Multiple financial developments have occurred across Africa’s tech ecosystem as 2025 comes to a close. Two African fintech startups, Optasia in South Africa and Cash Plus in Morocco, completed initial public offerings (IPOs) in November 2025, according to Max Cuvellier Giacomelli, co-founder of Africa: The Big Deal. In a Substack post, he further noted that these were the first major technology listings on the continent since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Business Insider Africa, Optasia was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on Nov. 4, raising $345 million and reaching a $1.4 billion valuation. The company, as its website states, offers AI-driven financial services delivered through mobile networks and digital channels across several markets: Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Three weeks later, on Nov. 25, Morocco’s Cash Plus went public on the Casablanca Stock Exchange. The company, as Giacomelli noted, raised $82.5 million in its...
Free agent Odell Beckham Jr. is speaking out after comments he made about managing a five-year, $100 million NFL contract ignited conversation online. The wide-ranging discussion began in October during an episode of “The Pivot Podcast,” where Beckham outlined why a contract of that size may not last as long as it appears once expenses are taken into account. The wide receiver, who was drafted No. 12 overall by the New York Giants in 2014, went on to play for the Cleveland Browns and Las Angeles Rams. Beckham last played for the Miami Dolphins before he became a free agent in 2024. According to Spotrac, his total career earnings sit at $102 million. His podcast remarks resurfaced this week and drew reactions from fans, commentators, and former players. On Tuesday, Dec. 2, Beckham posted a response to the attention on X. “Boy u can’t say nothin in this world nowadays, that’s why I been in my own lane my own world n put the way,” he wrote. “People love to take Shxt completely outta...
Tracy Morgan finds fulfillment in his charity work. The actor and comedian recently told PEOPLE that through his partnership with the Edison, NJ–based Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, he has donated more than $200,000 to provide food and support to 19,000 families. According to the foundation’s website, it raises funds for programs and services across the Hackensack Meridian Health network, helping modernize facilities, advance treatments, support research, train future physicians, and strengthen healthcare delivery in local communities. “It’s fun to get the love and support, but it’s better when you give it back,” Morgan said, according to PEOPLE. “That’s what I want to teach my children. More than a great education, I just want [Maven] and her brothers to be empathic.” Morgan, 57, told the outlet that his personal experiences, including a serious car crash in 2014, shaped his outlook on life. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, he was among several people injured in a...
Aliko Dangote, the richest Black man in the world, is looking to expand his business into India. In a recent conversation with Business Today’s Riddhima Bhatnagar, Dangote, the Nigerian billionaire industrialist, founder, and president of Dangote Group, explained why India has become a crucial partner in powering the next generation of large-scale projects for his company. Dangote’s Long Bet On India In the interview, Dangote discussed his relationship with India spans two decades, underpinning many of his most significant industrial ventures. “Our dealings with Indian companies actually go back to 2003,” he said, recalling the early expansion of his cement business. That partnership evolved into today’s megaprojects, including his refinery and petrochemical operations. He noted that companies such as Engineers India Ltd. (EIL) have been central to that growth. “We used EIL … and they did a very very great job,” he said. Dangote added that his refinery sourced over $2.5 billion...
HP Inc., like many tech companies, is restructuring its workforce as artificial intelligence becomes a larger part of its operations. The company plans to cut 4,000 to 6,000 jobs by the end of fiscal year 2028, according to a company press release. The reductions are part of a broader initiative to increase productivity, improve customer experiences, and drive innovation through AI adoption. HP said the layoffs will primarily affect employees in product development, internal operations, and customer support, according to CNN. The company expects the cuts to save nearly $1 billion by 2028. “Structural cost savings represent gross reductions in costs driven by operational efficiency, digital transformation, and portfolio optimization,” notes the press release. Workforce reductions are just one component of the plan, which also includes program consolidation, platform simplification, and other long-term productivity measures. This is not the first time HP has downsized. The company cut...
With Giving Tuesday underway, a New York-based nonprofit is calling for support of Black-owned small businesses and highlighting their impact on local economies. According to a press release, the African American Small Business Foundation Inc. is using the Dec. 2 observance to raise funds that will help minority-owned businesses navigate rising costs, shifting market conditions, and limited access to capital. Currently, the organization serves as a resource center for African American entrepreneurs seeking funding, training, and business connections across New York. The foundation reports that many Black-owned businesses continue to face challenges securing loans, grants, or investment funding. To address this, it connects entrepreneurs to micro-grants and loan programs, community financial institutions, credit-building tools, and capital-readiness training intended to support growth and hiring. Training and technical assistance are another key part of the foundation’s work. Through...
Marvin Ellison ’s journey to becoming president, CEO, and chairman of Lowe’s began far from the boardroom. While attending the University of Memphis, he worked part-time at Target, earning $4.35 an hour, according to Fortune. “I was fortunate to land in a company that believed in developing people, and I just grinded it out for 15 years all the way up to a director level,” Ellison told Daymond John, the entrepreneur behind FUBU and an investor on “Shark Tank,” in a 2022 interview. That early experience shaped how Ellison approached his career, especially as someone who didn’t come from a traditional corporate pedigree. “I didn’t have an Ivy League education. I didn’t have any stellar international opportunities or stints on my resume. I’m competing against all of these exceptionally talented people on paper; I had to find a way to differentiate myself,” he shared in the interview. His strategy became simple but demanding: Take every tough assignment no one else wanted. “I’d take...
Dallas Mavericks Point Guard Kyrie Irving has announced a multi-year partnership with Paul Quinn College, bringing new resources to the only HBCU in Dallas, according to HBCU Gameday. The college is one of 14 basketball programs selected to receive a full uniform sponsorship from Irving and sports equipment company, ANTA. The three-year agreement will supply the men’s and women’s teams with ANTA sneakers, warmups, and apparel designed through Irving’s work with the brand, the outlet reports. The sponsorship is part of a wider grassroots effort involving youth, schools, and community teams in regions tied to Irving’s career and personal history. According to HBCU Gameday, the participating programs have been outfitted with pieces from the KAI collection, including popular colorways such as Crown Jewel, Mentality, Retro ’90s, and Klay. Paul Quinn College publicly thanked Irving for the long-term commitment in a post on X on Nov. 24: “This isn’t your ordinary sneaker drop. @NBA legend...
Kohl’s has officially named Michael Bender as its permanent CEO, putting a seasoned retail executive in charge after a turbulent period for the department store chain, the New York Post reports. According to the outlet, Bender, who stepped in as interim CEO in May 2025 following the dismissal of Ashley Buchanan, now faces the challenge of steering the company through declining sales, profit pressure, and shifting consumer habits. In a company press release, Bender said, “I’m honored to take on the role of CEO at Kohl’s. Working with the teams over the last six months has deepened my love of this company and my conviction in what’s possible for our future.” He added, “Kohl’s has a storied and important role in the retail industry, serving and celebrating families with great products, compelling value, and a differentiated shopping experience. I’m looking forward to reestablishing our leadership position by putting our customers first every day. While we’re pleased by our recent...
D’Angelo’s estate has launched the D’Angelo Pancreatic Cancer Fund, a global philanthropic initiative honoring the late soul musician, who passed away on Oct. 14, 2025, at age 51 after a private battle with pancreatic cancer. According to PEOPLE, the fund was created in partnership with the Black Boy Joy Foundation (BBJF) and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to support research, early detection studies, awareness campaigns, family support programs, and advocacy initiatives, with a particular focus on Black men and boys, addressing a disease with a survival rate of just 13%. In a statement, the estate said, “As a visionary artist, cultural pioneer, and devoted father, D’Angelo’s influence transcended music and defined a generation. Today with the Black Boy Joy Foundation x Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, we formally launched this initiative to honor his life and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.” PEOPLE also reports that the D’Angelo Pancreatic Cancer Fund will be led...
PwC, one of the Big Four accountancy firms, is actively seeking hundreds of engineers across its global network, but says it cannot find enough qualified candidates as the firm expands its AI- and technology-driven services, according to the BBC. “We are looking for hundreds and hundreds of engineers,” Mohamed Kande, PwC’s global chairman, told the outlet. “We just cannot find them.” The firm has shifted its hiring focus from entry-level graduates to specialized technology talent. Kande also stated that PwC’s strategy emphasizes helping clients adopt AI and transform operations and workforces to use these tools effectively. PwC has also made adjustments to its workforce in recent years. In 2021, the firm aimed to hire 100,000 people over five years, but Kande said AI has made reaching that target unlikely, according to the BBC. “When we made the plans to hire that many people, the world looked very, very different,” he said. “Now we have artificial intelligence,” he said, per the...
Aliko Dangote, the richest Black man in the world, and his conglomerate Dangote Group have partnered with U.S.-based Honeywell International Inc. to expand the Dangote Refinery in Lagos, Nigeria. According to Business Insider Africa, the project aims to increase the refinery’s production capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2028, doubling its current output. The agreement with Honeywell will provide technology and services to allow the refinery to process a wider variety of crude oil grades. Honeywell, a Fortune 100 company, will supply catalysts, equipment, and industrial solutions to support the expansion, per Business Insider Africa. In addition to expanding crude processing, the refinery plans to increase its polypropylene production to 2.4 million metric tons per year through a license for Honeywell’s Oleflex technology, according to the outlet. Polypropylene is used in a range of industrial applications, including packaging and automotive components. Honeywell has...
U.S. Bank is stepping up its presence across the Southeast, aiming to reach more businesses and broaden its lending services, including Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. According to Banking Dive, the Minneapolis-based bank, with $695 billion in assets, is actively hiring bankers in areas where it doesn’t currently operate branches. Dee O’Dell, head of business banking sales, confirmed that within six months, U.S. Bank plans to bring on at least a dozen new bankers in a couple of Southeastern states. Though they weren’t specified, possibilities include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina, the outlet notes. While O’Dell did not go into detail, the bank is clearly positioning itself to tap into growing business markets across the region. This expansion follows recent moves in other key markets. Banking Dive states that U.S. Bank has added multiple banker teams in cities like Charlotte, Las Vegas, and Chicago, reflecting its strategy to meet...
A senior executive at The Campbell’s Company — formerly Campbell Soup Company — has been placed on temporary leave as the company investigates accusations that he disparaged both its products and customers in a secretly recorded meeting, according to FOX Business. The lawsuit, filed by Robert Garza, a former cybersecurity analyst, alleges that Campbell’s Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, Martin Bally, referred to the company’s food as “s— for poor people” during a November 2024 meeting at the company’s Camden, NJ, headquarters. The complaint, filed in Wayne County Circuit Court in Michigan, says Bally’s remarks were captured on a recording. In the recording, as FOX Business reports, a voice identified as Bally’s allegedly ridicules Campbell’s customers, saying, “Who buys our s—? I don’t buy Campbell’s products barely anymore.” The voice also reportedly criticizes the food itself, expressing disdain for “bioengineered meat” and saying he did not want to “eat a...
Artificial intelligence continues to influence how employees, executives, and organizations operate, and SKIMS founding partner Emma Grede is taking steps to keep pace with the technology. During Axios’ annual BFD dealmaking summit, Grede said she schedules an “AI day” once every six weeks, Fortune reports . She described the sessions as dedicated time to understand new tools, noting that she encourages women within her company to develop similar habits. “We have no choice but to AI-proof our careers,” Grede told Axios senior markets reporter Madison Mills during the event. Grede serves as chief product officer at SKIMS, the apparel and shapewear company she launched in 2019 with Kim Kardashian and Jens Grede. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, SKIMS recently completed a $225 million funding round led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives that brought the company’s valuation to $5 billion. Fortune reports that Grede has an estimated net worth of $405 million and has appeared on Forbes’ list...