Screenshot In seventh grade, Kai Cunningham stepped onto those sprawling estates of his private school classmates and realized he was playing an entirely different game. Well actually, he wasn’t really even in the game at all. His Baltimore neighborhood was a stark contrast to his classmates’ multimillion-dollar homes, altering his entire perception of what “making […]
In seventh grade, Kai Cunningham stepped onto those sprawling estates of his private school classmates and realized he was playing an entirely different game. Well actually, he wasn’t really even in the game at all.
His Baltimore neighborhood was a stark contrast to his classmates’ multimillion-dollar homes, altering his entire perception of what “making it” it looked like. So he got curious. While their fathers ran private equity firms and hospitals, Cunningham began asking the questions that would shape his future: “What do your parents do? What does it mean to own a building or a company?”
Fast forward to today, at just 30, and Cunningham’s curiosity has paid off. Those early observations (and of course his intellect and charm — which I experienced firsthand in just a 40 minute Zoom conversation) have now morphed into Limited Ventures, an investment firm he co-founded with members of the Rockefeller and Costa families. From that unlikely starting point, he’s now deployed over $100 million into startups spanning fintech, food tech, and immersive sports experiences, with a strategic focus on Black entrepreneurs reshaping the cultural economy.
For Cunningham, his investment thesis is a combination of “proximity, purpose, and power,” which essentially just means building connections across historically separate worlds, with capital serving as the bridge.
“I sit at the nexus between billionaire families who’ve passed wealth down for generations and Black athletes and entertainers who’ve gone from zero to a hundred,” he tells ESSENCE. “And when you put those two groups in the same room with a shared investment opportunity, that’s when one plus one equals fifty.”
But let’s rewind a bit. It took a whole lot of grit and hustle to get to where Cunningham is today. Sprinkle that in with a little bit of lucky boy syndrome, and you’ve got the holy trifecta. Take for a example, a chance connection at Villanova (School of Business) — his alma mater — with Jim Davis, co-founder and chairman of Allegis Group, an international talent management firm, who later funded his education and opened doors to corporate opportunities, like his first internship. Then later at Goldman Sachs, Cunningham helped manage a $2 billion division, where he quickly recognized that barriers weren’t about talent, but about translation.
“My counterparts had parents who ran divisions at the firm. They’d been speaking this language since birth,” he explained. “For people like me, it’s like learning a new language as an adult. And on top of that, I was being asked to bring my relationships—my friends, who are athletes and entertainers—to the table without being compensated because I wasn’t ‘senior enough.’ That didn’t sit right with me.”
Eventually, Cunningham left Wall Street to build something uniquely his own—a platform aligning cultural influence with long-term financial strategy. Limited Ventures is actively redefining what a Black family office can become.
“We live in the gray,” he says. “We’re not agents. We’re not business managers. We’re not financial advisors. But we provide pieces of all those services in a way that keeps everyone accountable and aligned.”
Today, his network includes nearly 100 professional athletes and entertainers who co-invest alongside him, including Lil Wayne, Breanna Stewart, Marcedes Lewis, and Danny Green. They’ve backed companies like Eastside Golf – a streetwear-meets-golf lifestyle brand founded by two Morehouse grads that has partnered with Jordan Brand and Mercedes-Benz; StatusPRO – a VR sports tech company using athlete data to create immersive gaming experiences where Cunningham serves on the board; and BAGS – a fintech startup founded by Daniel Taylor that helps emerging consumer brands with capital access, accounting tools, and debt strategy.
“These aren’t just great businesses with Black founders,” Cunningham says. “They’re great businesses—period. And through Limited Ventures, I’ve been able to align athletes and tastemakers with these founders in a way that’s natural, strategic, and built to last. Culture isn’t just the backdrop—it’s the engine.”
That principle stems from a fundamental mindset shift: helping athletes and entertainers recognize that they already possess the discipline to succeed in investing, but they just need the language, tools, and trust. “If you’re in the top 1% of your sport, you already know how to commit to a process. Investing is no different—it’s just a different playbook.”
Yet the stakes continue to rise. “There used to be one guy on a roster making $15 million. Now there are bench players making $25 million a year,” he noted. “The problem isn’t going broke—it’s going broke after making $70 million. That headline hits different. The internal family structure has to be ready.”
That’s why Cunningham focuses on systems, not soundbites. And he rejects a charity approach to investing in Black founders. “They’re not ‘diversity plays.’ They’re world-class businesses led by visionary founders who’ve scaled during one of the toughest venture markets in recent history. My role is to help sharpen that edge—and expand what’s possible.”
He remains clear-eyed about the gaps in venture capital and where structural changes must occur. “We saw a lot of commitments in 2020 and 2021,” he said. “But there hasn’t been a scaled approach to making sure those dollars consistently reach underrepresented founders.”
His solution? Relationship capital. “For entrepreneurs who don’t have access to these rooms, my advice isn’t ‘start investing’—it’s start leveraging your relationships. Your network is more valuable than money, especially when you’re trying to get in the room.”
Cunningham lives this philosophy. His journey from taking $4 Megabus rides to Wall Street meetings in New York to co-owning a horse racing team—the Maryland Colts—with NFL MVP Lamar Jackson exemplifies his approach. “I didn’t have a trust fund. But I had friends in the NBA. We pooled resources. We moved as a unit.”
Yet wealth isn’t his ultimate goal. Impact is. Increasingly, he’s focused on bridging the gap between culture and government, which is territory he sees as ripe for innovation. Recent conversations with Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who grew up in the same community, have opened new possibilities for political partnerships centered on Black families and founders.
“We’ve never had access to wealth creation through government relationships at scale,” he said. “But that’s how a lot of the legacy wealth was built—someone stamps your idea, you get a contract, and now you’re part of a multi-million-dollar deal flow.”
When asked about legacy, Cunningham answers without hesitation. “I want to dismantle the belief that you need to go outside your community to raise capital. I want to build infrastructure that lets us invest in each other, at scale.”
He credits his daughter, now 7, as the driving force behind his clarity. “I lost my father when I was two,” he says. “So when I became a dad at 24, I knew I had to create the life I never had. That’s my North Star.”
And on the difficult days? “Walk by faith and not fear,” he says simply. “I have no fear of failure. Even if something doesn’t work, it was supposed to happen. It’s part of the process.”
MECHANICSVILLE, Va., June 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Following the recently announced sale of 13 facility management contracts to Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), Rink Management Services will continue to operate independently in the ice rink business, focusing on its seven leased properties, the development and management of a Holiday Village concept with ice skating, and assisting […]
MECHANICSVILLE, Va., June 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Following the recently announced sale of 13 facility management contracts to Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), Rink Management Services will continue to operate independently in the ice rink business, focusing on its seven leased properties, the development and management of a Holiday Village concept with ice skating, and assisting with growth initiatives.
Tom Hillgrove, president of Rink Management Services, said, “We’re excited about the opportunities we see in this space and also about contributing to the growth of hockey and ice sports. In addition, our company will be managing three of the ten highest volume seasonal ice skating rinks in the United States.”
“I’ve currently been working with a group to build an ice rink at my alma mater, the University of Virginia,” Hillgrove said. “It is a thorough and very detailed process, but the group has made significant progress, and an ice rink associated with the University will be a great recreational benefit for the local community and the students.”
Hillgrove added, “Rink Management Services is excited to continue the work with Sports Facilities Companies on joint projects that benefit both companies, and to share its 25-year experience in the industry.”
About Rink Management Services
Rink Management Services has been successfully managing ice rinks for more than 20 years. It is now one of the country’s most successful ice rink management companies, with three of the ten highest volume seasonal ice skating rinks in the United States. The industry-leading firm is expanding its product offering, spearheading the development and management of a Holiday Village concept with ice skating.
Press Contact: Tom Hillgrove, (804) 363-1657, https://www.rinkmanagement.com/
SOURCE Rink Management Services
By Ace Vincent | Published 1 minute ago Video games have become more than just entertainment—they’ve become laboratories for innovation that spills over into countless other fields. When game developers solve problems like how to make virtual worlds feel real or how to keep millions of players engaged simultaneously, those solutions often find their way […]
By Ace Vincent
| Published
Video games have become more than just entertainment—they’ve become laboratories for innovation that spills over into countless other fields. When game developers solve problems like how to make virtual worlds feel real or how to keep millions of players engaged simultaneously, those solutions often find their way into everything from military training to retail marketing.
The gaming industry’s relentless push for better graphics, smoother interactions, and more immersive experiences has quietly revolutionized how we work, learn, and connect. What starts as a feature designed to make a game more fun frequently ends up transforming entire industries in unexpected ways.
From the motion controls that changed how we think about human-computer interaction to the virtual economies that influenced real-world finance, gaming innovations have a habit of escaping their digital boundaries. Here is a list of 16 video game features that didn’t just change gaming—they changed the world.
Real-time ray tracing in games like ‘Control’ and ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ has revolutionized how architects and product designers visualize their creations. The technology now powers everything from automotive design studios to real estate virtual tours, allowing instant photorealistic rendering that once took hours to compute.
Nintendo’s Wii controller sparked a revolution that extended far beyond gaming into physical therapy and medical rehabilitation. Hospitals now use motion-sensing technology to help stroke patients regain motor skills, while fitness centers incorporate game-like motion tracking into workout routines.
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VR gaming technology has transformed training programs across industries, from surgeons practicing complex procedures to pilots learning to fly without leaving the ground. The immersive environments first perfected for games now train astronauts, treat phobias, and help architects walk through buildings before they’re built.
The microtransaction model pioneered by mobile games has reshaped how software companies think about revenue, moving beyond one-time purchases to ongoing engagement strategies. This approach now influences everything from productivity apps to streaming services, creating subscription and add-on models across the tech industry.
Games like ‘Minecraft’ and ‘No Man’s Sky’ popularized algorithms that create infinite, unique content automatically, a concept now used in everything from architectural design to drug discovery. Pharmaceutical companies use similar procedural techniques to generate potential molecular structures for new medications.
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The badge and achievement systems that keep gamers engaged have been adopted by fitness apps, educational platforms, and workplace training programs. Companies now use gamified achievement structures to motivate employees, track progress, and encourage continued participation in professional development.
Streaming games from remote servers has paved the way for cloud computing adoption across industries, proving that complex applications can run smoothly over internet connections. This technology now powers everything from remote work solutions to on-demand video editing, eliminating the need for powerful local hardware.
The last-player-standing format popularized by ‘Fortnite’ has influenced competition structures in reality TV, sports broadcasting, and even business conferences. Event organizers now use elimination-style formats to maintain audience engagement throughout lengthy programs.
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Seamless voice communication systems developed for multiplayer games have become the backbone of remote work and online education. The technology that lets gamers coordinate in real-time now powers business meetings, virtual classrooms, and telemedicine consultations.
The psychological principles behind loot boxes have influenced marketing strategies across the retail and entertainment industries, from mystery subscription boxes to collectible trading cards. Understanding player engagement and reward anticipation has shaped how companies design customer loyalty programs.
The ability to play the same game across different devices has driven demand for universal compatibility in all software applications. This concept now influences how productivity tools, social media platforms, and streaming services ensure seamless experiences across phones, tablets, and computers.
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AR features in games like ‘Pokémon GO’ have transformed how retailers and marketers think about location-based advertising and customer engagement. Stores now use AR to let customers visualize furniture in their homes, while museums create interactive historical experiences.
Games that automatically adjust challenge levels based on player performance have influenced adaptive learning systems in education and training programs. Online courses and professional development platforms now use similar algorithms to personalize content difficulty for individual learners.
Games featuring player-owned digital assets have accelerated the adoption of blockchain technology in the art, music, and publishing industries. The concept of verified digital ownership pioneered in gaming now influences how creators sell and distribute digital content.
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Games that continuously evolve with regular updates and events have changed how software companies approach product development and customer retention. Everything from productivity apps to social media platforms now adopts similar strategies of constant iteration and community engagement.
The competitive gaming ecosystem has created new models for sports broadcasting, talent management, and audience engagement that traditional sports are now adopting. Professional leagues are incorporating gaming-style statistics, instant replays, and interactive viewing experiences.
These gaming innovations prove that entertainment technology often becomes tomorrow’s essential business tool. What begins as a way to make virtual worlds more engaging frequently ends up solving real-world problems in medicine, education, architecture, and beyond.
The gaming industry’s constant experimentation with new ways to capture human attention and create meaningful experiences continues to generate ideas that transform how we work, learn, and interact with technology. The next time you see a new gaming feature, don’t just think about how it might improve your play experience—consider how it might change everything else.
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Action stations, folks, the Nintendo Switch 2 is here, and we’ve got our hands on the new console! We’ve also tested the latest Surface Pro tablet, found out how Spotify Wrapped 2024 got it so wrong, and tuned in to Summer Game Fest 2025 for some major announcements. Once you’ve scrolled down to catch up […]
Action stations, folks, the Nintendo Switch 2 is here, and we’ve got our hands on the new console!
We’ve also tested the latest Surface Pro tablet, found out how Spotify Wrapped 2024 got it so wrong, and tuned in to Summer Game Fest 2025 for some major announcements.
Golf World in Turmoil as New PGA Tour Innovation Sparks Controversy Among Fans In a shocking turn of events, the PGA Tour has introduced a groundbreaking innovation at the Canadian Open, leaving golf fans worldwide divided. The new technology, a drone shot tracer that changes color based on the probability of the ball hitting the […]
Golf World in Turmoil as New PGA Tour Innovation Sparks Controversy Among Fans
In a shocking turn of events, the PGA Tour has introduced a groundbreaking innovation at the Canadian Open, leaving golf fans worldwide divided. The new technology, a drone shot tracer that changes color based on the probability of the ball hitting the fairway, has sparked a heated debate among enthusiasts.
While some fans have welcomed the change as a step towards modernization and innovation, others have criticized it, arguing that it takes away the anticipation and uncertainty that makes watching golf exciting. One fan expressed, “It is so bad, I don’t need a robot to tell me where it thinks the ball will land, I can wait 2 seconds to find out myself.”
Speculations are rife that the PGA Tour’s new technology might have been inspired by LIV Golf, a rival league that has been attracting top players away from the traditional tour. With big names like Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson having joined LIV Golf in recent years, the competition between the two leagues is at an all-time high.
Phil Mickelson, a vocal critic of the PGA Tour, highlighted the advantages of LIV Golf, emphasizing the need for more global and competitive events that bring together the best players in the world. Mickelson pointed out that the traditional model of the PGA Tour restricted players from competing against each other frequently and internationally, a limitation that LIV Golf has successfully addressed.
As the golfing world grapples with these significant changes and innovations, one thing is clear – the landscape of professional golf is evolving rapidly, with leagues like LIV Golf pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the sport. The PGA Tour, faced with increasing competition and fan expectations, must continue to adapt and innovate to stay relevant in this dynamic environment.
Inside the surprising shift in who’s turning to Bioniq’s personalized supplements (and what they’re really after) With personalization becoming the new standard in both the fitness and wellness industry, it’s not just Gen Z leading the charge. A new analysis from Cristiano Ronaldo-backed personalized supplement brand Bioniq, based on data from more than 250,000 users […]
With personalization becoming the new standard in both the fitness and wellness industry, it’s not just Gen Z leading the charge.
A new analysis from Cristiano Ronaldo-backed personalized supplement brand Bioniq, based on data from more than 250,000 users across the U.S. and the GCC, reveals that older adults are just as engaged in health optimization as younger consumers.
The supplement brand, now valued at $82 million, analyzed more than six million biochemical data points using its proprietary AI algorithm, which integrates health quiz responses with blood test results. The findings offer insight into how consumers across generations and the two regions are redefining their wellness priorities.
Here are the most striking trends:
While Gen Z is certainly invested in all things wellness and better-for-you foods, it’s adults aged 35 to 60 who are driving the deepest engagement. Bioniq’s data shows the most active users are men aged 35–45 and women 45–60, peaking at 50–55, representing a clear signal that midlife is when long-term health, energy, and disease prevention become top priorities.
In the United States, 40% of quiz-takers were classified as obese, with men more likely to be overweight and less likely to fall within a healthy weight range compared to women. In contrast, only 20% of users in the GCC were categorized as obese, and nearly half of GCC women were classified as having a healthy weight.
Bioniq’s data shows that healthy-weight and overweight individuals are more likely to remain engaged with the program, while obese users exhibit lower retention. Although an active lifestyle is linked to stronger long-term participation, the findings suggest that users classified as obese may disengage if they don’t see immediate results. Bioniq notes this underscores the need for stronger education and motivational support to sustain engagement in this group.
Bioniq found that in the U.S., individuals focused on health and nutrient deficiencies tended to be older, particularly in the 44–55 age group. In contrast, health-conscious users in the GCC skewed younger, with the largest segment falling between ages 30 and 45.
Among women aged 18–35, 30% identified iron deficiency as a key concern. Encouragingly, 94% of Bioniq Pro members in this group optimized their ferritin levels within six months — though interest in iron levels tends to decline with age, according to the personalized supplement company.
Is cognitive health becoming more important than chasing six-pack abs? The data suggests so. Nearly half of all Bioniq users ranked memory and focus as their top wellness goals, with younger users especially prioritizing brain function, sleep quality and anxiety management.
Half of all men, regardless of age, listed muscle strength as a top health priority, with younger men focused on muscle mass, cognitive performance, and libido support. Older men, by contrast, are increasingly concerned with anti-aging, heart health, and bone strength.
For women, beauty and aging were the dominant themes. Younger users prioritized skin, hair, and nail health, while older women shifted their focus to memory and skin health. Across both genders, the desire to age well grows stronger with time.
“At Bioniq, we’ve observed a significant transformation in our audience over the years,” Bioniq founder and CEO Vadim Fedotov said. “While we initially catered to health enthusiasts and athletes, we’re now seeing a growing demand from an older demographic seeking personalized solutions for healthy aging and longevity. Additionally, the rise in female customers highlights the increasing awareness and demand for tailored health optimization. This evolution reinforces our goal to provide science-backed, data-driven supplementation for every stage of life.”
This spring, Bioniq announced a partnership with social wellness club Remedy Place to launch Meridian, a personalized health assessment program available to club members. As a perk of the collaboration, Remedy Place members also receive personalized, co-branded Bioniq x Remedy Place canisters to store their supplements.
SANTA CLARA — Nvidia is eyeing a major expansion of an office site the company owns next to its headquarters, documents on file with Santa Clara city planners show. The tech company has filed a proposal to build a new office building at 2400 Condensa St., which is west of, and directly next to, Nvidia’s […]
SANTA CLARA — Nvidia is eyeing a major expansion of an office site the company owns next to its headquarters, documents on file with Santa Clara city planners show.
The tech company has filed a proposal to build a new office building at 2400 Condensa St., which is west of, and directly next to, Nvidia’s complex on San Tomas Expressway, documents show.
“To support our growth as we push the boundaries of accelerated computing, we have submitted a permit application to expand our headquarters with additional offices, lab space, and parking,” an Nvidia spokesperson stated in comments emailed to this news organization.
Nvidia’s development plans envision the demolition of an office and research building that Nvidia already owns and occupies. The existing office building totals 215,500 square feet, according to commercial real estate database Property Shark.
That building is on a parcel that is roughly 11 acres, Property Shark estimates show.
Nvidia intends to replace the existing structure with a modern office building that is expected to total 324,000 square feet, according to Santa Clara planning files.
The development would also include a parking structure with about 2,900 vehicle spaces and 36 surface parking spaces, city documents show.
“We hope to start work on this third phase of our long-standing development agreement with the city in the fall,” the Nvidia spokesperson stated in the email.
Santa Clara-based Nvidia has embarked on a remarkable quest to widen its footholds in the South Bay, primarily through property purchases next to and near its headquarters. It has also pursued leasing deals in locations that include an office building in San Jose.
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