Josh Rodgers

For viewers across YouTube and TikTok, “Pop the Balloon or Find Love” has become one of the internet’s most recognizable dating shows. The viral series places singles face-to-face with potential matches who signal interest or rejection by popping a balloon. Comments on their YouTube videos display reactions that are often hilarious, sometimes awkward, and occasionally heartwarming. What began as a social media experiment quickly grew into a cultural moment in online dating conversations. Now the creators behind the show are seeking to bring that same energy into the tech world. Husband-and-wife duo Arlette Amuli and Bolia Matundi are launching Luv or Pop, and they describe it as a dating app designed to turn the show’s decision-driven format into a digital matchmaking experience. Instead of endless swiping, the couple wants users to focus on building intentional connections and making transparent choices. From Social Media Experiment To Viral Hit Amuli and Matundi told AFROTECH™...

The 2026 tax season is officially underway, and if you already filed your 2025 return, you are probably checking your account and asking the same question everyone else is: Where’s my refund? Here is what we know right now about refund timelines, possible delays, and the latest on a potential stimulus check. Tax Season Is Open, And Returns Are Moving The IRS began accepting and processing 2025 tax returns on Jan. 26. According to the Austin American-Statesman, the agency processes more than 150 million individual returns each year, and more than 90% of taxpayers are expected to file electronically. That volume alone explains why timing varies, adding in nuances of staffing shifts and broader government funding concerns, and patience becomes part of the process. A previous AFROTECH™ report also noted that the recent partial government shutdown raised questions about processing timelines, especially for returns requiring manual review. Where’s My Refund? How To Check Your Status If...

For the first time, Alphabet, the parent company of YouTube, has released its full financial performance numbers, showing how it compares with other streaming and media platforms. According to Variety, in 2025, YouTube generated more than $60 billion in revenue from advertising and subscriptions, surpassing Netflix’s $45.18 billion and trailing only slightly behind The Walt Disney Company’s $95.7 billion. The disclosure arrives during a period of rapid consolidation across the streaming industry. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Netflix is pushing an aggressive expansion through its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal structured as an all-cash offer at $27.75 per share. If the deal is approved, it would add major film and television studios, including HBO and HBO Max, to Netflix’s portfolio. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Boardroom (@boardroom) While the move signals Netflix’s ambition to deepen its content pipeline, YouTube’s latest numbers highlight a...

The 2026 tax season officially opened on Jan. 26, just days before a partial government shutdown raised new concerns for millions of Americans waiting on their tax refund. With approximately 164 million taxpayers expected to file this year, according to The Economic Times, questions around processing timelines, staffing, and payment delays have quickly taken center stage. How The Shutdown Could Affect Your Tax Refund Timeline Historically, shutdowns have impacted the disbursement of tax refunds, according to The Economic Times. Some refunds continue flowing through automated systems, while others stall due to staffing limits or manual review requirements. Per The Economic Times, the IRS typically issues most refunds within 21 days when returns are accurate and filed electronically. However, funding lapses can restrict certain services and slow processing if the shutdown extends. The IRS has previously scaled back operations during shutdown periods, limiting phone support and...

When Screen Skinz Co-founders RaShaun Brown and Clay Canning stepped into the “Shark Tank,” they were pitching more than a screen protector. They were introducing a new way to think about personalization, privacy, and the device people interact with hundreds of times a day. That pitch paid off, according to an interview with AFROTECH™. The Houston-based company secured a deal on the ABC show’s Season 17 Episode 10, which aired Jan. 21, and landed a combined $300,000 investment from Kevin O’Leary and guest shark Alexis Ohanian, per ABC. The agreement includes 15% equity and a $1 royalty on each unit sold until $900,000 is recouped, positioning Screen Skinz for accelerated growth following its primetime debut, the founders shared with AFROTECH™. From A Laundry Room To A Scalable Business Screen Skinz began in 2022 as a side project Canning started in his parents’ laundry room in Florida, where he experimented with etching designs into glass as a high school student. What was first a...

As housing affordability continues to strain workers across income levels, a growing number of employers are being pushed to rethink what meaningful benefits look like. A new funding announcement signals that housing support may be moving from the margins to the center of employee wellness strategies. According to the press release, Oro, a social fintech company focused on housing and homeownership as employee benefits, has raised $3 million and officially launched its housing wellness platform for employers. A New Category In Employee Benefits The funding round was led by Slauson & Co., with participation from Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures and Bronze Valley, the press release confirms. The investment comes as companies face increased pressure around employee retention and engagement, while workers struggle with rising rents, higher interest rates, and elevated home prices, according to the release. “We believe housing is the next frontier in employee benefits,” said Austin...

The American Library Association (ALA) is backing new federal legislation to expand access to education, literacy, and workforce preparation in U.S. prisons. According to a press release issued Tuesday, Jan. 27, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO), Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH), and Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-NC) reintroduced the Prison Libraries Act to Congress. The ALA endorsed the legislation, which would support the creation and expansion of state prison libraries nationwide though $60 million in grant funding over six years. Per the release, the program is designed to advance reintegration, reduce recidivism, and expand educational opportunities for incarcerated people through sustained federal investment in library services. What The Prison Libraries Act Would Do According to Tuesday’s release, the Prison Libraries Act would deliver grantees with the funds to update library materials, hire qualified librarians, and expand programming that includes digital literacy, career readiness, civic...

Keith Lee, the content creator and food critic whose TikTok food reviews have driven national attention to local restaurants and small businesses, is preparing to take that influence offline with the launch of a new food festival set to debut this spring. The festival, Keith Lee’s Familee Day, will kick off on May 16 in New Orleans and is positioned as a multi-day experience centered on food, music, and family-friendly programming, according to a video Lee shared on TikTok. At its core, the event aims to create sustained visibility and economic opportunity for small and underrepresented restaurants that often struggle to break through traditional marketing channels, he said. A Festival More Than A Year In The Making In the video announcing Familee Day, Lee shared that the event has been in development for more than a year and was intentionally designed to go beyond a standard food festival model. “At first I was gonna say, ‘hey, we got a food festival coming out, and it’s food,...

Entrepreneur Steven Bartlett says one of the most important lessons he has learned as a leader came not from a resume filled with credentials but from a moment many employers may overlook entirely. According to a recent Fortune article, Bartlett, founder and host of “The Diary of a CEO” podcast, hired a candidate whose CV was just two lines long and listed virtually no formal experience. What ultimately set the applicant apart was not her background but her character and awareness during the interview process. “Much of the reason why I gave her the job was because: She thanked the security guard by name on the way into the building,” Bartlett explained. For him, that small interaction signaled humility, respect, and cultural awareness, traits he believes are far more complex to teach than technical skills. A Hiring Decision Based On Character, Not Credentials Bartlett said the candidate continued to demonstrate those values throughout the interview. When she did not know the answer...

Martin University, Indiana’s only predominantly Black university, will permanently close after its Board of Trustees voted to cease operations, citing insurmountable financial challenges. According to The EDU Ledger, the decision followed months of economic instability that ultimately made continued operations unsustainable. In a letter released by the Board and reported by The EDU Ledger, trustees stated that the institution’s long-standing financial model could no longer support ongoing operations. “Without an endowment and given today’s political climate around higher education funding, this financial model is simply not sustainable,” the Board wrote, according to the publication. Enrollment Challenges And Financial Constraints Martin University’s financial difficulties were closely tied to its mission-driven commitment to serving students with limited financial resources. According to the Board’s explanation, many students were unable to afford full tuition, requiring the...

Zoe Saldaña is approaching a milestone that few actors in film history have reached, and the moment is arriving with both statistical weight and cultural resonance. According to USA Today, the Afro-Dominican actress has officially surpassed Samuel L. Jackson to become the second-highest-grossing actor of all time, with her films earning approximately $15 billion worldwide. She now trails only Scarlett Johansson, whose box office total stands at roughly $15.4 billion. With “Avatar: Fire and Ash” continuing to perform well, that gap is narrowing fast. The Road To No. 1 The latest installment in the blockbuster franchise she’s been a part of from the beginning has been a key driver of that momentum, opening up to $88 million domestically and quickly surpassing $760 million worldwide. As with previous installments, the film’s global staying power has positioned Saldaña to continue climbing the all-time rankings in the weeks ahead. Currently, the top-grossing spot belongs to Scarlett...

Charlamagne Tha God is scaling his media empire. The radio host, podcast executive, and entrepreneur has signed a five-year, $200 million deal with iHeartMedia. According to a news release, the agreement keeps Charlamagne on “The Breakfast Club,” the long-running morning show syndicated across more than 100 iHeartMedia stations, while significantly expanding The Black Effect podcast network — his joint venture with iHeartMedia. The deal places him in the company of creators like Joe Rogan. According to Forbes, the 47-year-old’s vision is to make the network “the BET of podcasting,” a platform designed to develop, distribute, and monetize Black-led audio content at scale. Launched in 2020, The Black Effect network has rapidly expanded. Per Deadline, it now includes more than 60 shows and generates approximately 11 million monthly views. “The Breakfast Club” remains the network’s flagship programming, with its podcast replay surpassing 1 billion downloads earlier this year, notes the...

Raymond James is scaling its fintech and wealth management footprint with a new partnership, signaling continued momentum in its Financial Institutions Division. According to a press release, Bank Midwest has selected Raymond James’ Financial Institutions Division (FID) to support its investment program, transitioning approximately $692 million in client assets to Raymond James Financial Services. As part of the move, Bank Midwest’s wealth management unit will rebrand as Midwest Wealth Group. The Spirit Lake, Iowa–based team includes six financial advisors, seven branch professionals, and one program manager, per the press release. The partnership represents another step in Raymond James’ national expansion strategy, particularly as financial institutions seek technology-forward alternatives to traditional third-party investment providers. Stephen Kruchten, president of Raymond James’ Financial Institutions Division (FID), said the division was designed to meet the evolving needs of...

Every year, YouTube releases its list of top creators and offers a cultural snapshot of what captured our attention. It reflects who shaped the jokes we repeated, the challenges we tried, the music we streamed, and the digital worlds we escaped into. The 2025 list does all of that, but it also exposes a clear reality. Out of the 10 most influential creators of the entire year, only two Black creators appear: IShowSpeed and CoryxKenshin. In a landscape powered by massive digital audiences, global fandoms, and billion-view moments, their inclusion carries weight. The absence of more Black peers also raises important questions. However, their rise demonstrates what Black creators continue to accomplish, even within an industry that often overlooks their contributions. View this post on Instagram What The 2025 Top Creators List Reveals About YouTube According to YouTube’s official 2025 Trending report, the platform has entered a new moment in which creators shape pop culture in real...

Aliko Dangote is recognized as the richest Black man in the world. His empire spans cement, oil, sugar, and industrial manufacturing across the continent. His financial rise has been steady and historic. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, his net worth reached $30.3 billion in October, making him the first African to hit this milestone, fueled by expansion in cement and growth in oil production, as noted by Business Insider Africa and previously reported by AFROTECH™. His oil refinery, which began operations in 2024 producing 370,000 barrels of diesel and jet fuel per day, now produces roughly 650,000 barrels, significantly reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products. It is also reportedly the largest refinery on the continent. Additionally, the recent expansion of Dangote Cement is considered a major contributor to the billionaire’s recent financial growth, per the outlet. A $160 million cement factory was just built in Attingué, Côte d’Ivoire, 30...