Self-made shoe mogul Steve Madden “really loves” Cardi B.
“She’s a very thoughtful woman,” the businessman said Friday. “She’s very thoughtful about her life and hopefully about her love life, and I’m rooting for her.”
Both Madden and the rapper, born Belcalis Almanzar, launched their careers from humble beginnings. The performer was an exotic dancer and Instagram personality before joining the cast of VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop: New York” and going on to become a Grammy Award nominee. Madden, meanwhile, built his eponymous shoe empire off a $1,100 investment.
He and Cardi B collaborated on a sunglass and shoe collection last December, and Madden says there are more projects in the pipeline.
“She’s a great person,” he said. “She’s an aspirational figure.”
As for what he hope to learn from her?
“She’s gonna teach me how to dance.”
The founder and president of Cyborg Mobile Kobie Hatcher has been on a strong trajectory to disrupt his industry with a program called The New Technologists. It's not only meant to address the diversity gap within large tech companies but also help pave the way to transform the lives of young BIPOC students. He joined Cheddar News to talk about how he's working to make a difference with the lack of diversity in tech. “There's truly no lack of talent out there. It's just identifying them and letting them know that, hey, I've been in the tech sector for over 20 years. I see you. I know what you can bring, bring it, we need it," Hatcher said.
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Alex Barrett discusses why he believes taking his salary in crypto is the best financial decision for him, while Bitwage CEO Jonathan Chester breaks down how Barrett and other crypto investors can best utilize his platform.
Constituent service platform Indigov recently raised $25 million in a Series B funding round. Indigov bills itself as a constituent relationship management tool that helps elected officials improve the way they organize, respond to, and engage those they serve. The startup's services are being used by federal, state, and local governments across the country, including the U.S. House of Representatives. Alex Kouts, founder & CEO of Indigov, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
It can be tough to make sustainable choices, and even harder when sustainable materials don't hold up. Loliware has a solution to the plastic straw problem: its seaweed-based straws are stronger than paper alternatives and once used, can be composted and return to the earth or sea without causing harm. Sea Briganti, CEO of Loliware, joins Closing Bell to discuss the tech behind the straws, new product launches, and more.
Sonia Lapinsky, managing director of retail at AlixPartners, breaks down some new shopping trends she's seeing at a time when inflation is near a 40-year high. She also explains what fresh economic data and recent retail earnings could mean for the future of the industry.
