Tolulope Lawal

Grateful to Kenyatta Victoria and EBONY Media for the opportunity to share TutorD/Scholars story during National Black Business Month. Our journey bridges three passions: education, engineering, and entrepreneurship—creating accessible technologies for better training outcomes, along with workforce pathways for underserved communities. As a 4th-gen educator and engineer, I've seen firsthand how traditional pipelines exclude talented individuals from opportunities in high-growth tech careers. Special appreciation to Tania Mercado and the Intuit Los Angeles Urban League IDEAS program, which accelerated our impact. Their support has been instrumental in expanding our reach and strengthening our mission. And Troy Kowalchuk and LaForce for giving us the platform to share our journey with others who want to join us or are on their own entrepreneurial path. Read the full feature: https://lnkd.in/gm3iGwBS #BlackBusinessMonth #WorkforceDevelopment #EdTech #TechEquity #Apprenticeships #CommunityImpact #LATECHWEEK

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🔍 More #AI Musings and Reflections from #AfroTech2025 This week I left Houston so inspired by the energy at AfroTech — hundreds of Black technologists, creators, founders and leaders converging around what’s next in tech, culture and innovation. I’m also thinking about a recent Forbes piece: “The rise of AI doesn’t diminish human value; it clarifies it.” It states so clearly that as automation takes on more routine work, what remains and rises in value are our human skills: judgment, empathy, creativity, critical reasoning, adaptability. Here’s why this matters — especially if you’re working in tech, business, leadership or the creative industries: • Because machines can scale, but they cannot (yet) feel, connect, imagine. • Because being “technically fluent” is table‐stakes; what differentiates us is how we bring human depth to that fluency. • Because AfroTech showed us that innovation isn’t just about cutting-edge code or models — it’s about people, identity, community, purpose. The future belongs to those who combine both: technical fluency + human depth. That’s not about resisting AI — it’s about doubling down on what makes us human. If you’re in my world of customer success, team leadership, or rap/hip-hop beat production (yes — that’s also me 😊), the call is this: 🎧 Use AI to automate, optimize, amplify. 🤝 Use your human super-powers — storytelling, empathy, culture, intuition, connection — to lead, to create, to innovate. Because in the end, the machine may know how, but we know why. #AfroTech #FutureOfWork #HumanSkills #AI #TechLeadership #Innovation #NEXTatHP #Lumen8

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As we conclude Black History Month 2026, commemorating 100 years of resilience, progress, and innovation, it's essential to reflect on the advancements and challenges within Black-led tech. Despite the significant contributions, Black founders continue to receive less than 1% of VC funding, with 2025 lows at 0.15% in key markets. For instance, if total VC funding reaches $136 billion, only about $204 million would support Black innovation, a staggering 71% decline from 2022. On a positive note, Black-led funds have seen a 25% year-over-year growth, exceeding 100, and are driving advancements in AI, fintech, and other sectors within underserved communities. This legacy is reminiscent of trailblazers like Reginald Lewis, who established the first Black-led billion-dollar company in 1987, and Madam C.J. Walker, who transformed wealth-building through her scalable empire. The highlights of Black History Month remind us that Black excellence propels technology forward throughout the year. Notable organizations making an impact include: • Harlem Capital Partners: $174 million AUM, supporting diverse SaaS, AI, and infrastructure. • Black Tech Nation Ventures: $50 million focused on enterprise software and climate tech. • Collab Capital: 100% Black-owned, seed-stage fund with extensive networks for impact. • Google’s Black Founders Fund: Offering up to $100,000 in non-dilutive grants and credits for new cohorts. • Audacity Fund: Providing pre-seed funding for Black and African crypto and blockchain initiatives. Additionally, corporate initiatives such as Apple’s Entrepreneur Camp, Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator, and Goldman Sachs’ programs serve as vital bridges to equitable growth. Founders, investors, and allies are encouraged to share how they are addressing these gaps during Black History Month and beyond. Please DM with resources or stories; collaboration is key. #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackTech #VentureCapital #DiversityIn

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From idea to impact, this week I learned what really drives a product’s journey. Week 2 at the Women Techsters Fellowship has been another eye opener in my product management journey. We unpacked some powerful concepts that shape how products succeed (or fail): ✨ Product Lifecycle – products pass through development → introduction → growth → maturity → decline, and leaders must adapt their strategy at every stage. ✨ Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) – the backbone of building apps, websites, and platforms. From planning and design to coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance, it’s what keeps products reliable and scalable. ✨ Adoption Curve – why timing matters. Users come in waves: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, laggards. ✨ Business Models – choosing the right model is everything. We explored subscription, freemium, and advertising models, each shaping sustainability in different ways. ✨ AI in Forecasting – how AI helps predict product trends, while adding new layers of complexity. 💡 Every session so far has made me look at technology and leadership differently, not just as concepts, but as skills I’ll apply in real-world product management. 👉 I’d love to hear from you: Which of these do you think is the most critical for building products that last? #WomenTechsters #ProductManagement #TechForGood #LearningJourney

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Black women in tech are shaping the future of product development, strategy, and innovation across industries—from AI to fintech, media, and retail. They’re not just leading teams; they’re building ecosystems, redefining inclusion, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in tech. Several of these trailblazers will be taking the stage at BUILT DIFFERENT, our upcoming panel + mixer in London for product and cybersecurity professionals (Oct 2). Ahead of the event, here are some Black women to watch. 🔗 https://buff.ly/75zNZKV

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Using AI Storytelling to Bring Afrofuturist Imagination to Life Through Speculative Visual Narratives This video demonstrates how I use AI-assisted storytelling and creative production to build original Afrofuturist worlds—speculative narratives where Black creators, innovators, and visionaries define the future. Afrofuturism isn't just science fiction—it's about representation, imagination, and creating visual futures where we are the architects, engineers, and visionaries shaping tomorrow. Using AI-supported creative workflows, I focus on: Speculative world-building and original narrative creation Visual storytelling that centers Black futurity Combining ancestral aesthetics with futuristic technology Imaginative storytelling that challenges limiting representations AI-generated cinematics for immersive world design This piece showcases melanin meets metal, holographic cityscapes, and technology as cultural expression—creating a future where Black excellence isn't exceptional, it's foundational. This creative approach is applicable to: Brand campaigns for tech and innovation Speculative content for entertainment media AI-driven creative storytelling Marketing narratives centered on diversity Purpose-driven visual campaigns Science fiction and futurism content creation AI isn't just useful for generating visuals—it's powerful for imagining and manifesting futures that reflect who gets to build, lead, and thrive in tomorrow's world. Afrofuturism Speculative storytelling AI creative production Black futurism Digital world-building AI visual narrative Creative imagination Generative AI video Science fiction diversity Futurist content creation #aistorytelling #ai #generativeai #digitalstorytelling #contentcreator #digitalartist #afrofuturism #storytelling

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I had the wonderful opportunity and joy attending the 9th Annual Black Women Talk Tech: "Roadmap To Billions" conference here in NYC with my Women.NYC squad.🫶🏾 It was a meaningful experience to be able to measure how far I have come in my own entrepreneurial and technical journey. As a 13x entrepreneur, I know first-hand that this journey is filled with exhilarating highs as well as sometimes heartbreaking and challenging lows. I know that validating feeling of getting that first check, client, paid customer, raising friends and family; and navigating all those investor meetings + the rejections; dealing with co-founder misalignment and hires that just don't pan out; pivoting a product too ahead of it's time, or a business to meet the moment, and sunsetting a business that has run it's course. These are the defining moments that can catapult your business, or crush your dreams altogether. And now… we’re also throwing #AI into this chaotic mix 😅🙆🏾‍♀️🥴 … Yes, it can be a GAME CHANGER (when done right), but it can also be GAME OVER for your business (when done without proper strategy, guidance, and usage). ✨ GRATITUDE to all of the amazing speakers who generously shared. ✨ Here are some #pitching & #investor 💎 I wish I knew when I was starting previous business ventures: 💎 Be strategic about who you pitch. Research investors to see where they are in their fund's cycle and focus on those who are actively writing checks right now. 💎 Run your #startup #fundraising like a political campaign. 💎 Details matter, use structured tools: #AirTable, #Monday, #Asana, #GoogleSheets to manage outreach, track conversations, and schedule follow-ups.(You can automate this) 💎 THE RIGHT CHECK is more important than just a check! BE SELECTIVE with the money you bring in, and WHO you bring in; you need allies who truly believe in your vision! ✨ Some essential #operations & #finance 💎 that stuck out for me: 💎 Address your #moneymindset! Consider working with a therapist or coach (as your FIRST FOUNDER STEP). 💎 Hire a #CPA early, don't just get any accountant; find a Certified Public Accountant who can advocate for you and understands your industry, especially if you're in tech where tax laws and credits change. 💎 Keep your financial data in the cloud (and secure), so you ALWAYS HAVE VISIBILITY INTO YOUR NUMBERS! ✨ For #legal, seek out SPECIALISTS, avoid "jack-of-all-trades" lawyers or random documents off the internet. Legal mistakes made early are costly and complicated to fix later, potentially impacting your ability to raise or even own your core assets. ✨ #NellyYusupova facilitated a wonderful session on #AgenticAI, #workflowautomations and building #AIAgents for business: 💎 "You can't automate chaos!" 💎 Identify and clearly define the problems you need to solve before you dive into exploring shiny new AI tools. This ensures you're using AI effectively. 💎 Training AI on your own company's data is key to making it truly useful and customized.

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🌱 We built a product we deeply believe in: Thrive - an AI-powered financial co-pilot for Gen Z. Over the past few weeks, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Oluwole Ogunlade, VP of Product & Revenue, to bring this case study to life. Gen Z is ambitious, but also overwhelmed by money. We kept coming back to this question: 🧠 What would it take to design a money app that actually builds confidence, not anxiety? That’s how Thrive began. Together, we shaped the strategy, design, and experience for an emotionally intelligent, voice-first product that works in the background like a real co-pilot. 📌 Real user personas 📌 Strategic thinking across market, tech, and growth 📌 UX that feels calming, not complicated Today, we’re proud to share what we built: 🔹 Explore the full Thrive case study in our Notion doc: https://lnkd.in/gFkPxNgH 🔹 Read the Medium deep dive: https://lnkd.in/e2bmxx7h 🔹 Explore the interactive product demo: https://lnkd.in/gW9nR9mK 🔹 (The final presentation deck is attached below - scroll down to view.) Grateful for the creative trust, thoughtful feedback, and sharp product thinking Oluwole Ogunlade brought to this process. If you’re building for Gen Z or exploring AI-first design, I would love to connect and trade ideas. 🙌 #productmanagement #fintech #designthinking #buildinpublic #collaboration

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