Discover Inspiring Black-Owned Tech Companies You Need to Know
Innovation and entrepreneurship are crucial drivers of economic growth and societal progress. Black entrepreneurs and technologists are driving impactful change and breaking barriers in industries that have historically been challenging to navigate for minorities. Here, we celebrate eight remarkable Black-owned businesses that exemplify innovation and excellence.
1. Blavity Inc.
Founders: Morgan DeBaun, Aaron Samuels, Jonathan Jackson, Jeff Nelson
Headquarters: Los Angeles, California
Blavity Inc. is a media and technology company created by and for Black millennials. What started as a content platform has grown into a digital powerhouse, encompassing several brands like Blavity News, 21Ninety, AfroTech, and Shadow and Act. Blavity’s influence extends into tech with AfroTech, the largest Black tech conference in the United States, connecting Black tech professionals, founders, and venture capitalists. Through these platforms, Blavity Inc. empowers Black voices and fosters a supportive community for innovation and entrepreneurship.
2. Calendly
Founder: Tope Awotona
Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia
Calendly, a leading scheduling automation platform, simplifies the process of setting up meetings, saving users significant time and effort. The brainchild of Tope Awotona, an immigrant from Nigeria, Calendly was born out of frustration with inefficient scheduling. Today, the platform is widely adopted by individuals and businesses worldwide, boasting millions of users. Tope’s journey underscores the importance of resilience and vision in overcoming obstacles and turning a simple idea into a global success story.
3. BandwagonFanClub Inc.
Founder: Harold Hughes
Headquarters: Greenville, South Carolina
BandwagonFanClub Inc. uses blockchain technology to create transparent and secure fan experiences, primarily in the sports and entertainment industries. The platform helps combat ticket fraud and ensures that fans have access to authentic tickets and merchandise. Harold Hughes, the founder, envisions a future where technology enhances trust and engagement between fans and their favorite teams or artists. Bandwagon’s innovative use of blockchain exemplifies how emerging technologies can solve real-world problems and transform industries.
4. Flutterwave
Founders: Olugbenga Agboola and Iyinoluwa Aboyeji
Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA, and Lagos, Nigeria
Flutterwave is a payment technology company that provides a seamless and secure payment solution for businesses and consumers. It supports multiple payment methods and currencies, facilitating global transactions. This includes transfer options to local bank accounts, Mobile Money wallets, as well as cash pick-up locations. Flutterwave is Africa’s largest payment network.
5. Pigeonly
Founder: Frederick Hutson
Headquarters Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Pigeonly provides low-cost communication and information services for inmates and their families. The platform offers phone services, photo sharing, and other solutions to help maintain connections with incarcerated individuals. Their mission is to improve communities by building products that reduce the destructive impact of incarceration. Pigeonly builds technology products for the overlooked and underserved. To date, they’ve launched multiple products that address and solve communication barriers between inmates and their support network of family and friends.
6. CAX (Creative Africa Exchange)
Founder Uzodinma Iweala
Headquarters Kigali, Rwanda
CAX is a platform for the exchange of creative and cultural content from Africa. It aims to connect African creators with global markets, providing a space for networking, collaboration, and investment in the creative industry. The Creative Africa Exchange has been created to be a catalyst that brings together identified assets and resources within the creative industry’s ecosystem. Launched during the Intra Africa Trade Fair in Cairo in December 2018, CAX is the first exchange of its kind. The only pan-African summit for the creative ecosystem devoted to creativity in the fields of music, art, design, fashion, literature, culture, publishing, film and television.
7. Jobberman
Founders: Ayodeji Adewunmi, Opeyemi Awoyemi, and Olalekan Olude
Lagos, Nigeria
Jobberman is the leading job placement website in West Africa. It connects job seekers with employers and provides a platform for career development and recruitment services across various sectors. Founded in 2009, Jobberman started as a recruitment and job search platform but has grown into an all-encompassing career platform offering online career advice, personalised HR solutions for both individuals and institutions as well as training services for jobseekers. Jobberman Nigeria forms part of the investment portfolio of The African Talent Company.
8. Sky.Garden
Founder Isaac Hunja
Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya
Sky.Garden is an e-commerce platform designed for African businesses. It provides tools for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to sell products online, offering an intuitive interface, secure payment options, and logistics support. With Sky Garden you can upload products and start selling your products immediately via your own free mobile webshop. No cost upon entry. No hidden fees. Fully automated payment and shipping options are integrated out-of-the-box.
These companies represent diverse industries within the tech sector, showcasing the innovation and entrepreneurship present in black-owned businesses globally. What are your thoughts on these companies? Have you come across any other Black-owned tech businesses that deserve recognition? Share your insights in the comments below!