay Off Morehouse Student Loans, Committed Tax Fraud.
Inc. Female Founders 100: The Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs of 2020.
Simone Leigh Is First Black Woman to Represent U.S. at Venice Biennale.
Ray McGuire, a top executive at Citigroup, is leaving the bank and run for mayor of New York.
A heartfelt thank you for reading and see you next week!
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