"They named their app Spill, for “spill the tea” — meaning “speak your truth” or “gossip” — a phrase that originated in Black queer communities. It would use large fonts and have an easy template for people to build visual memes. A “like” button would be replaced with a teacup icon. And the service would be moderated, both by people and by AI algorithms trained to pick up on keywords relevant or harmful to the Black community." - @lizzalichka for @washingtonpost feat. @reignofapril@toureshow and more. 🔗 in bio
Life in big tech was good while it lasted, as Silicon Valley companies lured workers with massive salaries and stock options, nap pods and fun budgets, and, perhaps most important, the promise of stability.
Rebounder Founders: They were pushed out of cushy jobs at Google, Twitter, and Meta. Now they’re building startups and embracing the risk of entrepreneurship.
Alphonzo Terrell, founder of @spillmob , is one of the rebounder founders we feature in the November Issue of Inc. Magazine. Head to our link in bio to read the full feature. You can grab your copy of this issue on newsstands October 29.
(Written by Issie Lapowsky / 📸: @joaocanziani )
Join us for a special live book event with ‘Incorruptible’ Author Eric Ries with SPILL Co-Founder & CEO Alphonzo Terrell!
Monday, May 4 at 3:30p PT 📍 Streaming Live on SPILL
Download SPILL to RSVP & join the conversation📲 spill.com/download
In a moment where the industry is shifting in real time, conversations like this matter more than ever.
We hosted a powerful discussion to close out the month, in community for Journalism in the Age of AI. Thanks to our panelist @drniiquartelai & @iphonz for their insight, moderated by VP @archiejayspeaks .
Thank you to the @goldenglobefoundation for partnering with us to create space for dialogue, perspective, and progress to challenge and reimagine what responsible storytelling looks like. #AI #journalism
Back to where it all started - Bull City! Excited to be joining @raleighdurhamstartupweek this year, getting nerdy on building breakthrough brands 📈📈 At a time when the cost of building is falling lime crazy, the winners are going to need to know how to cut through the noise and I am excited to share some alpha on how we do that @spillmob . Most importantly, am excited by the underrated tech scene in @durhamnc and looking forward to seeing my fam and friends on my ancestral ground. Pull up tomorrow - 3pm at @fullsteamatc 🐂🐂
In 2022, Alphonzo "Phonz" Terrell was the global head of social and editorial at Twitter until he was part of the mass layoffs following Elon Musk's acquisition of the company. Terrell and his fellow Twitter alum DeVaris Brown immediately pivoted to create their own social media platform, Spill.
After years of seeing how harmful and exploitative social media apps can be to Black and queer folks in particular, they were determined to design a space to serve and safeguard the communities that actually drive online culture.
It's easy to think of @spillmob as Black Twitter getting its own platform. And while @iphonz is devoted to maintaining the trust of its users and building more equity for them, what he really sees Spill becoming is an operating system for fandom.
Listen to Terrell's full conversation with Kc Ifeanyi at the link in bio.
AI is already changing the way we work, but the question is, are you keeping up?
Join us for Journalism in the Age of AI: Tools, Tension, and What’s Next — a real conversation on how AI is showing up in newsrooms, what tools are actually useful, and the very real balance between innovation and job security.
Tuesday, April 28th at 7PM @goldenglobefoundation we’re bringing together voices across media and tech to break it all down.
RSVP TODAY! 🚨
We’re proud to announce our partnership with professor and best-selling author Dr. Marcus Collins called “What’s The Tea: The Cultural Exploration of a Digital Black Renaissance.”
Far too often, Black communities have been studied online from an outsider’s POV and these reports end up mistakenly influencing broader perceptions. Over the course of several months, Dr. Collins put together a landmark research project on the significance of SPILL’s platform and our unique community - a project unlike anything that has been undertaken before. Thank you to @forbesblk_ for highlighting this important work as we continue to shape culture.
The resulting paper is now available to download for free at WhatsTheTea.spill.com ☕️
What do you do when the thing you built gets taken away?
@iphonz didn’t fold. He got laid off from Twitter and instead of chasing the next job, he went after the vision. He built SPILL, a platform rooted in culture, safety, and belonging, and he did it before anyone else could see what he saw.
That’s what this episode is about.
🙏🏽The faith it takes to build without a blueprint.
🙏🏽The courage it takes to lead when the roadmap doesn’t exist yet.
🙏🏽And what becomes possible when you stop chasing clout and start building community.
This conversation is going to shift something in you. 🎙️The newest episode of @theblessedcode is now live. Click the link 🔗 in bio to unlock the code today.
#TheBlessedCode #SPILL #FaithAndBusiness #BuildWithPurpose #TheBlessedCode
Shoutout to everyone who pulled up to our Black Founders and Allies meetup at the @incmagazine Founders House at @sxsw 🙌🏽
As traditional forms of VC continue to remain scarce for Black founders, it’s incredible to see the innovate ways builders in our community are coordinating and innovating together to unlock new value.
Special shoutout to the legend Ben Cohen of @benandjerrys who has modeled what standing on business and being a real ally means for decades 🍦
ATTN Austin TX: @spillmob x @activelyblack and @incmagazine are collaborating on a Black Founders and Allies Meetup at the @incmagazine Founders House @sxsw 🙌🏽
Come through on Sunday, March 15th at 12:30pm CT for food, good peoples and a featured convo with @iphonz and @l.smith23
Address: 201 Brazos St Bldg B, Austin, TX
RSVP at events.inc.com (look for SXSW Founders House), spots are limited! Pull up. Connect. Build.
