The Inglewood High School football team got a most pleasant surprise when Black entrepreneur Gene Parker showed up to Coleman Stadium on Oct. 28 to present players on the team with the ZmBIZI smart-phone.
Recently launched ZmBIZI (pronounced Zem Bezee) is an Android phone that pays customers using it.
Parker, who was graduated from Gardena Serra High School where he also played football and basketball, spoke to the players about the importance of staying focused on school work for the long haul.
“Some of you guys will be going to college and have a chance to play pro ball, but for the most part you are going to have to learn as much as you can for as long as you can to make it in this world today,” said Parker.
Founded by Alpesh Patel and Benjamin Aubin, ZmBIZI primary goal is to support other Black and Brown entrepreneurs.
Recently, ZmBIZI has been instrumental providing Black and Brown small business owners their Z1 Android smartphone to test first-hand their revolutionary phone, which includes Visa’s TAP and PAY, a feature that accepts payments by just tapping a debit card on the back of the device.
Parker provided the Z1 Android to the football players.
Contactless payments have become the standard in the business community, but what’s most appealing about ZmBIZI is that you don’t have to be a business to receive payments and also earn rewards than can transform into cash.
ZmBIZI has the backing of Visa through new pilot program and is targeting poor underserved communities by gifting free complementary phones, but the individual will be responsible for the service provider.
“I think that is was refreshing for the kids to hear from someone from the business community. They paid close attention to what Mr. Parker was saying and those individuals who received the phones really appreciates it,” said Inglewood head coach Mil’Von James.
