Driving innovation by removing barriers to partnership

among diverse founders, investors, and providers.

Hi there,

Earlier this week, I posted on LinkedIn about the fact that, for the first time in 20 years, no women will lead House committees because Republicans have elected 17 white men as committee chairs. My goal was to highlight the importance of representation and encourage everyone to advocate in their own communities.

Initially, the post drew engagement mainly from my first-level connections. After a busy day of meetings, I returned to find 125 comments.

The trolls had arrived, hurling hostility to derail the conversation. Their remarks mostly fell into two common tropes:

1️⃣ Weaponizing gender and DEI to delegitimize progress.

2️⃣ Insisting that the men chosen were simply the "most qualified" for the job.

At first I thought: Wow, the thought of even one woman leading a committee is so terrifying to some people that they'll take time out of their day to comment on a stranger's LinkedIn post.

Then I noticed something else - the timing. So, I did what I always do: I looked at the data.

93% of unique troll comments (excluding multiple posts from individuals) were posted 12-19 hours after my original post. The comments overwhelmingly came from men who are 3rd+ connections away. And the clustered timing of them suggested something bigger about LinkedIn's algorithm.

It appeared to push my post only to people likely to disagree, rather than including a variety of perspectives that would have led to more nuanced - and enriching - conversation.

There's a fine line between using AI to promote engagement and unintentionally encouraging hate-based or divisive rhetoric. AI still needs diligent management to be effective without causing undo harm. 

As we head into the holidays, I hope you are able to step away from your digital life and AI. There is power in living fully in the present moment and clarity comes from authentic human interactions with friends and loved ones. I'm sending you warmth and kindness and understanding.

Virtual Workshop: Join us on Tuesday, 1/28 from 2-3 pm ET where Rob Burnett from Grasshopper Bank will discuss what makes a healthy financial stack and how startup founders can assess their own.

Greentown Labs' ACCEL is a year-long program for BIPOC founders that combines acceleration with a curated curriculum, incubation through Greentown Labs membership, and extensive mentorship from Greentown and Browning the Green Space (BGS)’s networks of industry experts. Applications due 1/7.

The national a2 Pilot Awards competition is hosted annually by the a2 Collective | a2PilotAwards.ai and funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, through the Artificial Intelligence and Technology Collaboratories (AITC) for Aging Research program. Applications due 1/15.

The Golden Ticket Pitch Competition, offered by the American Cancer Society’s BrightEdge in collaboration with AbbVie and Research Bridge Partners, will be hosted at Pegasus Park in Dallas, offering early-stage oncology companies the opportunity to compete for lab and office space at BioLabs Pegasus Park, a $25,000 cash prize, and invaluable guidance from industry professionals. Applications are due 1/23. 

Sonia Smith Kang is the founder and CEO of Mixed Up Clothing. Mixed Up Clothing is a children's fashion brand that celebrates cultural diversity through vibrant, globally inspired designs. Their mission is to create stylish, inclusive clothing that empowers kids to embrace their heritage and connect with the world around them.

MixedUp Clothing is available in Target and on Macys.com. Sonia and her designs have appeared on the Today Show, The Real, NPR, Medium, Upworthy, Latina, and Parent Latina.

"As an AfroLatina and military brat born in Puerto Rico and stationed on O’ahu, I’m shaped by vibrant cultures. Married to a Korean American, and a mom of four, I saw the lack of representation in children's fashion. I founded Mixed Up Clothing where I use fashion as my vehicle to celebrate diversity, culture, community, and the stories that connect us."

- Sonia

• Adaptive Reader, founded by Ethan Pierce, secured an investment from the Updraft EdTech Group.
• Coils to Locs, co-founded by Dianne Austin, was featured in Black Enterprise Magazine.  
• Rivet, co-founded by Anj Fayemi,  is backed by Jaylen Brown, Jrue and Lauren Holiday.
• Pay4Me, founded by Sunday Paul Adah, received BoiseDev 's Peak 43 Trailhead Startup of the Year 2024 Award and won 1st Place - Most Investable Prize at the recently concluded Alabama Founder Fest Pitch Competition.

• Cecilia Hermawan, founder of Vico Style, was featured on billboards around the City of Boston.  

• Elijah Davis, founder of Platinum915, was nominated for BevNET.com’s “Best of 2024” Awards.

   

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