Hello There!

Happy International Women’s Month!

Tech giant Google has paid tribute to Dr. Marian Croak with a new film spotlighting her groundbreaking work. Best known for helping pioneer modern internet calling (VoIP), Croak now serves as Vice President of Responsible AI and Human-Centered Technologies at Google.

Now let’s dive into the rest of this week’s top stories, insights, and opportunities.

Top Stories 📰

Story 1: Google Spotlights Tech Pioneer Dr. Marian Croak in New Film ‘The Art of Possible

Story 2: Hip-Hop Mogul Dr. Dre Joins Forbes Billionaires List

Story 3: 6 Black Directors reshaping Hollywood From Indie Classics to billion-dollar franchises

Story 4: BronzeLens Film Festival Brought Together Actors, Filmmakers, and Fans for its annual Sunday Brunch with the Brothers.

Hot News 🔥

1. Media mogul Byron Allen is expanding his media footprint with a new investment in Starz Entertainment Corp.

2. France’s Time4 VC fund Announces $69M Close to Back Diverse and Rural-based Companies.

3. Nine Black CEOs who built venture-backed companies that went public.

4. Elva, a Nordic startup, has secured $1.5 million (€1.3M) in pre-seed funding to streamline cross-border hiring and employee relocation for startups.  

5. Pat McGrath Labs secures $30 million in new funding as founder steps into Chief Creative Role.

Opportunities - Accelerators/Funding, Events.

Grants💰

1. $8M Investment | Energy access organisations in ODA-eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region, and Latin America can apply for a share of up to £7 million across the three strands of the competition.

2. $150K Investment | The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation aims to identify social entrepreneurs with dynamic ideas and nurture them in their early stages with maximum leverage and total commitment.  🗓️ Application on a rolling basis:

3. €150,000 | The Da Vinci Fellowship offers an equity-free grant of €150 000 per fellow to young, contrarian Europeans. 🗓️ Application on a rolling basis

4. $100K | The Thiel Fellowship is a two-year program for young people who want to build new things. Fellows receive a $100,000 grant and support from the Thiel Foundation’s network of founders, investors, and scientists. 🗓️ Application on a rolling basis:

5. Up to $15K | The Catalyst Fund by The Roddenberry Foundation makes grants between $2.5k - $15k to anyone with an early-stage idea or project that addresses pressing global challenges 🗓️ Apply on a rolling basis:

6. Up to $10K | Each qualifying nonprofit has access to up to $10,000 per month in search ads shown on Google.com. Additional Google Ads may be purchased in a separate account. 🗓️ Apply on a rolling basis:

Accelerators 💼

1. Techstars Accelerator provides funding, mentorship, hands-on training, and access to Techstars' global network of VC investors, corporate partners, and alumni founders.

2. Square One’s remote-first pre-accelerator has helped 70+ founders move from idea to traction—raising capital, securing early customers, and continuing to build beyond the program.

3. The Propellant Labs is a startup accelerator offering different programs to help entrepreneurs launch and scale their businesses.

4. Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator invests in up to ten companies per year (two cohorts of five) focused on fintech, insuretech, digital health, and data analytics.

5. Peachscore + Dealum hosts 12 cohorts annually, offering startup founders the flexibility to join immediately upon acceptance and receive up to $150k, regardless of when they apply.

6. The two-year Activate Fellowship provides early-stage science entrepreneurs with funding, technical resources, and unparalleled support from a network of scientists, engineers, investors, commercial partners, and fellow entrepreneurs. 

7. Forum Ventures' accelerator helps SaaS and AI startups grow with pre-seed funding, mentorship, and expert guidance.

Events🎟️

Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) 2026 brings together women, allies, employers, and industry leaders committed to advancing diversity in cybersecurity. Expect career fairs, mentorship opportunities, and conversations focused on retention and representation in tech.

If you're passionate about building a more inclusive cybersecurity workforce, this is a must-attend.

Date: 11–14 March 2026

Location: National Harbor, Maryland, USA

The 5th Annual African Film Festival Atlanta, powered by the African Film & Arts Foundation Inc., is returning for another powerful celebration of African and diaspora storytelling, creativity, and culture.

Join filmmakers, creatives, and audiences from around the world for screenings, conversations, and unforgettable community experiences.

Ticket sales have officially opened for this year's African Film Festival Atlanta. Secure your spot here 

For the latest updates and announcements, follow the Instagram page @africanfilmfestatl or visit the website www.africanfilmfestatl.com

March - 26-30, 2026

Location: Historic Plaza Theatre and the Auburn Avenue Research Library in Atlanta, GA.

Thank you for joining us in this edition of Geekz Insider. We hope that our shared stories and opportunities will ignite your career goals and entrepreneurial spirit, fueling your drive to innovate. From dynamic founders to transformative AI programs and life-changing grants, there’s something here to inspire everyone.

Enjoy our newsletter? Share it with your network and sign up here to stay informed about the latest in tech, business, and innovation.  Until next time, keep hustling and making those geeky dreams come true!

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Written by Stephen Oluwadara and produced by Gugu Nxumalo