Visionaries Preparing 2024: Community Shapers and Battleground Protectors

Visionaries Preparing 2024: Community Shapers and Battleground Protectors

Top Tech Pioneers and Innovators

Highlighting influential figures who drive change and foster inclusion

The UrbanGeekz 50 list for 2024 showcases visionary innovators and dynamic leaders who set new standards and bring about positive transformation within their respective fields. These pioneers’ achievements and the roles they currently hold are highlighted below.

Dennis Shultz - Blacks In Technology Foundation

With an extensive 20-year career in the tech industry, Dennis Shultz now serves as the Executive Director for the Blacks in Technology Foundation and President of its New York City Chapter. The Blacks In Technology Foundation is a renowned community of Black professionals in tech, striving to bridge the divide through community-focused events, outreach, and activities. Shultz's remarkable career includes stints at esteemed tech brands such as Rackspace Technology, Dropbox, Gartner, Samsung, Dell, Lenovo, VERITAS Software, and APC. Additionally, he is the founder and CEO of ParazzMe, a mobile app that delivers high-quality photographic and videographic services on demand.

Aniyia Williams - Omidyar Network / BIA

Aniyia Williams, a versatile figure in the tech world, is currently a Principal on the Responsible Technology team at Omidyar. Her mission is to help the tech industry meet its potential for global improvement. Prior to joining Omidyar Network, Williams founded Black & Brown Founders, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Black and Latinx entrepreneurs in launching tech businesses. She continues to serve as the organization's board chair. Furthermore, Williams co-founded Zebras Unite, an entrepreneur-led movement aiming to create a more ethical and sustainable startup ecosystem through capital, culture, and community. She is also the convener of the Black Innovation Alliance, an ecosystem of organizations that support, fund, and sustain Black innovators. Before her entrepreneurial ventures, Williams held marketing, business development, and nonprofit fundraising roles. She is best known for funding the tech fashion company Tinsel and creating the world's first audio necklace, a response to a lack of electronics designed explicitly for women.

Gary Stewart - Founder

Gary Stewart is a venture partner at Level Up Ventures, a corporate venture capital fund backed by Hearst that invests in high-growth startups led by Black and Latinx founders. In a previous role, Steward was Managing Director of the Techstars New York City Accelerator fund powered by J.P Morgan. Speaking with Techstars, Stewart shares invaluable insights from his career, emphasizing the importance of networking and leveraging allies who can help you succeed. He is also the co-founder and CEO of "The Nest," a mobile app offering resources much like Masterclass for founders. Prior to his entrepreneurial pursuits, Stewart founded FounderTribes, a platform described as Tinder for founders, and Wayra UK, a corporate accelerator backed by Telefonica (O2), where he invested in 185 startups that raised $265m and were valued at over $1 billion. He frequently contributes to Forbes Magazine, is the Governor of the University of East London, and has been on the Power List of the most influential Black people in the UK twice.

Preston James - DivInc

As the Co-founder and CEO of DivInc, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs, Preston L. James II aims to create a more authentic and diverse tech ecosystem. With over 20 years at Dell, where James held executive leadership roles in Enterprise IT Sales and Consulting, he led teams responsible for generating $250M+ in revenues. He also served as the Managing Director for the Dell Global Center for Entrepreneurship, investing in 100M Dell Credit Fund. The inspiration for founding DivInc came from a lack of diversity in the startup ecosystems worldwide. James sees his work with DivInc as his legacy, transforming ecosystems to become more inclusive. He sits on the Board of Directors at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Mission Capital, and I Live Here, I Give Here.

Ifeoma Ike - Black Innovation Alliance

Ifeoma Ike, an award-winning lawyer, researcher, and policy strategist, is the founder and Chief Equity Weaver of Pink Cornrows. Specializing in designing solutions that foster equity by combing the cultural genius of marginalized communities with her team's background in law, communications, and research, Ike extends her impact far beyond local communities. She helps industry leaders across diverse sectors achieve their impact goals and designs data-driven strategies to create safe spaces for historically disenfranchised communities. Her vision for the Black Policy Lab envisions a world where everyone's expertise is valued, inspiring hope and a sense of possibility for improving the lives of Black people globally. Several outlets have honored her, including the American Bar Association, National Bar Association, Huffington Post, HBO, Vanity Fair, and City & State, which named her company one of the top 75 consulting firms in New York State.

Lamar Tyler - Traffic Sales & Profit (TSP)

Lamar Tyler, a digital entrepreneur and champion for Black-owned businesses, stands as the creator and co-founder of Traffic Sales & Profit (TSP), a thriving community dedicated to helping African American entrepreneurs grow their businesses through online marketing strategies. Offering valuable tools and resources to boost website traffic, online sales, and maximize profits, TSP is a sought-after platform for purpose-driven businesses. Tyler's entrepreneurial journey began with the founding of BlackandMarriedWithKids.com alongside his wife. What started as a personal blog evolved into a leading online destination for African American marriage and parenting advice. Over the years, Tyler has garnered a social media following of over 600,000 fans and reached over 51,000 global customers. His work has been widely recognized, earning him and his wife spots on Ebony Magazine’s Power 100 list and as finalists for Black Enterprise’s Family Business of the Year.

Benjamin Vann - Impact Ventures

Benjamin J. Vann is a passionate advocate for social and economic justice, particularly in support of disadvantaged and marginalized groups. He is the Founder and CEO of Impact Ventures, a 501c3 startup accelerator with a mission to empower talented yet under-resourced women and entrepreneurs of color to build generational wealth through inclusive entrepreneurship and integrated capital. Since 2017, Impact Ventures has impacted nearly 3500 people through community networking events, hackathons, workshops, and summits. The firm's IV flagship accelerator program has trained 147 founders and 103 companies to raise $14M, create 310 jobs, engage over 260 mentors, and offer over 5200 hours of training and mentorship.

1. The 2024 UrbanGeekz 50 list showcases influential figures from various business sectors, including venture capital, technology, lifestyle, and education-and-self-development, who are driving change and fostering inclusion.
2. Dennis Shultz, with his extensive career in tech, serves as the Executive Director for the Blacks in Technology Foundation and its New York City Chapter, which supports black professionals striving to bridge the tech industry divide.
3. Aniyia Williams, known for her work in the tech world, is a Principal on the Responsible Technology team at Omidyar, investing in the potential for global tech improvement. She is also the founder of Black & Brown Founders and Zebras Unite, aiming to create a more ethical and sustainable startup ecosystem.
4. Gary Stewart, a venture partner at Level Up Ventures, has made significant contributions to the tech industry, particularly in supporting high-growth startups led by Black and Latinx founders and creating platforms like "The Nest" for founders' development.
5. Preston James, as the Co-founder and CEO of DivInc, strives to create a more diverse tech ecosystem through his nonprofit devoted to supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs. James, with his extensive background at Dell, invests in startups and aims to transform global ecosystems to become more inclusive.
6. Ifeoma Ike, the founder and Chief Equity Weaver of Pink Cornrows, specializes in designing solutions that foster equity for historically disenfranchised communities, impacting diverse industries and helping leaders achieve their goals.
7. Lamar Tyler, a digital entrepreneur and champion for Black-owned businesses, established TSP, a thriving community offering online marketing strategies to help African American entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
8. Benjamin Vann, the Founder and CEO of Impact Ventures, advocates for social and economic justice by empowering disadvantaged and marginalized groups, particularly women and entrepreneurs of color, to build generational wealth through inclusive entrepreneurship and integrated capital.

These pioneers are shaping the world of business, technology, and finances while making significant strides in the realm of sports, education, and lifestyle. Their ventures demonstrate the impact and potential of a diverse, interconnected startup ecosystem focused on innovation and fostering inclusivity across the globe.

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