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How These 10 Black Billionaires Built Empires Beyond Entertainment & Sports

How These 10 Black Billionaires Built Empires Beyond Entertainment & Sports

More on the newsletter: News, Grants, Accelerators, and Events

October 09, 2025

Black athletes and entertainers often rise to fame, but the real magic happens after the spotlight fades.

Many see their fortunes dwindle due to poor financial decisions or exploitation by record labels and studios. However, some have turned the tables by taking ownership, investing wisely, and building their own brands.

Become an UrbanGeekz Ambassador!

UrbanGeekz is on a mission to amplify tech, startups, and culture. We’re looking for bold, visionary individuals to join our inaugural UrbanGeekz Ambassador Program.

As an ambassador, you’ll create content, share authentic stories, and be our voice in global innovation. In return, you'll get to be part of a vibrant tech/entrepreneurial community. We also have some exclusive tech products up for grabs. Interested? Apply here

Hot News 🔥

Mastercard Foundation appoints Sewit Adherom as its incoming President and Chief Executive Officer.
Mastercard has selected MoovnPay for Start Path’s Emerging Fintech Program.
Political strategist and media pundit Ashley Allison has acquired The Root through her company, Watering Hole Media.
Black-owned businesses across the United States are turning to GoFundMe to stay afloat.
Series Rush uses AI Robot ‘Yuri’ to shake up College networking.

Opportunities - Accelerators/Funding, Events.

Y Combinator is accepting applications for the Winter 2026 Batch funding cycle, which will occur from January to March in San Francisco.
Techstars Accelerator provides funding, mentorship, hands-on training, and access to Techstars' global network of VC investors, corporate partners, and alumni founders.
The Propellant Labs is a startup accelerator offering different programs to help entrepreneurs launch and scale their businesses.
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.
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.
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.
Forum Ventures' accelerator helps SaaS and AI startups grow with pre-seed funding, mentorship, and expert guidance.

Grants💰

$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:
$155K | The Da Vinci Fellowship gives an equity-free grant of €150 000 per fellow to young, contrarian Europeans.🗓️ Application on a rolling basis
$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:
$50K | Apply now for the AT&T Small Business Contest for a chance to win $50,000 and the support of a growing community of over 20 athletes and entrepreneurs!🗓️ Apply by 9/30
$25K | The NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant aims to empower Black entrepreneurs and businesses through funding and resources.
📅 Apply by November 1, 2025
$20K | The NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant aims to empower Black entrepreneurs and businesses through funding and resources.
📅 Apply by November 1, 2025
$20K | The Intuit QuickBooks and Mailchimp Small Business Hero Program awards grants to U.S. small businesses with owners aged 18 or older that show courage, perseverance, and integrity. 📅 Apply by November 14, 2025
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:
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:

Events🎟️

Moonshot by TechCabal is more than a conference; it’s where Africa’s tech ecosystem gathers to network, collaborate, share insights, and celebrate the innovation shaping Africa's future.

Don’t miss the chance to connect with and learn from the boldest founders, investors, and business leaders building the continent’s most transformative ideas at Moonshot by TechCabal this October.

Visit moonshot.techcabal.com to reserve your seat now

Date: October 15 and 16, 2025

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

TechCrunch Disrupt is where you’ll find innovation for every stage of your startup journey. Whether you’re a budding founder with a revolutionary idea, a seasoned startup looking to scale, or an investor seeking the next big thing, Disrupt offers unparalleled resources, connections, and expert insights to propel your venture forward.

Date: October 27 – 29

Location: San Francisco, USA

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.

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Written by Stephen Oluwadara and produced by Gugu Nxumalo