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As the streaming industry continues to grow, many Black artists still struggle to own their music and capture its full value — a gap Connect Music aims to close. Founded in 2020, Connect Music is a Memphis-based independent music distribution, publishing, and rights management company that helps independent artists and labels monetize their work, secure funding, and retain 100% ownership. It operates as a curated, closed platform, meaning artists can’t simply sign up through a public portal. The company’s catalog success includes Dee Mula’s viral hit “Blow My High,” alongside collaborations with Grammy-nominated producers Mike & Keys and artists including Sauce Walka, Don Trip, Boosie Badazz , and BIG30. Scaling Connect Music At its helm are President and CEO George Monger and Chief Technology Officer Ivan Walker. Together, they lead a tech-driven company operating at the intersection of finance, data, analytics, and culture — where strategy guides every move. “When you recognize...
Kimora Lee Simmons has built a multimillion-dollar empire spanning modeling, entrepreneurship, fashion design, authorship, and strategic business investments — but she hasn’t always been as calculated in her early business moves. One of Simmons’ earliest ventures was Baby Phat, launched in 1999 and initially focused on baby tees with bedazzled logos, according to People. The brand grew into a recognizable label in the early 2000s, with figure-hugging jeans and fur-hooded bombers added to its chic line-up. Kimora Lee Simmons’ Exit From Baby Phat Baby Phat ceased operations in 2010, largely following Simmons’ departure from the brand, Vogue reports . During an appearance on an episode of the “Aspire With Emma Grede ” podcast, Simmons reflected on how much she earned from the brand’s sale, which reportedly generated over $1 billion in revenue, per Vogue. “You live, and you learn. I probably made — I think we ended up selling … it for 100-and-something million dollars. I probably got...
Food vendors participating in Keith Lee ‘s inaugural FamiLee Day festival in May will do so at no cost, as the popular TikTok food critic and influencer has announced he’s waiving vendor fees. In a TikTok shared Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Lee said he “finally got approved.” “On what, you might ask?” he continued, explaining that the festival is now “a complete marketing platform for small businesses, local businesses, and staples of the community.” He added that “all vendor fees [are] completely waived” in what he described as a “first-of-its-kind” move — at least based on his experience. Lee said vendors will keep 100% of their sales, with the only cost being rental equipment. “Show up, sell your product, sell your food, market your business, market your social media, market where they’re going to see you at, market your location and everything, and make your money,” he said. @keith_lee125 Keith Speaks 💕 now let’s see what media talks about this 🫡 💕 @Familee Day ♬ original sound –...
The legal battle between Fresh Bourbon and Brough Brothers Distillery is over — at least for now — after a federal appeals court ruled that Fresh Bourbon did not make false advertising claims about being Kentucky’s first Black-owned bourbon distillery. Battle Over ‘First Black-Owned’ Title Victory Global LLC, doing business as Louisville-based Brough Brothers Distillery, sued Fresh Bourbon LLC in March 2021, alleging the Lexington company falsely claimed to be Kentucky’s first Black-owned bourbon distillery, according to the Louisville Courier Journal. The case centered on competing timelines. Both companies, founded in the 2010s, initially outsourced distillation before opening their own facilities and launching their own products in 2020, the outlet notes. Brough Brothers, founded in 2013 by brothers Victor, Chris, and Bryson Yarbrough, began selling bourbon in 2020 and filled its first barrel at its own Louisville facility later that year after securing a license, the Louisville...
LeBron James’ restaurant, Buckets, had its grand opening. LeBron James has always been known for giving back to his hometown of Akron, OH. However, the billionaire athlete’s latest business venture is fostering an even stronger sense of family and community in the Ohio city. On April 1, the LeBron James Family Foundation officially opened Buckets, a comfort food restaurant featuring large buckets of fried chicken, according to a press release shared with AFROTECH™. The restaurant staff is hired from participants in the nonprofit’s I PROMISE Program, an initiative that supports at-risk students in the Akron public school system. Buckets invited influencers to try the menu a week before its grand opening, garnering positive feedback. Videos on social media gave a sneak peek of unique dishes, including macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and wings with ten different sauce options, notes the press release. The 23-year NBA veteran expressed his excitement in Wednesday’s press release....
Jam Vino by Chef Lorious is a line of wine-infused gourmet jams. Made with 100% real fruit and five all-natural ingredients, it’s vegan, gluten-free, family-friendly, and rich in fine wine flavor. Behind the brand are Chef Lorious “Lori” Rogers and her husband, Shane Rogers — a duo building at the intersection of Black love , innovation, and ownership. With no prior manufacturing experience, the couple entered the consumer packaged goods industry head-on. They created a new category while sourcing co-packers, navigating compliance, scaling production, and growing a nationally recognized brand. “The truth is, it’s really kind of getting into what do you have, who are you, and what can you make that’s an expression of yourself? And it doesn’t have to always be that thought out and that much intention,” Lori told AFROTECH™. The Making Of Jam Vino Beyond product formulation, innovation isn’t just about taste or creating something different — it’s about creating something personal. For...
Chicago, IL, now has its first Black-owned and operated winery. Vintrendi Wine Company Vintrendi Wine Company opened in 2017 and is led by Rick and Carin Nesbitt, according to the winery’s website. Carin serves as chief financial officer and operations manager, while Rick serves as CEO and winemaker. Per the company website, Carin brings over 30 years of experience in the financial sector to the role. She worked at a boutique financial and investment firm as an operations manager before dedicating herself to Vintrendi Wine Company . In conversation with NBC Chicago, Rick made it clear he was no stranger to the wine and liquor industry, and his involvement dates back to 1998. He has worked as a salesperson, learning the fundamentals of merchandising and running wine floor programs at major chain stores, and as a marketer at various alcoholic beverage distributors in the state, according to the winery’s website. He reached a point where he recognized he wanted more ownership in the...
A beloved bookstore has reopened, preserving its mission to keep its community at its center. Liberation Station Victoria Scott-Miller is the founder of Liberation Station, North Carolina’s first Black-owned children’s bookstore, according to WRAL News. It first opened in downtown Raleigh, NC, in 2023 in partnership with her husband, Duane, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. Liberation Station mirrors Scott-Miller’s long-standing mission to uplift underrepresented voices and ensure children are represented in literature, her LinkedIn mentions . The store features works such as James Baldwin’s “ Go Tell It on the Mountain ” and Toni Morrison’s “ The Bluest Eye, ” “ Song of Solomon, ” and “ Beloved .” “We were the first Black-owned bookstore we ever set foot in,” Scott-Miller said at the time, according to a separate WRAL News article. “To know that we have carved out a space in the universe for our children to feel safe and to be able to be curious, to be joyful … it’s overwhelming to...
The Black Business Hub in Madison, WI, is on a mission to create a “Black Renaissance” by expanding opportunities for Black-owned businesses in the area. Opened in August 2024 through the Urban League of Greater Madison (ULGM), the Hub aims to provide a home and launchpad for Black entrepreneurs , offering everything they need to succeed in one place, The Daily Cardinal reports . The Hub is a $25.5 million, 80,000-square-foot facility run by ULGM. Home to everything from coffee shops to beauty salons and office suites, it equips small business owners with the skills and resources needed to launch and grow their companies, strengthening their overall presence in the community. “We’re looking for them to get a strong start, build a strong economic base, and then go out,” Dr. Ruben L. Anthony, Jr., president and CEO of ULGM, told The Cardinal. “We’re not looking for the businesses to stay here forever.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Urban League Greater Madison...
The bankruptcy case for Houston’s Turkey Leg Hut has officially ended, leaving more than $6.5 million in debt unpaid, according to the Houston Chronicle. The outlet notes court records show that the Chapter 7 trustee Ronald J. Sommers, who was overseeing the case, confirmed all accounts are empty, and no assets remain to satisfy creditors. Sommers noted in his report that there were insufficient assets to administer, and all financial records had been submitted to the U.S. Trustee. “The bank statements reflect a final zero balance, and no other funds or assets of the estate remain in my custody,” he wrote, according to the Houston Chronicle. Founded in 2015 in Houston’s Third Ward, Turkey Leg Hut became known for its stuffed turkey legs, quickly drawing long lines and celebrity visits, the Houston Chronicle reported in a separate article. The restaurant began in a parking lot near the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, founded by Nakia Holmes and her then-husband, Lyndell Price. Over...
After six years in the making, Zora’s Place — Evanston, IL’s first Black feminist bookstore for all ages — has become a reality for L’Oreal Thompson Payton. Following a soft opening, her dream officially launched on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, with a grand opening at its pop-up location in The Aux Wellness Collective community space. According to WBEZ Chicago, the 700-square-foot pop-up space on Washington Street will run for at least six months. “Zora’s Place is really my love letter to the community — for Black women, Black and brown children, Evanston, and anyone who wants to feel safe being their full, authentic self,” Payton told WBEZ Chicago. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zora’s Place (@zorasplace) Payton’s family has been there every step of the way. According to WBEZ Chicago, her husband, Jeff, is director of operations, handling everything from assembling bookcases to setting up furniture. Their 3-year-old daughter, Violet, proudly takes on the roles of...
Group Black, co-founded in June 2021 by Richelieu Dennis, Bonin Bough, and Travis Montaque, sought to secure advertising commitments from brands and agencies to channel spending toward Black-owned publishers. According to Adweek, backed by an initial $75 million investment from GroupM and multimillion-dollar deals with Ziff Davis and NBCUniversal, the collective aimed to raise and distribute funding of $500 million. However, the group is now the center of two lawsuits. In May 2025, Essence Communications filed a lawsuit against Group Black, which responded with a countersuit in June. These legal actions follow a dismissed October 2024 lawsuit by Essence Communications, alleging that Group Black owed $20 million to its publishers, Essence and Afropunk, and had misused the funds. Essence Communications is a subsidiary of Dennis’ Sundial Media and Technology Group. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Sundial Media Group is a vertically integrated media, technology, and experiential...
The Gilbert Family Foundation is investing over $4 million to strengthen Black-owned businesses in Detroit through grants to Black Leaders Detroit (BLD) and the Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA). Announced during National Black Business Month , the Foundation revealed in a news release on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, that it is investing in a broad range of programs, expanding access to capital, technical assistance, and business coaching. “Detroit’s continued growth hinges on a strong small business community throughout the city,” said Darnell Adams, the Gilbert Foundation’s vice president of Detroit community initiatives. “These investments will ensure Detroit developers, entrepreneurs , and small businesses have the resources and opportunities needed to shape the future of our city and state.” BLD will receive a $2.1 million grant to expand its no-interest lending programs, including The Building Fund, which offers up to $150,000 to Black real estate developers for residential...
Romy Antoine has raised funding to promote health and wellness in the workplace. Born in Haiti, the founder moved to America before he was one year old. He says his mother often cooked healthy meals throughout his upbringing, and he played sports. When he was age 13, his father purchased a weight set, and Antoine began working out in the living room. He was also infatuated with various magazines that discussed health and wellness. This is something he developed into a lifestyle and carried over into high school and college. While pursuing higher education, he became a personal trainer, studied biology as a major, and minored in exercise science. “There’s so many myths out there, so I wanted to make sure I had all the right information, and it’s all backed by science,” he told AFROTECH™ in an interview. One Stop Wellness For nearly six years, he focused on an online personal training business, working with clients from across the globe on meal plans and workout programs. In 2018,...
Four-time NBA champion, Hall of Famer, and sports analyst Shaquille O’Neal continues to be a powerhouse in the fast-casual dining space. His restaurant venture, Big Chicken, now has more than 350 locations in development across the U.S., making it one of the fastest-growing franchises in the country, Fadeaway World reports. Launched in Las Vegas in 2018, the brand has evolved into a nationwide movement built on big flavors, oversized portions, and personality-packed menu items like the “Big Aristotle” and the “Charles Barkley.” As the outlet notes, Big Chicken’s mission is simple but impactful: Channel O’Neal’s “larger-than-life personality” into comfort food that keeps guests coming back for more. Building that bold idea into an empire hasn’t come without its hurdles. Since launching its franchise model in 2021, Big Chicken has faced some growing pains, Essentially Sports reports. Despite opening in promising markets like Houston, Lubbock, and Fort Worth in Texas, some locations,...