Aniyia Williams

Aniyia Williams is a systempreneur, creator, inventor, tech changemaker, and investor. She is a principal on the Responsible Technology team at Omidyar Network, and works to help the tech world live up to its promise of changing lives for the better.

Prior to joining Omidyar Network, Williams founded Black & Brown Founders, a nonprofit which helps Black and Latinx entrepreneurs launch tech businesses. She continues to serve as the organization’s board chair. Williams is also co-founder of Zebras Unite, an entrepreneur-led movement focused on creating a more ethical and sustainable startup ecosystem through capital, culture, and community; convener of the Black Innovation Alliance, an ecosystem of organizations that support, fund, and sustain Black innovators; and co-founder of the Firefly Alliance, a community that equips women with collaborative leadership skills to move beyond racism and sexism. Previously, Williams founded the fashion tech company, Tinsel, which invented the world’s first audio necklace, designed in response to a lack of electronics developed for women.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, Williams held roles in marketing, business development, and nonprofit fundraising. She also has a background in the arts, with a decade of training as an opera singer.

Williams holds a B.A. in music, with minors in business and Italian from Penn State University. She was a Bunton-Waller Fellow and graduated with honors in Italian and musicology, as well as the Josephine Rhea Award for Excellence in Italian studies. In 2019, Williams was honored by Penn State with the esteemed Alumni Achievement Award, presented to prominent alumni 35 and younger.