There’s a new Black billionaire in town! Amid the recent clampdown on DEI initiatives, it's refreshing to see stories of progress and resilience. From Ulysses Junior Bridgeman joining the exclusive club of Black billionaires to Stacy Brown-Philpot’s $172M fund fueling diverse founders, there’s no shortage of inspiring wins.

In this edition of Geekz Insider, we’ve got the latest stories, hot news, and game-changing opportunities to keep you motivated and ready to take on the world!

Dive into today’s newsletter to learn more.

Dive into today’s newsletter to learn more.

Top Stories 📰

Story 1: Former NBA star and businessman Ulysses Junior Bridgeman is now a billionaire. He is now one of around 14 Black billionaires in the United States. 

Story 2: Stacy Brown-Philpot, the former CEO of TaskRabbit, has raised $172M for Cherryrock Capital, a venture capital fund supporting diverse founders.

Story 3: In a landmark initiative by Africa Gate To Growth, a group of West African startup founders have traveled to the U.S. for a fully immersive program in Silicon Valley to accelerate their ventures.

Hot News 🔥

1. Latina-led Silicon Valley Venture Capital firm Ulu Ventures has raised $208 million for its fourth fund.

2. Entrepreneurs, business leaders, and go-getters from across the States and beyond came together for the final instalment of the TSP Game Plan.

3. Oui Capital, a Lagos-based early-stage venture capital firm, has made history by returning its 2019 vintage fund to investors.

4. Hundreds of attendees from across Nigeria turned out for the 2025 edition of Lagos Tech Fest.

   Opportunities - Accelerators/Funding, Events, and Jobs💼 

Accelerators 🚀

1. Y Combinator is accepting applications for the Winter 2025 Batch funding cycle, which will take place from January to March in San Francisco.

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

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

4. FoundersBoost, a global pre-accelerator program, is an equity-free opportunity to take your business to the next level. 

6. 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.

    Grants💰

1. $150k Investment | Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation aims to find social entrepreneurs with dynamic ideas and nurture them at the early stages with maximum leverage and total commitment.🗓️ Apply on a rolling basis:

2. Up to $10k | Restaurant Disaster Relief grant funding for restaurants impacted by natural disasters, severe weather events, or major infrastructure failures.🗓️ Apply by 03/03:

3. Up to $100k | CTIA Wireless Foundation is a competitive grants program for ambitious social entrepreneurs who have developed mobile-first solutions that enhance our lives and address pressing challenges in American communities.

   🗓️ Apply by 3/4:

4. $250k Investment | Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures (MSISV) provides early-stage innovators with access to capital and resources to help them develop and scale.🗓️ Apply by 3/14:

5. 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🎟️

Technology leaders, stakeholders, and influencers at all levels who participate in the 5th Annual DE&I In Tech Summit will gain invaluable insights into the importance and urgency of broadening participation in the tech industry in Central PA. This summit will delve into the current barriers that hinder diversity, equity, and inclusion within the tech sector

Date: March 03 2025

Location: Penn State Harrisburg

Known for its creative energy, SXSW offers a mix of tech, culture, and business insights. It is perfect for entrepreneurs who want to explore innovation while connecting with cross-industry professionals.

Date: March 7-16, 2025

Location: Austin Texas

Diversitech, powered by Tribaja, is on a mission to redefine economic mobility for Black and Latinx households. By connecting participants with inclusive employers, cutting-edge skills training, and a vibrant community of changemakers, Diversitech is projected to increase economic mobility for Black and Latinx households by over $10 million within the next five years.

Date March 20 - 22 2025

Location: Philadelphia

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, there’s something here to inspire everyone.

Enjoy our newsletter? Share it with your network so they can sign up here to stay 

informed about the latest in tech, business, and innovation. 

If you're interested in sponsoring our newsletter, drop us a line at [email protected] with ‘Geekz Insider’ in the subject box. Until next time, keep hustling and making those geeky dreams come true!

Written by Stephen Oluwadara and produced by Gugu Nxumalo