It has been a busy week at the intersection of Black culture, business, and capital. From professional sports ownership to digital media partnerships and real estate acquisitions, several notable figures made headlines for building and investing in ways that go well beyond their original lanes. Here is a look at five of the biggest moves from this week.
Issa Rae takes Hoorae to TikTok
Long before the awards recognition and the Hollywood greenlight meetings, Issa Rae was building her own audience online. That instinct has not gone anywhere. Her production company, Hoorae Media, announced a new partnership with TikTok this week to develop original micro series for the platform, with the first project set to debut later this month.
The debut series, Screen Time, is described as a short-form thriller centered on a double-date night that takes a dangerous turn. Additional series across multiple genres are already in development as part of the deal. Rae, speaking at TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood Summit, framed the partnership as an extension of her long-standing goal to become part of her audience’s everyday experience rather than just their occasional viewing habits.
Collide Capital closes a $95 million second fund
Five years ago, Brian Hollins and Aaron Samuels launched Collide Capital with $1.3 million and a thesis that institutional investors were consistently overlooking some of the strongest founders in the market. This week, that bet paid off in a significant way. The Black-led venture firm closed an oversubscribed $95 million second fund, with Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and the University of California Endowment among those on the cap table.
The firm now manages more than $170 million in assets across fintech, supply chain, and future of work startups. Its portfolio spans 75 companies and includes five exits. Closing oversubscribed in the current fundraising climate is a meaningful achievement for any emerging manager, and a particularly notable one for a Black led fund navigating an industry that has historically directed capital elsewhere.
Kevin Durant acquires former Six Flags site in his Maryland hometown
Kevin Durant grew up in Seat Pleasant, in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and this week he made a major investment back in that community. His investment firm 35V, which he co-founded with agent Rich Kleiman, partnered with Atlanta-based real estate company TPA Group to acquire the former Six Flags America property in Bowie. The site, which spans 515 acres, closed in November 2025 after decades of operation.
Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy confirmed the deal and indicated that a sports component is expected to be part of whatever is eventually developed on the land. No formal development plans have been released, but the acquisition alone represents one of the more high-profile real estate moves tied to the county in recent memory.
Will Smith takes a stake in Philadelphia’s first ever WNBA franchise
Philadelphia is finally getting a WNBA team, and Will Smith will be part of it. The WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors this week officially approved an expansion franchise for the city, set to begin play in 2030. Philadelphia joins Cleveland and Detroit as the newest additions to the league, with the local team to be operated by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the ownership group behind the Philadelphia 76ers.
Smith holds a minority stake in the franchise, which came with a $250 million expansion fee. For a city with as rich a basketball history as Philadelphia home to figures like Allen Iverson, Dawn Staley, and Wilt Chamberlain the arrival of a WNBA team has been a long time coming.
Thai Randolph launches NILE & Co. and acquires two BuzzFeed brands
Thai Randolph, who previously led a major capital raise for Hartbeat, is now building her own company. This week she launched NILE & Co., which stands for Narrative, Influence, Legacy, Enterprise. The brand and IP platform is focused on creators, athletes, and women consumers, with an emphasis on audiences that already drive a significant share of spending nationally.
The company is launching with the acquisition of two BuzzFeed properties, As/Is and Goodful, for $500,000, along with a commercial partnership that includes Cocoa Butter, Pero Like, and A*Pop. Combined, the portfolio reaches more than 50 million people. Both As/Is and Goodful are expected to relaunch this summer with a fully reimagined approach. Randolph has described women as sitting at the center of the largest wealth transfer in modern history, and NILE & Co. appears to be positioning itself to move alongside that shift.
