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- October 2025

"I am sick and tired of being sick and tired"

arriet                                                         — Fannie Lou Hamer   

TL;DR

Black-owned Spotlight: Archive CLT & Gyal Hair

Plug: Sintra AI

Events Section: I got hella stuff happening in this month, virtually and in person

Wish: I want to do more speaking engagements!

Writing: Read my latst Grio article on Martha's Vineyard

I'm honestly, truly, just tired. I know it's been a minute. This year has been one of the wildest of my entire life—between launching Fictive Ventures and our nation-wide roadshow, running Black Ahh Trivia, advising startups, and just existing as a Black person in America in 2025 (which is absolutely nuts), I had to step back and catch my breath. But I'm back, and I'm refreshing this newsletter to make it sharper, more intentional, and more reflective of the wide variety of things I'm building and experiencing. So welcome to the new DIJA Digest—same authenticity, better structure. Let's dive in.

-Khadijah

Black-Owned Spotlight 🔦

Archive CLT [Charlotte, NC]

Still image from Dijadontneedya's TikTok featuring Archive CLT coffee shop interior

If you're ever in Charlotte, you have to check out Archive CLT. It's a coffee shop that's equal parts cozy, creative, and community-driven. I stopped by in August and loved the vibe so much I made a TikTok about it. Support them and see what I'm talking about here:

Check 'Em Out

Gyal Braids

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Let me put you on to GYAL Hair (G-Y-A-L). They make pre-treated braiding hair, and if you have sensitive skin like me, this is a game-changer. I used to break out in hives from untreated braiding hair, but GYAL's products are pre-washed and ready to install—no extra prep needed. Black-owned, high-quality, and my scalp is thriving.

Grab Yours

✅ Win of the Month: The Fictive Ventures Roadshow is LIVE

Last month, we kicked off the Fictive Ventures Roadshow in Atlanta, New York, and D.C., and the response has been incredible. We've already brought on new limited partners—including folks who have never invested in venture capital or startups before. That's exactly what we set out to do: open up venture and startup investing to more Black investors and create pathways for people who should be in this space but haven't had access yet. We're just getting started, and I'm so excited about what's next.



❌ Flop of the Month: September's Black Ahh Trivia Turnout

We had a rough turnout for Black Ahh Trivia in September, and honestly, it stung a little. We didn't promote it well, and we didn't push hard enough. But here's the thing—we always have a great time, even when it's just a few of us. And I'm already looking forward to the Homecoming Edition on October 16th in Atlanta. We're going to pack the house this time. Lesson learned: consistency and promotion matter, even when you're busy.



The Plug 🔌(Sintra AI)

So, I started using Sintra AI, and OMG. I got it because the tool has a whole team of AI assistants, each specialized in different areas like email marketing, social media, data analysis, customer support, and way more. What makes it stand out for me is how trainable it is, and also that it actually comes up with good ideas to help me with my work (it will post to social media and create documents for me too!). Instead of jumping between different AI tools, everything's in one place with helpers that actually understand what you need. Whether it's drafting content, managing projects, analyzing data, or automating workflows, Sintra does it. If you want to try it out, use my Referral Code/Link: 9REOE [input this at checkout to get a free month]. You can sign up at app.sintra.ai and use my code to get started.

EVENTS SECTION

LIFT Demo Day

The LIFT Incubator is the first startup incubator led by the Center for Black Entrepreneurship, a partnership between Spelman College, Morehouse College, and the Black Economic Alliance. This event marks the culmination of our second cohort, featuring 15 innovative companies, with 8 of them set to pitch at our demo day. LIFT is poised to be a significant force for innovation in the southeastern region, and we are thrilled to showcase the hard work and creativity of these remarkable companies. Our mission is to support early-stage, Black-led, scalable startups with a focus on STEM and AI, to get them ready for investment. LIFT Incubator Information.

Over the last couple of months, our 15 Black-led STEM ventures have been hard at work developing their business models, customer strategies, and technical roadmaps.



Event Details:

Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Location: Spelman College (full address and parking details to follow)

Arrival Time: Please arrive by 5:00 PM

Event Start: 5:30 PM

End Time: Approximately 9:00 PM

Angel Investing Office Hours

Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of hosting events for new and aspiring angel investors—and the response has been incredible. The interest, curiosity, and hunger to learn more about early-stage investing has been so energizing. I never thought of myself as an educator, but I love helping people learn more about how they can get involved and invest in startups.

To keep that momentum going, I’m launching a *free monthly virtual office hour series*—a casual, open Q&A space to help demystify angel investing. Whether you're trying to evaluate your first startup deal, make sense of term sheets, or simply curious about where to start—this space is for you.



*Every 2nd Thursday of the Month*
*1:00 – 2:00 PM EST*

Date: October 15, 2025
*Online (Google Meet)*
*Free to attend*

Black Ahh Trivia

It's Black Ass Trivia after dark!!

Black Ass Trivia is a fun, high-energy trivia night that brings people together to keke, connect, and celebrate the culture. This is for the folks whose knees are too bad to be in the club all night - but ya still wanna have a bit of fun.

Your monthly Black Trivia night is back. It's all about Black excellence, Black history, and Black joy—because in a world that’s often hostile to us, we deserve a space to revel in our brilliance. This is a competitive (but fun!) game night with themed trivia rounds covering everything from Black icons to music, film, history, and pop culture. Basically, how we run the world. Come ready to have fun, have a drink, grab a bite, and maybe even sing a lil bit...and win!

We are going UP for freedom for Homecoming Season, with extended hours and specials to vibe with your people (no knees required). When trivia ends, stay for some Black ass games and fellowship...and more drinks.



How It Works...

Time: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Date: October 16, 2025

Location: Atlantucky (your fave Black-owned brewery!)
Cost: FREE with RSVP!

Morning Money Mix x The PIT

FOUNDERS, COME MEET ACTIVE INVES

TORS IN ATLANTA!

Our goal: Demystify the investor-founder relationship, foster meaningful connections, and strengthen the pipeline for funding—especially for Black and underestimated founders in Atlanta. Note: this event is open for all entrepreneurs in the city.



Each session is a curated, hour-long meetup hosted at a local coffee shop, open to founders from across Atlanta (membership in THE PIT not required). The format is simple and founder-friendly:



20 minutes: Hear from the featured investor on their background, investment thesis, and what they're excited about

20 minutes: Live Q&A with founders

20 minutes: Casual networking



Date: October 20, 2025

Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Location: Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee – Spring St., Atlanta

Frequency: Monthly

From Income to Equity: Crafting a Personal Angel-Investment Thesis

Event Description:
The transition from traditional income-based wealth accumulation to equity-driven value creation is one of the most significant—and often misunderstood—leaps in an investor’s journey. While many are captivated by the allure of angel investing, only a disciplined and intentional thesis can transform episodic investments into a coherent, mission-aligned portfolio capable of generating both financial returns and long-term impact.

In this session, Dr. Brahm Rhodes will guide participants through the intellectual architecture of crafting a personal angel-investment thesis. Moving beyond opportunistic deal selection, the discussion will focus on:

Investment Philosophy Formation: Translating values, risk tolerance, and financial goals into a coherent investment identity.

Portfolio Construction Frameworks: Allocating across stages, sectors, and geographies to balance risk and capture asymmetric upside.

Impact and Mission Alignment: Integrating personal purpose with capital deployment to achieve both economic returns and systemic change.

Case Studies & Pitfalls: Real-world examples of how well-structured theses drive consistency—and how lack of one undermines outcomes.



Date: October 22, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM EST
Duration: 1 hour
Host: Brahm Rhodes, Ph.D. – General Partner, Fictive Ventures
Platform: Google Meet
Organizer: Fictive Ventures via Eventnoire

Black Founders & Funders Part II

The magic is back.
Last March at SXSW, we threw together a last-minute mixer in a hotel lobby. 100+ Black founders, investors, and ecosystem builders showed up in less than 48 hours. Why? Because authentic connection in our community is powerful.
Now we're bringing that same energy to AfroTech Houston - but this time with a little more intention and strategic networking.
What to expect:
✨ Color-coded networking system for easy connections
🎯 Structured founder-funder speed networking
MORE OF THE MAGIC OF HAVING BLACK FOUNDERS & FUNDERS IN THE ROOM TOGETHER

Event Details

Date: October 29, 2025

Time: 3:30- 5:30 PM

Location: Kindred Stories, 2310 Elgin St unit 2 Houston TX

Dija's Wish💭

Here's something new I'm trying: every month, I'm sharing a wish—something I want to do more of, someone I'd love to meet, an opportunity I'm seeking, or a goal I'm working toward. My hope is that you, my readers, can help me make it happen.

This month's wish:


I want to do more speaking engagements across the country—especially at conferences, universities, and events focused on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and Black innovation. If you know of an opportunity or want to bring me to your city, let's make it happen. Just reply to this email and let me know!

From My Desk: Recent Writing✍

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More Marthas, Less Fighting

Check out this piece that I wrote for The Grio



This August, folks got to arguing online about Martha's Vineyard - an important, yet exclusive, place for many Black families.

Read More

✨ Thanks for Reading

Thanks for sticking with me through the chaos of 2025. I'm excited about this refreshed format and can't wait to keep sharing wins, lessons, and opportunities with you every month. Hit reply and let me know what you think—I read every message.

Until next time!

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