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Women-led hair startup Parfait continues to champion Black women. As AFROTECH™ previously mentioned, Parfait is reportedly the first to integrate facial recognition and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide buyers with customizable wig products. It previously raised $5 million in April 2022, backed by a funding round led by Upfront Ventures and Serena Ventures. “It’s widely understood that facial recognition systems perform less well for women and people of color,” said Parfait Co-Founder Isoken Igbinedion, a former Target and Amazon executive . “Training models used in facial recognition technology are largely unbalanced, often relying on training datasets that are similar in makeup, and do not represent the visual composition of faces worldwide. This often results in poor performance for users who do not fit into that dataset, often represented by white faces and male features.” She continued, “Parfait seeks to be the first to make major progress in improving product and service...
A first-of-its-kind NIL lawsuit is brewing. Forbes reports that Jaden Rashada is suing Hugh Hathcock and his business, Velocity Automotive; University of Florida football coach Billy Napier; and Florida’s NIL director, Marcus Castro-Walker, for alleged “fraud, negligence, and interference.” As previously shared by AFROTECH™, Rashada was initially committed to the University of Miami in Florida for a reported $9.5 million deal. However, in 2023, he pivoted to signing with the Florida Gators for $13.85 million, but the Gator Collective ultimately terminated the binding agreement. After the failed deal, Rashada moved on to Arizona State University and most recently transferred to the University of Georgia as quarterback. Now, Forbes details that Rashada has sued Hathcock, Napier, and Castro-Walker for allegedly causing him to not only lose out on the Miami deal but also potential offers from other colleges and universities. Moreover, he is seeking punitive damages. In Rashada’s...
Promising opportunities are on the way for college athlete Great Osobor. ESPN reports Osobor, the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, has settled on the University of Washington after entering the NCAA transfer portal. The forward previously played for Utah State University and had already expressed interest in moving to Washington after Utah coach Danny Sprinkle was hired on as the school’s newest coach, according to Fox Sports. “I would like to thank God for putting me in this position,” Osobor said, according to ESPN. “Washington will allow me to maximize my potential as a player in my final year of college basketball. Coach [Danny] Sprinkle has been with me every step of the way since I came from England, and I cannot wait to help the Huskies get back to the NCAA tournament.” Osobor’s move also signals a great precedence in the age of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. The outlet notes he has agreements, such as marketing assurances, in place that will set his NIL...
While some athletes wait until further down the line to begin tapping into other avenues, this one is wasting no time. USC quarterback Caleb Williams is believed to be the first college athlete to invest in a company in the NIL era, Boardroom reports. According to the outlet, it’s “believed to be the first investment in an existing company by a college athlete in the NIL era.”
![Following His Son Hercy Miller's Historic Deal, Master P Says Mercy Miller's Up Next — 'He'll Probably [Land] The Biggest NIL Deal Ever"](https://stage.cms.afrotech.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/MercyMiller_Jason-Kempin-1568x882-1.jpg "Following His Son Hercy Miller's Historic Deal, Master P Says Mercy Miller's Up Next — 'He'll Probably [Land] The Biggest NIL Deal Ever\"")
Kentucky Wildcats basketball player, Oscar Tshiebwe, saw a window of opportunity and took it. While spending some time in the Bahamas alongside his teammates, Tshiebwe dove head first into the name, image, and likeness (NIL) game. Tshiebwe, who was born outside of the United States, has been playing with a student visa. Therefore, it has been difficult for Oscar Tshiebwe to participate in NIL deals throughout the country. Fortunately, during the week-long trip that was not the case. When you can’t do NIL “work” in the U.S. on your student visa … but you’re in another country for a week. Lights, camera, action. 💰💰💰 pic.twitter.com/YMbdLageud — Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) August 8, 2022 His first call when he landed was to his agent asking, “Where do you need me?” “He can’t do this stuff in the States,” Kentucky Wildcats head coach, John Calipari said, according to The Athletic. “Oscar, you weren’t there today, but we all get why you’re doing what you’re doing.” “He’s getting rich,”...
