Google is making new commitments to diversity with the launch of two startup programs aimed at jump-starting growth for business owners, specifically for women and Black founders.
These are the latest in a long list of programs the tech giant has created to empower businesses seeking adequate resources for success, said Google's head of first startups, Jewel Burks Solomon. Furthermore, she added that the tech giant is specifically adding resources to help companies succeed in the unprecedented business climate brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.
"We think that giving these founders the best resources that Google has to offer is a great way for us to really be helpful and to just also make sure that these businesses succeed and grow," she told Cheddar.
Google isn't just offering help because it's a trend on Twitter, said Jason Scott, head of startup developers ecosystems at Google. The company is committed to ensuring businesses continue thriving in the future.
"One thing we're really, really, really passionate about is continuing to support diverse founders and representations across all of our programs," he said.
Continued support isn't always measured in monetary terms, Solomon mentioned, but it can also be defined by the tools that can be used to make a product or idea more complete. The new programs offer "additional services" that provide unique access to personalized mentorship and technical workshops.
"We're really excited that Google has taken the stand to say, 'We're going to not just do a one-time thing, but we're going to do something that will really stand the test of time and continue to invest in these businesses,'" Solomon said.
Lasting success for the startups is not Google's sole priority, noted Solomon. The company is also committed to ensuring fair business practices so smaller companies are not simply overrun by larger entities.
"This is our entire team mission: to level the playing field for underrepresented startup founders. And it didn't just start this week or last week. It's been something that we've been doing for many years," she said.
For Solomon, participating in the launch of these new startup initiatives is personal and one she's happy Google fully stands behind.
"I started a tech company back in 2013, so I really understood the challenges, frankly, that Black and brown founders faced," Solomon said.
President Biden announced a ban on Russian oil and natural gas imports to the U.S. in response to its invasion of Ukraine, a move he warned could lead to an even greater surge in gas prices. The ban is prompting a conversation about the current oil production levels in the U.S. and whether or not the industry can ramp up production to soften the blow to American families at the gas pump. Clark Williams-Derry, Energy Finance Analyst with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, breaks down the state of the U.S. oil industry and how the ban might impact production levels here at home.
PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Starbucks are the latest American food brands to have halted business operations in Russia after having faced scrutiny and criticism for originally failing to do so amid the country's invasion of Ukraine.
As Russia intensifies its war on Ukraine, President Biden announced a ban on oil imported from the aggressor nation. Critics of Russia have said this would be the best way to force Putin to pull back, but curbs on Russian oil exports are expected to send already skyrocketing oil and gas prices even higher, further impacting consumers, businesses, financial markets, and the global economy. Leslie Beyer, CEO of the Energy Workforce and Technology Council, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss. "It's certainly going to increase pricing, but it is the right thing to do," she said. "The industry itself has already pulled out of the significant portion of its operations in Russia."
As airlines recover from COVID-19 and the industry becomes more competitive than ever, low-fare carrier Breeze Airlines is offering 35 new routes and reduced prices for its first-class experiences. CEO David Neeleman joined Cheddar News to talk about the rollout of services amid plenty of headwinds including high fuel costs. "We can limit a lot of costs because we're a technology company that happens to fly airplanes," he noted.
Despite women as a whole being among the groups most impacted by pandemic job losses, homesharing platform Airbnb reported that women hosts brought in $12 billion in revenue last year. Catherine Powell, Airbnb's global head of hosting, joined Cheddar News to discuss how women hosting has become a huge asset for the company. "Last year 21 percent more women joined the platform than men," she said. "So they are joining the platform. They are being successful. They're more super hosts, and they're doing incredibly well."
