Latest news with #Senegalese-born
Time Magazine
26-06-2025
- Business
- Time Magazine
TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2025: Janngo Capital
Sub-Saharan Africa has the world's highest rate of female entrepreneurship—from venture capitalists to the roadside tomato seller. Yet African women entrepreneurs face a $42 billion funding gap. In a market where, according to the World Bank, $25 is invested in startups led by men for every $1 invested in those led by women, Janngo Capital has consistently defied the odds. Founded by Senegalese-born Fatoumata Ba, Janngo is an African venture capital firm that commits to putting 50% of its investments in companies founded, co-founded, or significantly benefiting women. Ba, who founded Janngo in 2018 after more than four years in leadership roles at the e-commerce company Jumia, began raising its second investment fund in 2020 after securing $10 million for its first fund. Last year, Ba and her team secured another $78 million for Janngo's second investment fund—one of the largest ever raised by an investment firm led by an Africa-born woman—despite a broader funding crunch in African venture capital. (In 2024, African venture capital firms raised $3.2 billion—a 7% decline from the previous year—according to Partech Partners.) Fundraising for an African tech VC as a thirty-something francophone African female 'is not for the faint of heart' Ba says. Last year also saw a continued decline in deal activity, but Janngo completed its second successful 'exit,' as purchases and IPOs are known, following the cash sale of Tunisian startup Expensya in 2023. 'We have actually executed three exits and are closing our fourth one,' Ba says. With its second fund, the company plans to invest up to $5 million per startup in multiple installments, focusing on West Africa and key sectors such as healthcare, logistics, and financial services. Janngo's current 21 portfolio companies are 56% female-founded and led. With the new fund, Janngo's goal is to back 25 to 30 companies, primarily at the seed and Series A stages.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who is Barron Trump's best friend, claiming he got Khaby Lame detained by ICE?
Source: X/Khaby Lame There was a flurry of confusion and online uproar on Friday when news broke that Khaby Lame—the Senegalese-born TikTok superstar with over 160 million followers—was detained at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas for 'immigration violations. ' According to a statement from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Lame entered the U.S. on April 30 and 'overstayed the terms of his visa.' ICE confirmed that after a brief detention, the 24-year-old was granted voluntary departure, meaning he can leave the country within a set timeframe without receiving a formal deportation order. But what shocked many was a claim made by one of Barron's 'best friends'. Bo Loudon, a rising 18-year-old conservative influencer who calls himself a close friend of Barron Trump, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, 'I worked with Trump's ICE to have him removed.' In a video posted Monday, Loudon doubled down on his claim, saying, 'I just called some buddies in the administration, and I've never seen anything happen so quick. They were like, 'We're gonna get right on this.'' Loudon said he had been tipped off by 'a few of his friends' and 'business partners' that Lame had overstayed his visa. 'I wish Khaby the best of luck,' Loudon added, 'and hope he's able to come back as a law-abiding citizen.' Source: X/ Bo Loudon The claim has sparked widespread debate online, with critics questioning Loudon's role and supporters praising him for acting on what he says was a legal concern. ICE has not confirmed whether Loudon's tip played any role in Lame's detention. Who is Bo Loudon? Bo Loudon is an 18-year-old American social media influencer and conservative political activist who has gained national attention for his outspoken support of Donald Trump—and for his close friendship with Trump's youngest son, Barron. Loudon is the son of former Missouri Republican state senator John Loudon and conservative media figure Gina Loudon, who served as co-chair of Women for Trump. Bo often shares photos of himself with former President Donald Trump and Barron Trump, showcasing his deep connections within Trump's inner circle. His online presence blends lifestyle content with pro-Trump advocacy, and he frequently references his access to figures in the current administration. Source: X/ Bo Loudon Bo Loudon, along with Barron Trump, allegedly played a key role in Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign by helping engage Gen Z voters through social media and influencer outreach. One of their most notable successes was organizing a high-profile livestream interview between Donald Trump and influencer Adin Ross in August 2024. The event drew nearly 500,000 live viewers, underscoring the campaign's strategy to reach young audiences through non-traditional media.
India Today
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
TikToker Khaby Lame exits US after ICE detainment over visa issue
Khaby Lame, the world's most-followed TikTok personality, has left the United States after being detained by immigration authorities in Las Vegas for overstaying his visa. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that the Senegalese-born, Italian influencer, whose full name is Seringe Khabane Lame, was held at Harry Reid International Airport on who entered the US on April 30, was reportedly in violation of his visa terms. ICE granted him a voluntary departure, allowing him to leave the country without receiving a formal deportation order, a move that helps preserve his ability to return to the US in the 25-year-old social media sensation has not publicly addressed the incident. His departure comes amid heightened immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump, whose recent policies have triggered protests, particularly in Los Angeles. Lame shot to global fame during the pandemic with his silent, comedic reactions to overly complicated "life hack" videos. He now boasts over 162 million TikTok followers and has leveraged his fame into major brand deals, including a partnership with Hugo Boss and a role as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. Just weeks before his detainment, he made a high-profile appearance at the Met Gala in New inputs from Associated PressTrending Reel
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Khaby Lame and why the world's most popular TikTok star left the US?
Khaby Lame , the world's most-followed TikTok creator, has left the United States after being detained by immigration authorities for allegedly overstaying his visa. The 25-year-old Senegalese-born Italian influencer, whose real name is Seringe Khabane Lame, was stopped by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on Friday. According to an ICE spokesperson, Lame entered the US on April 30 and remained beyond the terms of his temporary visa. He was not issued a deportation order but was allowed to leave the country voluntarily — a move that spares him from a formal removal on his record and avoids a re-entry ban of up to 10 years. The incident occurs amid President Donald Trump's intensifying immigration crackdown, with high-profile ICE raids and rising public protests in major cities like Los Angeles. Lame has not commented publicly on the detainment. A request for comment sent to his listed Instagram email by the Associated Press went unanswered. Lame rose to global fame during the COVID-19 pandemic through silent, comedic reaction videos mocking overly complex 'life hacks.' His content — centered on simplicity and physical comedy — resonated with a massive global audience. He now has more than 162 million followers on TikTok and over 80 million on Instagram. Live Events Born in Senegal, Lame moved to Italy as an infant with his working-class parents and holds Italian citizenship. He first began creating content in 2020 after being laid off from his job as a factory worker in Chivasso, near Turin. Since then, Lame's rise has been meteoric. He became TikTok's most-followed creator in 2022, surpassing American influencer Charli D'Amelio. That same year, he signed a multi-year deal with fashion label Hugo Boss. He was also listed in Forbes ' 30 Under 30 and Fortune 's 40 Under 40, earning an estimated $16.5 million from sponsorships and brand deals between June 2022 and September 2023. His influence has extended beyond social media. In 2023, he joined the judges' panel on Italia's Got Talent . He was also a juror for TikTok Shorts at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022 and made a cameo in Bad Boys: Ride or Die in 2024. Earlier this year, he was appointed a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, focusing on the rights of children and youth in Africa. Lame had arrived in the US just weeks ago, even making an appearance at the Met Gala in May, wearing a striking grey suit adorned with pocket watches. His abrupt departure has surprised fans and triggered broader conversations around immigration enforcement and celebrity travel in the US.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Khaby Lame, popular TikTok star detained in the US?
Image credits: X/@BoLoudon T he world of TikTok is not just a social media sphere; it has changed the lives of many for the better, and among them, on the top, is the world's most followed TikTok star, Khaby Lame. Khaby 'Khabane' Lame is a Senegalese-born Italian social media influencer, popularly known as the world's most-followed TikToker. With over 162 million followers on TikTok, the 25-year-old first became popular during COVID when he posted videos of himself silently reacting to overly complicated "life-hack" videos. While his videos get him much traction, recently he has been in the news for being detained by US immigration authorities for overstaying his visa, as per an official statement by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He was taken into custody at the Harry Reid International Airport in Paradise, Nevada, on June 6. Las Vegas Shootout: YouTuber Suspect On Run After Killing Rival On Livestream 'US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Seringe Khabane Lame, 25, a citizen of Italy, June 6, at the Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada for immigration violations,' the agency was quoted as saying. 'Lame entered the United States April 30 and overstayed the terms of his visa. Lame was granted voluntary departure June 6 and has since departed the US,' the statement added. Who is Khaby Lame? Image credits: Getty Images Khaby Lame was born on March 9, 2000, in Senegal but moved to Italy with his family when he was around one year old. Before beginning his highly successful social media career, he worked as a CNC machine operator in a factory but was laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. This was when he pushed forward into the world of social media with a format that people instantly fell in love with. He would mimic popular life hacks, then perform them simply and end the video with his now-iconic expression: palms up, wide-eyed, silent sarcasm. In just two years he had surpassed both Gianluca Vacchi and Charlie D'Amelio to become the most followed TikTok creator. Over the years, he has partnered with brands such as Hugo Boss, Fortnite, Sony Pictures and Walmart. Additionally, he was a juror for TikTok shorts at Cannes 2022, a judge on Italia's Got Talent in 2023, made a cameo in Bad Boys: Ride or Die in 2024 and attended the Met Gala in 2025. He was appointed as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 2025, focusing on youth and children's rights in Africa. According to Lame has an estimated net worth of $20 million. He was also named in Fortune's 40 Under 40 and Forbes' 30 Under 30.
