AI & Machine Learning Dominate UrbanGeekz's Top 50 Influencers of 2024
Profile Spotlight: Trailblazers in Technology and Entrepreneurship
Candace Mitchell, co-founder and CEO of Myavana, is revolutionizing the beauty industry with her innovative approach to hair care. Using artificial intelligence, Myavana offers personalized haircare solutions that cater to a woman's unique hair type, texture, and condition. Users can take a photo of their hair and receive an instant analysis, along with recommended products and expert consultations for healthy hair growth. Beyond this venture, Mitchell actively contributes to Ascend Atlanta, a program that supports minority-led businesses.
Mutale Nkonde, CEO of AI for the People, focuses on shaping responsible AI policies in the public sector. Drawing on her extensive work in this field since 2017, she led the introduction of the Algorithmic Accountability Act in 2019. Her efforts continued with contributions to Senate AI Insight Panels, Congress Black Caucus conferences, and White House Roundtables on AI. AI for the People evolved into shareholder activists in 2025, encouraging major AI developers to adopt responsible practices.
Guy Assad, CEO and co-founder of Clerkie, aims to tackle the broken debt system in the United States. Plagued by predatory collection practices and unaffordable debts, Clerkie seeks to empower everyday Americans with better debt management tools. Under Assad's leadership, Clerkie recently raised a $33 million Series A funding round, supported by fintech leaders David Velez and Tom Proulx. These funds will help expand Clerkie's services to reach more partners and borrowers. Prior to founding Clerkie, Assad earned an MBA from Stanford University and worked in finance for over a decade.
Elise Smith, co-founder and CEO of Praxis Labs, advocates for creating equitable outcomes in the workplace. Inspired by personal experiences and her family's struggles, Smith brings together her expertise in technology and education to make workplaces more inclusive and effective. Partnering with leading organizations, Praxis Labs develops immersive learning solutions for culture improvement, equity promotion, and employee retention. With over $23 million in venture capital investments, Smith places among the top 20 most-funded Black women in the U.S.
For the full UrbanGeekz 50 2023 list, please visit their site and discover the innovators and changemakers driving progress in technology, entrepreneurship, and social impact.
- Science and technology continue to intersect, as demonstrated by Candace Mitchell's innovative use of artificial intelligence in her haircare venture, Myavana.
- In the realm of venture capital, there's been substantial funding for trailblazers like Mutale Nkonde, who's shaping responsible AI policies and practices.
- The business world has long been in need of disruption, and Guy Assad's Clerkie is a notable venture that aims to transform the debt system in the United States.
- Innovation is not limited to the tech sector; Elise Smith's Praxis Labs is a testament to how technology can be harnessed for education and self-development, promoting equitable outcomes in the workplace.
- Wealth management and personal finance are crucial areas where entrepreneurial ventures can make a significant impact, as exemplified by the success of ventures like Clerkie and Praxis Labs.
- The world of finance has seen a rise in investing in ventures focused on career development, online education, and job-search solutions, underscoring the importance of lifelong learning and skills training.
- Real-estate sectors are undergoing digital revolutions, with technologies like AI playing a key role in optimizing processes and making transactions more efficient.
- Artificial intelligence, education and self-development, and career development go hand-in-hand, as demonstrated by leaders like Mutale Nkonde, who leverage tech to empower others.
- Entrepreneurs like Candace Mitchell, Mutale Nkonde, Guy Assad, and Elise Smith are redefining the landscape of technology and venture capital, inspiring others to pursue innovation and social impact.
- The interconnected nature of technology, science, education, and business creates opportunities for endless innovation and progress, as the UrbanGeekz 50 2023 list shows, featuring cutting-edge ventures in multiple sectors.
