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An investment from Jay-Z is being put into question in the latest legal filing surrounding Uncle Nearest. The whiskey brand launched by Fawn Weaver and her husband, Keith, is under receivership after defaulting on more than $108 million in loans from Farm Credit Mid-America, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. The receivership encompasses Uncle Nearest’s Shelbyville , TN distillery , real estate holdings, intellectual property, affiliated ventures, and related entities. Court-appointed receiver Phillip Young Jr. claims Uncle Nearest has nearly $200 million in debt and is insolvent. He is also seeking full transparency into the brand’s financial records, including a $20 million loan from Jay-Z’s venture capital firm, MarcyPen, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. Farm Credit’s filing states it was informed by Weaver that the $20 million was a loan from Grant Sidney, yet it claims the money actually came from MP-Tenn LLC, otherwise known as MarcyPen. Grant Sidney is the largest...
The judge-appointed receiver of Uncle Nearest claims that Fawn Weaver is trying to sway public opinion. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. will soon determine if the receivership will be expanded to include 4 Front Street LLC, Grant Sidney Inc., Humble Baron Inc., Nashwood Inc., Quill & Cask Owner LLC, Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ LLC, and Shelbyville Grand LLC — as requested by receiver Phillip Young Jr. — or be terminated, as requested by Fawn and her husband Keith. Weaver, the CEO and founder of the whiskey brand, added “Follow The Case” to FawnWeaver.com, reports the Lexington Herald-Leader. In a March 5 filing, Young argued that this move contradicts Judge Atchley’s order warning against trying the case in public, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader . “It has become clear that [Fawn Weaver’s filing last week] was intended for social media consumption, not to guide this Court in making its decision. This past week, Fawn Weaver has openly, and in...
Pinky Cole has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. AFROTECH™ spoke with the founder of Slutty Vegan earlier this year, ahead of the announcement that she was joining the 17th season of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” At the time, she acknowledged the risks of entrepreneurship and the importance of not operating from ego. “There’s risk in everything. There’s risk in being an entrepreneur. I’ve gotten out of the ego conversation a long time ago,” she explained to AFROTECH™ . “I’ve been laid at the cross plenty of times. And at the end of the day, like I’m really not concerned with other people’s opinions. As long as I provide them a really good product and they have a really good experience, that’s what matters to me. My reputation will precede me and the services that I offer will precede me. I’m excited about new opportunities to be able to amplify my business.” Cole has faced various challenges and changes as the entrepreneur behind the plant-based venture that launched as a food...
Hanifa, a global luxury brand, is pausing production. Hanifa is the brainchild of Anifa Mvuemba, who founded the brand in 2012 on the belief that women can excel in all areas, according to The New York Times. The brand is recognized for its inclusive sizing and vibrant pieces. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Mvuemba shook up the fashion world when she hosted a virtual 3D fashion show for her Pink Label Congo collection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hanifa has reached fashion’s biggest stage, making its Met Gala debut in 2025 when Savannah James wore one of its designs, per Vogue. In November 2025, the company offered a 45% discount during its Hanifa Friday sale, with select items available for preorder, The Cut reported. Customers flocked to secure items from the brand, hoping to wear them for special occasions. However, some customers waited for a couple of months and still had not received their orders. “I haven’t received a single email and I have items that was supposed to...
Khris Johnson paused his medical studies to make history in pursuit of another dream. Food & Wine reports that homebrewing became a hobby for Johnson while he was in college. He had been on a premed track and simultaneously secured a role at Cigar City Brewing Co. in Tampa, FL, working under Wayne Wambles, who was a brewmaster. Wambles had seen something special in Johnson and shared positive sentiments about him, stating he “had a great deal of love for creating harmonious, complex beers,” according to the outlet. Green Bench Brewing Co. Johnson’s passion for homebrewing prompted him to take a break from his medical career aspirations and focus on the venture full-time. He moved to St. Petersburg, FL and, in 2013, opened his first microbrewery, Green Bench Brewing Co., alongside Nathan Stonecipher, Steven Duffy, and Brian Wing, according to the company website. Green Bench Brewing Co. offers beers, mead, and cider made with fresh, local ingredients. Customers can choose from...
One of Uncle Nearest’s assets is up for sale. The whiskey brand is awaiting a decision from Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr., who will determine whether the company’s receivership will remain in place or be expanded . As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the whiskey brand, which once made headlines for surpassing a $1 billion valuation, defaulted on more than $108 million in loans from its lender, Farm Credit Mid-America. In the latest update, receiver Phillip G. Young Jr. — who oversees Uncle Nearest’s assets, including its distillery in Shelbyville, real estate holdings, intellectual property, affiliated ventures, and related entities — l isted the business’s Martha’s Vineyard property for sale, according to The Spirits Business . Farm Credit Mid-America claims that Uncle Nearest borrowed $2.3 million for the property, which was purchased through a separate LLC and mortgaged to another lender, notes the outlet. This move violated the loan agreements. The property was listed for $2.59...
Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell wants to make wellness more accessible to families. WellWithAll Mitchell told AFROTECH™ he is intentional about making moves that will last beyond his playing days. Generational wellness is part of his long-term strategy, and he aims to invest in “real, accessible tools and resources that help families take control of their health every day.” According to a press release shared with AFROTECH™, Mitchell is aligning himself with WellWithAll, a wellness brand co-founded by Demond Martin and Carmichael Roberts. Per the company’s website, WellWithAll is a black-owned and offers supplements and energy drinks. According to Cuisine Noir, its energy drinks contain 45 calories and 80 milligrams of natural caffeine for energy. The brand can also be found at retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Fruitful Yield Health Foods, according to its website. What’s more, 20% of WellWithAll’s profits are allocated to health equity initiatives, notes Cuisine...
Nipsey Hussle’s spirit lives on not only in his music but in the business world. The late rapper passed away in 2019 at 33, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. His oldest brother, Blacc Sam, has played a pivotal role in ensuring “The Marathon Continues.” One example is The Marathon Clothing brand, which launched in 2009 and opened its flagship store in 2017 in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles, according to a press release. Blacc Sam, as Nipsey Hussle’s business partner, revealed that his late brother’s children, Emani Asghedom and Kross Asghedom, would become owners of the clothing store. “When I say we own it, it’s in Hussle’s kids’ names, in their trust fund,” Blacc Sam told Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings, hosts of the “Earn Your Leisure” podcast. “When they get older, this is something their father worked for, and that they own, and that’s important to me. Also, just having a brick-and-mortar once again reinforced what Hussle told us and taught us.” He continued, “Just through...
Fearless Fund is launching a microfinance fund in Ghana. Fearless Fund is an Atlanta-based venture capital firm for women of color, backed by Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, PayPal and Costco, and led by founding partner and CEO Arian Simone. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, it had been targeted with a lawsuit in 2023 regarding its mission to fund women of color entrepreneurs. The lawsuit, which was settled in 2024, was brought by legal activist Edward Blum and his organization, American Alliance for Equal Rights. It challenged a US $20,000 grant program for Black women-owned businesses that Fearless Fund operated in partnership with JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Mastercard, according to the outlet. Mission Extends To Ghana The outcome was seen as a victory for Fearless Fund because the case avoided escalation to the U.S. Supreme Court, which could have had consequences for Black founders seeking funding, Simone told AFROTECH™ at the time . A year after its settlement, Fearless Fund...
Winnie Harlow is getting candid about her journey as an entrepreneur. Cay Skin The supermodel, who was raised in Jamaica , founded Cay Skin in 2022, an inclusive and affordable SPF skincare brand . After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and vitiligo, she set out to create sun care products that are effective for all complexions. “I have two skin tones, and it needs to work on me, and most SPFs don’t,” she told AFROTECH™ during a virtual press junket. Cay Skin offers SPF products, including lip balm, sunscreen, moisturizer, sun sticks, and lip masks. Raising VC Harlow envisions long-term staying power for the brand, and raised $4.1 million in a seed round ahead of Cay Skin’s official launch, bringing its total funding to $6.5 million at the time, according to Fortune. However, it wasn’t an easy victory, and Harlow admitted she heard enough ‘no’s that nearly made her question launching the business. “When it came to even fundraising, I still got a lot of no’s, and I was...
The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) is teaming up with Crowned Skin, giving athletes access to “one of the fastest-growing men’s grooming brands in the country.” As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Crowned Skin is the brainchild of Darrell Spencer, who helped big tech make millions while working in customer sales and advertising for companies such as Facebook, Google, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. The science-backed skincare and grooming brand launched in 2024 with an initial investment from Spencer of $10,000 to $15,000 to develop products such as body butter, cologne, and body oil, all designed to empower men to build a consistent self-care routine, according to the outlet. “I just wanted to create products that made men feel seen and confident,” Spencer told AFROTECH™ at the time. Among Crowned Skin’s wins are being an eight-figure company, a top Amazon seller, the No. 2 skincare brand on TikTok Shop, and selected to soon expand its presence with Walmart, according to...
A federal judge has temporarily ruled on whether Uncle Nearest will remain under a receivership. Receivership Explained As previously reported by AFROTECH™, a hearing was held on Monday, Feb. 9, in Knoxville, TN, open to the public, to consider the termination or expansion of Uncle Nearest’s receivership, a whiskey brand co-founded by CEO Fawn Weaver. The receivership was put in place in August 2025 by U.S. District Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. as a result of Uncle Nearest reportedly defaulting on more than $108 million in loans from lender Farm Credit Mid-America, as AFROTECH™ previously told you. Phillip G. Young Jr. was appointed as receiver. Weaver and her husband, Keith Weaver, have since sued the company’s former chief financial officer, Mike Senzaki, for financial misconduct. Senzak has been accused of exaggerating the barrel count, which led to an increase of $24 million in the company’s credit line from Farm Credit, contributing to the receivership. Updates From Hearing In...
Cardi B is launching a science-backed haircare brand. Since 2016, fans have witnessed the artist’s natural hair journey. In a post shared on X in November 2021, she wrote about the importance of a consistent hair routine after the birth of her son. She admitted she was fearful she would lose hair after giving birth, and that prompted her to use hair masks and drink alkaline water. PC: X/ iamcardib In a follow-up post, Cardi B doubled down, insisting her growth wasn’t due to genetics but to “proper hair maintenance.” PC: X/ iamcardib The musician’s hair mask routine includes avocado, two eggs, mayonnaise, and black castor oil, according to a 2020 Instagram post by Cardi B. Coconut oil can also be used, though she admitted in a TikTok that she doesn’t apply it to her hair, but has used it on her daughter, Kulture. In the 2020 Instagram post, Cardi B shared instructions on how to apply the hair mask, including detangling dry hair before applying the mask. After applying the mask,...
The work never stops for the Fifteen Percent Pledge. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the Fifteen Percent Pledge is the brainchild of Aurora James and was launched in 2020 as a nonprofit advocacy organization to hold retailers accountable and support underfunded and underrepresented Black-owned businesses. Through partnership, it encourages corporations to dedicate 15% of their purchasing power to such businesses. Impact To date, the Fifteen Percent Pledge has secured commitments from more than 35 corporate partners and helped redirect nearly $14 billion in revenue to Black-owned businesses, according to its website. Beyond retail accountability, the organization has expanded its impact through additional initiatives, including raising $3 million at its 2025 gala, partnering with Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz’s Cultural Leadership Fund to launch an AI-focused grant for Black founders, and distributing more than $1 million in grants overall, according to...
Kevin Hart’s tequila brand is faring well in the liquor market. Gran Coramino The comedian and entrepreneur became a co-founder of tequila company Gran Coramino in 2022, according to Complex. Hart launched the brand alongside 11th-generation tequila maker, Juan Domingo Beckmann, and celebrity liquor veteran James Morrissey, who also launched liquor brands with musicians Post Malone and A$AP Rocky, Yahoo Finance reports. Gran Coramino carries Cristalino, Añejo, and Reposado tequilas. The brand has scored several strategic wins over the years, including becoming the official luxury tequila brand of the Philadelphia Eagles in a multiyear contract, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. Gran Coramino also secured a multiyear partnership with the Atlanta Hawks in 2023, according to a press release. Beyond those arenas, customers can find the brand across countless retailers that the Gran Coramino website lists. In three years, the brand has sold nearly 300,000 nine-liter cases, and half of...