## A New Wave of African Entrepreneurship

Across Africa, a new generation of entrepreneurs is redefining how business can serve both profit and purpose. From fintech to creative commerce, founders are building platforms that not only scale but also address long-standing gaps in access, equity, and representation. One such founder is **Latifa Seini**, a Ghanaian entrepreneur preparing to launch **Lembrih Marketplace**, a mission-driven e-commerce platform designed to support Black and African vendors in reaching global consumers.

## The Challenges in Global E-Commerce

E-commerce has lowered many barriers to international trade, yet African and Black-owned businesses still face disproportionate challenges when attempting to scale beyond local markets. High seller fees, limited visibility, logistical constraints, and platforms optimized for mass production often leave small-batch creators and artisans at a disadvantage. **Lembrih Marketplace** was created in direct response to those structural limitations.

Seini’s journey into entrepreneurship began well before Lembrih. Born and raised in Ghana, she later launched **Flaunt Ankara**, an African print business that connected her with customers interested in culturally rich products. Demand existed, but sustaining growth proved difficult. Mainstream platforms often buried small brands under algorithm-driven discovery systems while charging fees that eroded already narrow margins.

Those experiences offered Seini an education in what many African entrepreneurs face when navigating global commerce. “I realized that talent and demand weren’t the problem,” she has said. “**Access and fairness were.**”

## Building a Platform with Vendor Equity at Its Core

That realization became the foundation for **Lembrih Marketplace**, a Black-owned business platform designed with vendor equity at its core. Unlike many established marketplaces, Lembrih offers sellers 30 days commission-free, followed by a pricing structure that remains accessible as businesses grow. Vendors can choose between a **$10 monthly subscription plus 10 percent commission** or a **15 percent commission with no subscription**, a model that significantly undercuts many global competitors.

Pricing, however, is only part of Lembrih’s value proposition. The platform integrates philanthropy directly into its operations by **donating $1 from every purchase to charitable causes**. In a sector where corporate social responsibility is often an afterthought, Lembrih embeds generosity into every transaction. The platform’s name, “Lembrih,” meaning “black” in the Gonja language of Ghana, signals both cultural pride and a broader mission of collective uplift.

## Leveraging Professional Expertise for Scalability

Seini’s professional background brings an additional layer to the platform’s development. Outside of entrepreneurship, she works in **IT training and enablement**, leading leadership development initiatives and programs focused on the future of AI and workforce readiness. This experience informs Lembrih’s approach to scalability and technology, ensuring the platform can grow while remaining accessible to vendors with varying levels of digital literacy.

The timing of Lembrih’s launch also reflects shifting consumer behavior. Globally, **conscious consumerism** continues to gain momentum, with shoppers increasingly prioritizing ethical sourcing, transparency, and support for small businesses. For African vendors and Black-owned brands, this shift presents an opportunity to reach customers who value authenticity and cultural connection over mass-produced goods.

## A Mission Beyond Commerce

For Seini, the mission behind Lembrih extends beyond commerce. As global conflicts and humanitarian crises continue to impact parts of Africa, including regions such as Sudan and the Congo, she felt compelled to find ways to contribute that moved beyond short-term aid. While personal donations offered some relief, she believed **sustainable economic empowerment** would create a longer-lasting impact.

By helping African and Black vendors build viable businesses, Lembrih aims to support families, strengthen local economies, and create pathways for generational wealth. “If people can earn consistently from their craft,” Seini has noted, “they gain more than income. **They gain stability and dignity.**”

## Current Status and Future Vision

Currently, **Lembrih Marketplace** is in its **Kickstarter pre-launch phase**, raising awareness and support ahead of its official launch. The campaign is designed to fund final platform development, vendor onboarding, and early marketing efforts. It also serves as a signal of market demand, inviting early adopters, ethical shoppers, and creatives to participate in shaping the platform from the ground up.

Support for the initiative has come from a growing online community cultivated through social media and content sharing. Seini has built an engaged audience by openly sharing her journey as a founder, working mother, and community builder. That transparency has resonated with women entrepreneurs and small business owners navigating similar challenges.

Looking ahead, Seini envisions Lembrih becoming a leading global marketplace for Black and African handmade goods, with vendors spanning the continent and diaspora. Beyond e-commerce, she sees the platform evolving into an ecosystem that includes education, storytelling, and partnerships that further amplify underrepresented voices.

As African-led startups continue to attract global attention, **Lembrih Marketplace** represents a different kind of innovation. It is not driven by scale alone, but by intention. In an increasingly crowded digital economy, Seini’s approach highlights a growing belief among African entrepreneurs: that business can be both profitable and principled, global and deeply rooted in community.

How a Ghanaian Founder is Revolutionizing Global E-Commerce with Ethical Values

## Shiloh Luckey's Alleged Fraud Scandal

Shiloh Luckey, the founder and former CEO of **ComplYant**, a tax-compliance startup based in Los Angeles, is facing serious legal troubles. The **FBI** is conducting a federal criminal investigation into allegations of **securities and bank fraud**, while the **SEC** has filed civil charges against her.

![Shiloh Luckey at Collision 2022](https://i.insider.com/693c7db104eda4732f2d787f?width=700)
*Toronto, Canada - 22 June 2022; Shiloh Luckey, Founder & former CEO, ComplYant, on Centre Stage during day two of Collision 2022 at Enercare Centre in Toronto, Canada. (Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile for Collision via Getty Images)*

### The SEC's Allegations

According to the SEC, Luckey misused millions of dollars from **venture capital funds** for personal expenses. These include:
- Paying for her **home**
- Purchasing **Super Bowl tickets**
- Funding trips to **Aspen, Miami Beach, Turks and Caicos, and Lisbon**
- Covering costs for a **destination wedding in the Caribbean**
- Paying for her **car**

The SEC claims that Luckey painted a **rosy picture** of ComplYant's revenue growth to investors, stating that monthly revenues increased from around $2,500 in November 2020 to over $250,000 by September 2022. However, the reality was starkly different: the company only generated an average of about **$250 in monthly revenue** during that period and averaged fewer than **four new subscribers each month**.

### Background and Funding

Luckey founded ComplYant in 2019 to help small businesses navigate tax regulations. In 2022, the company raised a **$5.5 million seed round** led by **Craft Ventures**, a San Francisco venture firm co-founded by investor and White House advisor **David Sacks**. Overall, ComplYant raised more than **$13 million** from top venture capitalists.

Despite the funding, the company abruptly shut down last year, leaving over **50 employees** without final paychecks for seven weeks and missing **401(k) contributions**.

### Regulatory Crackdown

This case highlights the **increased scrutiny** from regulators on startup founders. **Monique Winkler**, SEC regional director, warned, "Startup founders cannot fake it until they make it by falsifying revenue metrics." Recent cases, such as the **seven-year prison sentence for Charlie Javice** and fraud charges against Mozaic Payments' former CEO Marcus Cobb, show that authorities are taking a **tougher line** on fraudulent activities in the startup world.

### Luckey's Response and Current Activities

When reached by telephone, Luckey said, "I don't have anything to offer you," and hung up. She is representing herself in court and has not responded to the SEC allegations.

Since ComplYant's shutdown, Luckey has continued to post **instructional videos** on her **TikTok channel**, which has nearly **24,000 subscribers**, offering advice on taxes and accounting. In October, she launched a new startup called **HabitLoop**, described as a digital financial assistant to help people manage their money. In a video, she stated, "I grew up with very poor financial habits," and added, "This is something I built on hard lessons."

The SEC also alleges that Luckey falsely represented herself as a **CPA**, with no record of her ever having the accreditation.

Shiloh Luckey faces SEC charges for using VC funds to pay for her home, Super Bowl tickets, trips to Aspen, and a wedding. The FBI is also investigating.

Startup Founder Under FBI Probe: VC Funds Used for Lavish Wedding and Home

**Sherwin Greenblatt**, the first employee at Bose Corp., is renowned for designing its most successful speaker system and serving as its president for 15 years. However, his most cherished achievement lies in transforming MIT's Venture Mentoring Service (VMS) from a temporary initiative into a globally impactful program.

On Tuesday, Greenblatt will reflect on his two-decade tenure as director of VMS during a celebration of its 25th anniversary. The event will feature speakers like MIT board chair Mark Gorenberg, current VMS director Don Shobrys, engineering professor Chris Love, and several VMS mentees who now run their own startups.

VMS was initially intended to last only a few years, but under Greenblatt's leadership, it evolved into a cornerstone of MIT's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The program provides mentorship to startups, fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurs in turning their ideas into successful ventures. Its lasting impact highlights the importance of mentorship in the startup world, demonstrating how structured guidance can lead to long-term success and global influence.

Sherwin Greenblatt, the first employee at Bose Corp., helped turn the Venture Mentoring Service at MIT into a program with lasting impact.

How MIT's Venture Mentoring Service Defied Expectations and Thrived for 25 Years

## Lightspeed's Record-Breaking Fundraise

In a major move shaking up the venture capital landscape, **Lightspeed Venture Partners** has announced a staggering **$9 billion** in fresh capital, marking the largest fundraise in the firm's 25-year history. This massive haul comes at a pivotal time when limited partners are increasingly funneling investments into established firms with proven track records, leaving many smaller VC firms struggling to attract funds.

![Interstellar lightspeed space travel in hyperspace wormhole portal with stars](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GettyImages-1135021039.jpg?w=1024)
*Image Credits: Eduard Muzhevskyi / Getty Images*

### Why This Fund Matters

The new capital is spread across six funds, including a **$3.3 billion opportunity fund** dedicated to follow-on investments in its fastest-growing portfolio companies. This positions Lightspeed to continue making massive bets on **capital-intensive AI startups**, such as its reported $1 billion check to Anthropic in a recent $13 billion funding round.

### Lightspeed's AI Focus and Recent Wins

Lightspeed has firmly established itself as a **predominantly AI-focused investor**, backing 165 AI-native companies including high-profile names like **Anthropic, xAI, Databricks, Mistral, Glean, Abridge, and Skild AI**. The firm's success is further highlighted by its early investments in recent IPOs like **Rubrik, Netskope, and Navan**, all of which have made public market debuts in a challenging IPO environment.

### The Bigger VC Picture

This fundraise places Lightspeed among other giant VC firms that have recently secured enormous capital pools, such as **Founders Fund's $4.6 billion growth fund, General Catalyst's $8 billion haul, and Andreessen Horowitz's $7.2 billion** in 2024. Meanwhile, data indicates that 2025 is on pace to see the fewest VC fund closings in the past decade, underscoring the concentration of capital in top-tier firms.

### What This Means for Startups

With this **record $9 billion fund**, Lightspeed is poised to aggressively invest in **cash-hungry AI startups**, potentially accelerating innovation and competition in the AI sector. Entrepreneurs in the AI space should take note of this significant capital infusion as it signals continued strong investor interest in transformative technologies.

The massive fund haul will allow the Silicon Valley firm to continue to invest in cash-hungry AI startups.

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