Hello there,

If you are reading our newsletter from the States, how was Monday’s Labor Day? We hope you commemorated it with barbecues, family reunions, and a much-needed rest.

Now, let’s dive into today’s updates.

Top Stories 📰

Story 1: UrbanGeekz spotlights 10 Black Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) and Chief-Marketers who drive and shape strategy at some of the largest U.S. companies.

Story 2: This Black 35-year-old CEO has been appointed to lead Red Lobster out of bankruptcy.

Story 3: Robert F. Smith’s Vista Equity Partners has acquired Jaggaer, a global leader in enterprise procurement and supplier collaboration software.

Story 4: Talent outsourcing marketplace platform Andela has appointed an Ex-Uber Executive as the New CEO.

Hot News 🔥

1. Time recognized this 15-year-old as the 2024 Kid of the Year for inventing a soap that could potentially treat and prevent skin cancer.

2. Senegal has partnered with the Centre Spatiale Universitaire de Montpellier (CSUM) to launch its first satellite into orbit successfully.

3. The visionary leader behind The App Accelerator and America’s Leading App Educator partners with HBCUs to help founders scale tech ventures.

Opportunities - Accelerators/Funding, Events, and Jobs💼 

Accelerators 🚀

1. Retail Brand Accelerator: The Retail Brand Accelerator provides tailored education, mentorship, and resources that prepare diverse founders to break through and succeed in mass retail.

2. Open Accelerator is an acceleration program dedicated to women’s health and femtech.

3. Antler program backs the world’s most driven founders, from day zero to greatness.

4. Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator: WCBA provides first-time founders with a six-month program of personalized entrepreneurial education in Westchester.

 Grants💰

1. $500-$2K | Wish is allocating grants and financial support to Black-owned small businesses to help promote equality and diversity in American business. Apply now:

2. $5000-$10,000 | The Black Founder Startup Grant program provides grants of up to $10,000 to Black and multiracial women and nonbinary entrepreneurs. Apply now

3. Up to $10K | Accion Opportunity Fund LegalZoom, the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G-League have joined forces to provide entrepreneurs nationwide with grants and LegalZoom services to support their small businesses. Apply by 9/13 

Events🎟️

Did y’all get the chance to learn about the brilliant honorees on our inaugural UrbanGeekz 50 List? Well, if you haven't, check out the article here. The must-read listicle showcases trailblazing disruptors making waves in the innovation economy.

As we’re counting down to our second annual UrbanGeekz 50 list for 2024, we invite you to consider sponsoring the list. For more inquiries, kindly send an email to [email protected] with ‘UrbanGeekz 50’ in the subject box.

Explore the future of cloud data management at the Snowflake World Tour Atlanta. Engage for free with experts, discover cutting-edge solutions, and enhance your data strategy in an interactive setting.

Date: October 3rd, 2024

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Don’t forget to tune into the Culture Capital series. The powerful docuseries highlights dynamic leaders sharing stories of success, opportunities, and inevitable challenges.

Thank you for joining us in this edition of Geekz Insider. We hope our shared stories and opportunities ignite your entrepreneurial spirit and fuel your drive to innovate. From dynamic founders to transformative AI programs and life-changing grants, something here inspires everyone.

Enjoy our newsletter? Share it with your networks so they can sign up here to stay informed on the latest in tech, business, and innovation. 

If you're interested in sponsoring our newsletter, Geekz Insider. Until next time, keep hustling and making those geeky dreams come true!

Written by Stephen Oluwadara