Here are five Black innovators we think are set to make significant moves in 2025.
From health tech and biodesign to venture capital and the creator economy, these individuals are at the forefront of progress. They’re reshaping industries, launching transformative products, and empowering communities worldwide.
Here’s a closer look at their work and why you should keep them on your radar.
Amanda Spann – Empowering Non-Technical Founders
Image Credit: UrbanGeekz
Amanda Spann is a marketing consultant and app entrepreneur dedicated to empowering the Black tech community. Her most recent initiative, The App Accelerator, helps non-technical individuals bring their app ideas to life.
Spann has been on our radar for some time now (check out our 2016 interview with her), having co-founded Blerdology, a social enterprise for the Black tech community, and TipHub, a platform for African diaspora entrepreneurs.
Currently, communications and content manager for IBM’s Cloud Category, Spann continues to impress, and we can’t wait to see what she brings in 2025.
Pamela Maynard – Chief AI Transformation Officer at Microsoft
Image Credit: Medium
Pamela Maynard was honored as the 2024 Black British Business Person of the Year at the 11th annual Black British Business Awards this October.
Formerly the CEO of Avanade, a Microsoft-Accenture joint venture, Maynard led the company to significant growth and secured its 18th Microsoft Partner of the Year title, with more opportunities to come in the new year.
Now, as Microsoft’s new Chief AI Transformation Officer, she is focused on integrating artificial intelligence across business processes to enhance efficiency and innovation in 2025 and beyond.
Dean Forbes – CEO of Forterro and Partner at Corten Capital
Image Credit: Spears
Dean Forbes serves as the CEO of Forterro, a software solutions firm, and is a Partner at Corten Capital.
Recognized as the UK’s most influential Black person by The Powerlist 2025, Forbes’s leadership has been instrumental in Forterro’s growth and success.
His journey from homelessness to leading a $2 billion tech company exemplifies resilience and impactful leadership in the technology sector, leaving him in a great position going forward.
Mireille Kamariza – Advancing Rapid Disease Diagnostics
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Mireille Kamariza, a researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, was mamed to this year’s MIT Innovators Under 35 list for developing a groundbreaking test that detects tuberculosis bacteria in under one hour.
Her innovation addresses a critical need in global health, particularly in regions with limited access to rapid diagnostics.
To bring her technology to the field, she co-founded o-founded OliLux Biosciences, exploring its potential to diagnose not only TB but other diseases.
Her team’s latest breakthrough demonstrates that the same dye can be used on blood samples, promising safer and more accessible testing options in the field.
Tony Morino – Revolutionizing Mortgage Accessibility
Image Credit: Wiseday Tony Morino (right)
Tony Morino co-founded Wiseday in 2021 to help Canadian homeowners secure the best and most affordable mortgage rates.
Morino, a Forbes’ 30 Under 30 honoree, co-founded the company with his friends and long-time acquaintances in 2021 and secured $5 million in seed funding.
The company automates financial background checks to reduce costs and uses AI to “qualify” and “disqualify” candidates.
The startup claims to have processed billions in mortgages for 10,000 customers and is set to transform homeownership for years to come.
