Growing Empire: A Look At Issa Rae’s Journey In Tech
Issa Rae attends the 13th Annual NFL Honors at Resorts World Theatre on February 08, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
When most people hear the name Issa Rae, they think of Black excellence. The 39-year-old actress, producer, and screenwriter is notably recognized for creating the hit HBO series “Insecure” and “Rap Sh!t.” In addition, Issa launched her wine brand, Viarae, in 2023.
The multi-hyphenate is known to diversify her resume with various ventures. In fact, Issa has long kept her eye on the tech world and is slowly making her stamp on the industry. Keep reading for a complete look at Issa Rae’s tech portfolio and growth potential.
Issa Rae attends the 6th Annual American Black Film Festival Honors: A Celebration Of Black Excellence In Hollywood at SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills, on March 03, 2024, in Los Angeles, California.
A Look Into Issa Rae’s Investments In Tech Startups
The year 2019 was monumental for Issa, as she won the Emerging Entrepreneur Award at the Women In Film Annual Gala in July. In addition to preparations for “Insecure” Season 3, fans learned that Issa started to test the waters in tech.
According to Variety, Issa joined forces — via a minority stake — with Angela Benton, a tech entrepreneur and founder of the L.A.-based startup, Streamlytics. The company works by tracking the audio and video usage of its consumers. Once the company analyzes what consumers are streaming, it gives consumers a license of ownership for the data. Then, the startup purchases the data from the consumers. In turn, Streamlytics will sell the data to creators, TV networks, studios, and more.
“As streaming services become the standard for how people consume content and information, tools and companies like Streamlytics are necessary for transparency and consumer ownership,” Issa said in a statement via the outlet. “Angela’s drive and innovative spirit is the reason why she is a pioneer in the tech space and why I’m excited to partner with her in this endeavor.”
With this endeavor, the ultimate goal is to help consumers own and monetize their data.
“We’re in a unique moment in time where we have leverage as a community because of our power online and the tides turning in consumers’ favor for data ownership and portability,” Angela said in a Moguldom blog post. “Communities of color already do so many things well, but without owning our data in a tangible way, we’ll simply become slaves in a society built off our backs, again.”
Angela Benton speaks onstage during the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2022 in New Orleans. Source L Paras Griffin/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Issa Joins Other Celebrities In Tech
Issa is not the only Black celebrity in the tech field. The actress joins other influential figures, including Will Smith, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Nas.
Like her peers, Issa’s passion for entering the tech world is about uplifting and supporting Black businesses and creatives.
“I want to remind people that Black businesses aren’t just for Black people. Tell everybody,” she told People magazine in October 2020. “I want to see what we can do, as a community, to support those businesses. Because these are community staples, and we need to recognize how important they are to uphold.”
Beyond the Tech Startup Investment
The 39-year-old is not only investing in viable tech startups; she also shares her knowledge at special programs and seminars to enlighten and motivate young people entering the tech industry.
In July 2023, Issa was named the keynote speaker at “Black Tech Week.” Issa shared powerful advice and insight into the tech world while encouraging attendees to stay the course and turn their dreams into reality.
Everything that the actress touches always turns into a huge success. There is no doubt that Issa Rae’s tech portfolio will continue to grow.
