Forbes has just unveiled the 2025 30 under 30 List for North America. Every year, Forbes releases a 30 under 30 listicle featuring trailblazers from various industries. The 2025 North American list of honorees has been published, and as usual, it features 600 trailblazers. The list highlights young leaders changing the world in media, sports, healthcare, and many other fields. Here are some young Black people on the list who are driving progress through equity, leadership, and innovation. CJ Harrington At Hogan Lovells, one of the world’s largest law firms, CJ Harrington counsels corporations considering joint venture transactions, entrepreneurs trying to start companies, and sports franchises putting together sponsorship deals or having salary disputes. He has been involved in deals involving the recent purchases of the Washington Commanders, the Denver
Author Archives: Stephen Oluwadara
Dec
Recursive Capital, an early-stage Bitcoin VC focused on Africa, has announced the first close of its Fund I at an undisclosed amount. The anchor investors who participated in the round were Jack Dorsey , Chairman at Block; Pete L. Briger Jr., former partner at Goldman Sachs and Chairman at Fortress Investments Group; and Jeff Booth, Author of the Price of Tomorrow and Founding Partner at Ego Death Capital. Recursive Capital is an early-stage venture capital fund investing exclusively in Bitcoin companies focusing on the African continent. Fund I will provide Bitcoin founders capital, mentorship, and strategic support for sustained growth and impact. CEO Abubakar Nur Khalil said, “The focus of Fund I is to lay the foundations for a thriving Bitcoin ecosystem in Africa that will lead the world in
Dec
MTN Nigeria is the leading 5G network provider in the West and Central African region after investing over $120 million in the technology. The company boasts the fastest download and upload speeds, as confirmed by the latest Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data. In Q2 2024, the telco’s download speed rose to 95.62 megabits per second (Mbps), a standard unit of measurement for internet speed. It also recorded an upload speed of 17.01 Mbps, the highest upload speed so far. This news will gladden MTN Nigeria’s 2.6 million 5G subscribers who need high-speed internet. It will also position the telco as a more attractive option for potential subscribers. MTN Nigeria holds a 50% share of the country’s telecom market. MTN Nigeria currently leads other subsidiaries within the MTN Group, including MTN Ghana
Nov
Robin AI, a UK-based legal platform for businesses, has raised an additional $25M to expand its operations. The new capital reflects growing confidence in Robin’s AI-driven solutions, with clients like Cambridge University joining existing backers to support the company. Other investors who participated in the round include PayPal Ventures and AFG Partners. This latest cash injection follows Robin AI’s $26 million Series B round earlier this year alongside the launch of Robin Reports, a product designed to streamline complex legal processes. Robin AI is Turning Clients To Investors Robin AI has quietly taken the global Fortune 500 by storm with its legal AI assistant. It has racked up 13 of the world’s largest companies and asset management firms as customers. Speaking on the raise, Richard Robinson, Robin AI co-founder and
Nov
Socium, a Senegalese HR-tech startup, has secured $5 million in funding to expand its operations within Francophone Africa. Breega led the round, which included participation from investors such as Partech, Orange Ventures, and Outlierz. Raisers Partners was the financial adviser for the deal. With this funding, Socium will strengthen its foothold as a pioneer in the region’s human resource tech market, where demand for tailored solutions is growing. Founded in 2021 by Samba Lo and Serigne Seye, Socium targets 21 countries in Francophone Africa. It leverages shared economic frameworks, regulations, and currency to deliver region-specific HR solutions. Lo stated the untapped potential in this market, explaining that the startup’s focus on the region gives it a distinct advantage. “So for us, deploying within Francophone Africa is very interesting…Because we have
Nov
Eniola Shokunbi, a 12-year-old middle school student from Connecticut, has launched an ambitious project to improve the air quality in U.S. schools. The Connecticut State Bond Commission approved $11.5 million in funding for the initiative to create low-cost classroom air filters. From School Assignment To Witty Invention The project was conceived when Shokunbi, then a fifth grader at Commodore MacDonough STEM Academy in Middletown, was tasked with creating a solution to enhance school safety during potential future pandemics. She was motivated by better air quality to combat airborne viruses like COVID-19 and developed a simple yet effective air filter system. The air filter’s design combines creativity with affordability. It is made from a straightforward mix of materials: a box fan, four furnace filters, duct tape, and cardboard. Related Post: Teen