Kevin Hart is working with the Fifteen Percent Pledge to support Black founders using AI. The AI Illumination Grant will teach Black-owned entrepreneurs how to use AI to expand their businesses. The Fifteen Percent Pledge is partnering with Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz’s (A16z) Cultural Leadership Fund to launch the grant, according to AFROTECH.
“We know AI can seem intimidating, but these dynamic webinars will break it down and empower you to embrace this powerful technology with confidence,” the Fifteen Percent Pledge website says.
The AI Illumination Grant
Qualified Fifteen Percent Pledge’s Business Equity Community members are welcome to apply for the AI illumination grant. They will learn how to leverage AI and have a chance to compete for a share of a $35,000 grant pool—$20,000 for the winner and $15,000 for the runner-up.
The website states that recipients will be chosen based on these criteria:
- High potential for growth
- Sustainable competitive advantage
- Led by a strong management team with deep industry knowledge
- Has a strong use case for AI tools and grant dollars to manage growth challenges and scale for the future
- Fosters inclusivity and showcases community impact
Applications for the grant open on April 1, 2025, and close on May 2, 2025.
What is The Fifteen Percent Pledge?
Founded in 2020, The Fifteen Percent Pledge is a nonprofit advocacy organization created for racial equity and economic justice. It works with retailers and corporations to commit 15% of their annual spend to Black-owned businesses.
It examines companies’ funding, working methods, and organizational structure to help create transformative change and better equity for Black businesses. Since its launch, it has worked with 29 retailers and provided opportunities for more than 800 brands.
“We’ve created the potential to shift $17 billion in revenue to Black-owned businesses,” chairwoman Emma Grede said, highlighting that the organization is expanding despite broader attacks on DEI in the country.
Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
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