Sesame Summit 2026 – application open

The Colors Momentum

Before we kick off this interview with Ammin, here’s a bit of background context to help set the stage:

  • In 2015, Ammin Youssouf and co-founder Haweya Mohamed launched Afrobytes – an international tech marketplace connecting business and technology leaders, founders, investors, policy experts, and the media – to the African tech industry.
  • In 2018, both Ammin & Haweya were added to Fast Company’s Top 100 Most Creative People list (ranking 94 & 95 + marking the first time two French co-founders made it onto this list at the same time) as well as Entrepreneur.com’s 50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs list.
  • In 2021, they launched The Colors, an online community whose mission is to contribute to the future of diversity and inclusion in the fashion and beauty industry.

How is Afrobytes connected with The Colors?

From the start, we wanted to build an ecosystem made of several connected brands. We started with Afrobytes and created its narrative arc. Then, after building a solid network and expertise in the African tech ecosystem, it was time to develop a project more connected to our status as minorities in the West. That’s why we decided to introduce another narrative arc with The Colors this year.

The two brands are separated but have strong connections. With Afrobytes, we explore how Agritech can be more sustainable for the environment, a social impact for the populations, and more transparent for consumers with traceability (IoT, Blockchain). And what is Beauty and Fashion if not Agriculture? Natural cosmetics like Coco, Karité, Hibiscus, Argan, and so on are 100% agricultural. Same thing for Fashion: environmentally-friendly cotton, hemp, pineapple, banana fibers and all the new sustainable textile innovations are changing the fashion industry.

Building a consistent and virtuous ecosystem takes a hell of a lot of time, but we believe it will be a very profitable bet in the end. Lucky ones have access to “patient capital”. Minorities in Tech do “patient bootstrapping” 😉

What makes The Colors such a special event?

The Colors is a multicultural and multidisciplinary gathering of people leveraging and sharing their expertise to achieve the same mission: contribute to the future of Diversity and Inclusion in the Fashion and Beauty Industry.

Because it is much more than a single event in the year, we prefer to call it a Momentum instead of an event. Indeed, in physics, momentum is the strength gained by a series of events also defined as “mass in motion.” This is exactly what we offer to people who join The Colors community: a platform to drive and accelerate change.

The annual event – held in person & online this November at Station F in Paris – will be the catalyst of multiple initiatives developed all along the year: programs for entrepreneurs, prizes to reward the best of them, monthly online meetups and networking, collaborations with tech companies and media.

Can you tell us more about your programs?

To support the entrepreneurs, we launched two programs: La Fabrique for Beauty and L’Atelier for Fashion. We will offer the classics: Office hours with our partners, Networking activities, Personal coaching and mentoring, Thought leadership sessions, Operational support, and Demo Day showcase.

But when you build a program for diverse founders, you have to create something different and design from your own experience as a minority founder in tech.

You have to adapt your program to the reality: the huge investment gap facing diverse founders. For example, in the UK, between 2009 and 2019, all-ethnic teams received an average of just 1.7% of the venture capital investments made at seed, early, and late-stage over this decade. Data show the racial inequity persists after George Floyd, and for example, Black women and Latina entrepreneurs get less than 1% of venture capital in the US. And in France, first, it is not even a topic of conversation, and second, you would need a Ph.D. in quantum physics to report any activity when it comes to funding minority-led startups.

Considering this situation, it would not make sense to focus too much on content such as “getting funding from VCs” since it will overwhelmingly lead to a statistically proven dead-end for most of them. Instead, we focus on how minorities can concentrate on the overlooked consumers’ expertise and leverage technology to capture this market. In a way, the Music Industry case is very inspiring. The Majors overlooked minority artists and their Hip Hop culture, but now it is the same minorities lead the game in this sector.

Can you share a bit of background with us about how this event came to be?

blank
ShutterStock

This photo could have been taken in any major city in the Western World. Is it Paris? London? Amsterdam? Stockholm? San Francisco? Barcelona? Toronto? We live in a multicultural society. Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice. I would even say, “it is a strategic and economical choice”.

The USA’s population, the largest consumer market, comprises +40% of people of African, Asian, or Latin descent. By 2044, those minorities will become a majority simply because Gen Z and Gen Alphas are in their vast majority from those communities. And what about the fact that 85% of the world’s population lives in emerging countries with the most dynamic markets and fast-growing and connected middle-classes.

Understanding Gen Z -the first generation of true digital natives and composed primarily of people of color- means understanding multicultural consumers.

In other words, the corporates’ Gen Z problem is a multicultural problem.

What inspired you to focus on the fashion & beauty industry?

The Fashion and Beauty sector is sensitive to affinity marketing, but brands’ products and services don’t fully satisfy multicultural consumers’ aspirations because of the lack of diversity.

Diverse entrepreneurs, especially women in these sectors, create products and services but are poorly supported, highlighted, and financed.

Our ambition is to support them in developing digital skills to accelerate their direct to consumer business and to excel in customer relations.

Can you tell us about the format of this event?

We will focus on creating an online experience for each specific category of the public. Digital authorizes a more interesting personalization of the attendee journey:

  • Investors might want to know the minority-majority market size, untapped market opportunities, and how startups deploy to seize them.
  • Corporates might wish to understand the culture better and identify the touchpoints with the multicultural Gen Z.
  • The General public might want to discover new brands, the stories behind them and possibly buy from them during the event.
  • Tech companies might want to understand better how to connect with and offer services to a new breed of entrepreneurs they rarely meet.

Digital offers the possibility of having a larger audience and creating more connections. Recently we organized a session between a Senegalese Designer, a Fashion Tech expert from New York, and a Beauty brand from Ghana. The conversation was so refreshing and insightful for the audience! It resulted in immediate online sales for the Ghanaian beauty brand, requests for mentorship for the Fashion specialist and partnerships for the designer.

Why did you decide to launch a membership plan?

The Colors is a community of people sharing common interests and values. A paid membership helps to build and finance a better experience for them. With a continuous dialogue with our community, we want to better understand their needs and tailor their online event experience.

We also want to engage our audience better, be more accessible, provide support, get feedback. We believe our community should be invited to shape our brand’s future and influence speakers’ choice and themes.

In short, we want to build relationships that go beyond a single event in the year.

Who would be an ideal speaker for this event? Who’s on your wishlist?

Our ideal speaker is Thando Hopa, a South African model, activist, and lawyer. She is the first woman with albinism to be on the cover of Vogue. She perfectly interrogates us on Diversity and Inclusion.

For the wishlist, I would mention:

  • Rihanna: for the genesis of Fenty Beauty, her deal with LVMH, and Social Media’s impact on her business.
  • Berry Gordy: for creating the world’s most famous record company, the Motown Records, with 800$, but also no access to banks, media, investment
  • Vivienne Westwood: for creating a ground-breaking social enterprise collaborating with local artisan across Kenya, Nepal, Burkina Faso & Mali, with the aim to provide a sustainable stream of work, in place of charity.
  • Serena Williams: for creating a fund that invests in companies that embrace diverse leadership, individual empowerment, creativity, and opportunity.

Find out more about The Colors online at TheColo.rs!

you might also like

Fundraising 1 day ago

The European health-tech sector continues its robust growth trajectory, with personalised healthcare solutions attracting significant investor attention across the continent. This trend reflects growing consumer awareness of preventive healthcare and the increasing sophistication of at-home diagnostic technologies. Holo, a startup developing personalised lab testing and daily health tracking solutions, has secured €1 million in pre-seed funding to accelerate its mission of making precision health accessible to European consumers. The funding round was led by Calm/Storm Ventures and Mission VC, two investors with complementary expertise in health technology and consumer applications. This combination provides Holo with both deep sector knowledge and go-to-market experience crucial for navigating Europe’s complex healthcare regulations and fragmented markets. Pre-seed funding positions personalised health tracking for growth Calm/Storm Ventures’ participation signals confidence in Holo’s approach to democratising health insights through accessible testing solutions. The investor’s portfolio focus on consumer health technologies aligns perfectly with the growing European demand for proactive health management tools. Mission VC’s involvement brings additional expertise in scaling technology platforms across European markets, particularly valuable given the varying regulatory landscapes across EU member states. The €1 million pre-seed represents a substantial early-stage commitment for European health-tech, reflecting investor appetite for solutions that bridge the gap between clinical diagnostics and consumer wellness. Both lead investors recognise the significant opportunity in personalised health tracking, where traditional healthcare systems are increasingly supplemented by direct-consumer solutions. “We’re seeing unprecedented demand for health insights that people can act upon immediately,” noted a representative from the investment consortium. “Holo’s approach to combining laboratory-grade testing with daily tracking creates a compelling value proposition for European consumers seeking greater control over their health outcomes.” European health-tech market expansion accelerates Holo’s platform addresses a critical gap in the European healthcare landscape, where traditional systems often focus on treatment rather than prevention. By enabling users to access personalised lab testing and continuous health monitoring, the company positions itself at the intersection of two growing trends: the quantified self movement and precision medicine accessibility. The startup plans to utilise the funding to expand its testing capabilities and enhance its daily tracking algorithms. This development focus acknowledges the unique challenges of operating across European markets, where data privacy regulations like GDPR require sophisticated technical architecture and consumer trust remains paramount. Within the competitive landscape, Holo differentiates itself through its integrated approach to both laboratory testing and continuous monitoring. While competitors often focus on either diagnostic testing or wellness tracking, Holo’s combined platform offers users a more comprehensive view of their health status and trends. The funding positions Holo to capture market share in Europe’s expanding health-tech sector, where regulatory clarity around digital health solutions continues to improve. This represents a significant opportunity for European startups to compete effectively against US-based platforms while maintaining compliance with stringent EU data protection standards. European health-tech funding has consistently outpaced other regions in the preventive healthcare segment, indicating strong ecosystem support for solutions like Holo’s integrated platform.

Fundraising 1 day ago

European e-commerce is experiencing a paradigm shift as artificial intelligence transforms how consumers discover and purchase products online. The fragmented nature of European retail markets, with their diverse languages, currencies, and consumer preferences, creates unique opportunities for AI-powered solutions that can bridge these gaps intelligently. Paris-based Dialog has secured €3.7 million in funding to accelerate the development of its AI shopping agent technology. The round was led by Galion.exe, marking a significant investment in the emerging category of conversational commerce platforms designed specifically for European market complexities. AI Shopping Agent Investment Attracts European Venture Capital Galion.exe’s decision to lead this AI shopping agent funding round reflects the venture firm’s thesis on the intersection of artificial intelligence and commerce in Europe. The Paris-based investor has built a reputation for backing B2B software companies that address the unique challenges of operating across multiple European jurisdictions and markets. Dialog’s impressive traction metrics played a crucial role in attracting investment interest. The company has generated over 300,000 add-to-cart events through its platform, demonstrating significant user engagement and commercial viability. This level of conversion activity suggests that European consumers are increasingly receptive to AI-assisted shopping experiences when properly localised. “The European e-commerce landscape is ripe for intelligent automation that understands local market nuances,” said a spokesperson from Galion.exe. “Dialog’s approach to conversational commerce addresses real pain points for both consumers and retailers operating across diverse European markets.” Conversational Commerce Platform Targets European Market Expansion Dialog’s AI shopping agent operates as an intelligent intermediary between consumers and e-commerce platforms, using natural language processing to understand purchase intent and guide users through product discovery. The technology is particularly well-suited to European markets, where consumers often navigate multiple languages, currencies, and regulatory frameworks within a single shopping journey. The €3.7 million funding will primarily support product development and market expansion across key European territories. Dialog plans to enhance its multilingual capabilities and integrate with major European e-commerce platforms, addressing the fragmentation that has historically challenged cross-border retail growth in the region. Unlike Silicon Valley counterparts that often adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, Dialog has designed its platform with European regulatory compliance in mind from the outset. This includes GDPR-compliant data handling and transparent AI decision-making processes, positioning the company advantageously as European AI regulations continue to evolve. The competitive landscape in conversational commerce remains relatively open in Europe, with most established players focused on North American markets. This creates a significant opportunity for Dialog to establish market leadership while European e-commerce continues its rapid digitisation. Dialog’s successful funding round signals growing investor confidence in European AI applications that address real commercial needs rather than pursuing theoretical breakthroughs. As European venture capital increasingly focuses on practical AI implementations, Dialog’s approach represents a template for building sustainable, regulation-compliant technology businesses in the region.

event management funding
Fundraising 1 day ago

Europe’s fragmented event industry is ripe for digital transformation, with administrative complexity creating significant friction for organisers across multiple jurisdictions. Belgian startup Rookoo has secured €900k in funding to tackle this precise challenge, positioning itself at the intersection of AI-powered automation and European regulatory compliance. The funding round signals growing investor confidence in B2B software solutions that address sector-specific pain points across European markets. Rookoo’s platform promises to streamline event administration through intelligent automation, particularly relevant as European event volumes rebound post-pandemic. Event management funding targets administrative efficiency The €900k investment reflects broader trends in European enterprise software, where investors increasingly back solutions addressing regulatory complexity and operational inefficiencies. The funding enables Rookoo to expand its AI-driven platform across European markets, where event organisers face varying compliance requirements and administrative burdens. Rookoo’s approach leverages artificial intelligence to automate routine administrative tasks that typically consume significant resources for event organisers. The platform addresses pain points ranging from vendor management to regulatory compliance, areas where manual processes create bottlenecks and increase operational costs. The timing aligns with European businesses’ accelerated digital adoption, particularly in sectors where administrative overhead directly impacts profitability. Event management represents a prime target for automation, given the repetitive nature of many organisational tasks and the industry’s traditionally fragmented approach to technology adoption. Belgian startup targets global event industry transformation From its Belgian headquarters, Rookoo is building technology designed to scale across diverse European regulatory environments. The company’s focus on administrative chaos reflects deep understanding of European market dynamics, where cross-border events require navigation of multiple compliance frameworks. The startup’s AI-powered approach differentiates it from traditional event management software, which typically requires manual configuration and ongoing maintenance. Rookoo’s platform learns from user behaviour and industry patterns, potentially reducing the administrative burden that currently limits growth for many European event businesses. Belgium’s position as a European technology hub provides strategic advantages for Rookoo’s expansion plans. The country’s proximity to major European markets and established connections within the Brussels business ecosystem offer natural pathways for customer acquisition and partnership development. The €900k funding round positions Rookoo to capture market share in an industry where digital transformation remains incomplete. As European event organisers seek competitive advantages through technology adoption, solutions addressing fundamental operational challenges are likely to gain traction rapidly.

Subscribe to
our Newsletter!

Stay at the forefront with our curated guide to the best upcoming Tech events.