Daricus Releford has always harbored a dream of becoming a founder. In his high school days, he operated a hot dog station, and during college, he launched a chocolate-covered strawberry business, achieving millions in sales. He then moved to Silicon Valley to pursue his tech dreams. As he told TechCrunch, entrepreneurship seems to be in his blood. His grandfather was one of the first Black hotel owners in the US, and his mother was always starting businesses.

Unlock Financial Freedom with StoreCash

StoreCash: A Mobile Payment Solution

In 2020, Releford founded StoreCash, a mobile payment solution that enables users to pay for items and earn maximum cash-back rewards. He launched the company with the aim of helping people save more money. StoreCash is distinct from its competitors as it transfers cash back to consumers immediately. In contrast, other solutions offer lower returns and take longer to reach customers.Releford pointed out that knowing about 56% of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings, he wanted to assist the average American in building generational wealth. Currently, StoreCash users can earn around $900 annually just by using the app.The app's functionality is quite straightforward. It integrates its API into fintech partners and notifies users when stores like H&M, Gap, or AMC Theatres offer cash back. When shopping in person, customers scan a QR code generated by the app, which applies the cash-back savings to their purchase. Online, a consumer simply opens the StoreCash app, selects the store they want to shop at, and manually types in the serial number and barcode to complete the transaction.Cash back is mainly earned through affiliate marketing, similar to Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates), or credit and debit card rewards. However, these traditional methods often have hidden fees.The company has attracted top investors. Today, it announces the closing of a $3.7 million seed round led by Black Ops Ventures, with participation from returning investors MaC Venture Capital, 43North, and Alumni Ventures. To date, the company has raised $6.4 million.Marlon Nichols, a co-founder of MaC Venture Capital, stated that the fintech space is ripe for a major player to emerge with a solid personal finance tool for consumers. Daricus and the team have big plans to add budgeting features to make a real impact in helping people better track and organize their finances.However, fundraising was not an easy task for Releford. When asked about his fundraising process, he used the term "unconscious bias." He explained that it was a brutal process that took about a year filled with rejections before things started to fall into place. He was introduced to Nichols through Ethan Austin, a director in the Techstars program he participated in. He also met James Norman from Black Ops after winning a pitch competition where Norman was a judge. Winning the 43North pitch competition was a turning point, as it brought more potential investors on board.The fresh capital will be used to expand product development and the team. This will enable StoreCash to reach more users and offer more innovative features, further helping people manage their finances more effectively.

In today's digital age, where apps and online services are constantly consolidating their ownership and governance, it becomes crucial to consider where we store our private data and records. There are numerous options available that offer more than just the typical commercial or ad-supported services. Let's explore some of these alternatives.

Unlock the Potential of Data Control

Wallabag: Save and Organize Later

1: Wallabag is a read-later web-archiving service that allows you to save articles, news stories, and other web content for later reading. It offers similar article-saving tools and features as its main commercial rival Pocket. You can run a Wallabag server for free on a network attached storage (NAS) server at home or choose to host it in the cloud with a low-cost subscription. By saving your must-reads on Wallabag, you have more control over your reading list and can access them whenever you want. 2: Unlike some other read-later apps that track usage to recommend sponsored content, Wallabag focuses on providing a simple and efficient way to save and organize your reading. It gives you the freedom to choose what you want to read later without being influenced by marketing algorithms.

Signal: The Secure Messaging App

1: Signal is renowned for its security features. By design, it knows nothing about its users, ensuring that your private messages and calls are encrypted from prying eyes and ears. Signal also scrambles the information about who you contact and communicate with, adding an extra layer of privacy. It is a free app that relies on donations as a nonprofit, making it a reliable choice for secure communication. 2: The fact that Signal can publish the search warrants it receives shows its commitment to user privacy. It sets the "gold standard" in messaging app security, providing you with peace of mind when it comes to protecting your sensitive conversations.

Nextcloud: A Self-Hosted Dropbox Alternative

1: Nextcloud offers all the document editing and sharing features you'd expect from a file storage system, but with the added benefit of being self-hosted. You can host a Nextcloud server at home for free and keep your files private and under your control. Alternatively, you can have a specialized hosting provider run the server for you. 2: With Nextcloud, you have end-to-end encrypted access to your files from any device. This ensures that your most sensitive and personal files are secure and accessible only to you. In a world where cloud storage companies are sometimes beholden to law enforcement, having your own self-hosted alternative gives you more control and privacy.

Bitwarden: Never Forget Your Passwords

1: Password managers are essential for personal security, and Bitwarden is a popular open source option. It securely stores your passwords, passkeys, credit cards, and other secrets, allowing you to log in quickly to your favorite sites and auto-fill your payment details. You can access Bitwarden from anywhere, including your phone. 2: The open source nature of Bitwarden makes it more readily auditable and transparent. With more eyeballs inspecting the source code, you can have more confidence in the reliability and integrity of the password manager. It offers a free version with additional features available at a low cost.

Joplin and Notesnook: Encrypted Note-Taking Apps

1: If you're looking to leave behind Google Docs and Microsoft 365, Joplin and Notesnook are great note-taking apps. Joplin keeps your files organized, encrypted, and in open formats like Markdown, allowing you to take your notes anywhere. Notesnook lets you export your notes to use with other apps and provides end-to-end encryption. 2: These apps give you the freedom to keep your notes and thoughts in one place without the worry of invasive analysis by big companies. You can focus on your creativity and productivity without being distracted by data-sharing and AI integration.

Ente: An Encrypted Vault for Photos

1: Ente.io is a privacy-focused photo storage app that securely backs up all your photos and videos to the cloud. It scrambles your data with a password known only to you, protecting your memories from unauthorized access. It also backs up your data in multiple locations around the world for added safety. 2: In a world where images are a prime target for AI systems, Ente gives you the choice to control how your photos are used. You don't have to worry about auto-tagging or invasive analysis without your consent. It offers free basic accounts and reasonable pricing for more storage options.

Open Scanner: A Simple Document-Scanning App

1: Open Scanner is an incredibly simple point-and-click document-scanning app for iPhones. Its code is published online, providing transparency and simplicity. You can use it to scan receipts, notes, textbooks, or any other document with just a few clicks. 2: Instead of relying on expensive printer-brand hardware gear, Open Scanner offers a free and straightforward solution. It shows that sometimes, the simplest tools are the most effective in disconnecting from profit-driven corporations and their unnecessary features.

FreshRSS: The RSS Reader for News Lovers

1: RSS is an amazing web technology that allows you to subscribe to feeds of information from your favorite sites. FreshRSS is one of the most feature-packed RSS readers for its simplicity. You can self-host an instance or deploy a private server to a specialized cloud host. 2: By using FreshRSS, you can collect all your news headlines in one place and enjoy a self-updating digital newspaper experience. It skips the sponsored posts and tracking that you often see on hosted services, giving you a more pure and focused news reading experience.

Owncast: Own Your Livestreams

1: Owncast is a self-hosted streaming system for those who broadcast their own shows or gameplay. It is free, easy to use, and works with your existing livestreaming gear. It allows you to take control of your livestreaming process and open up to a new audience. 2: Instead of relying solely on the tools of a giant corporation like Twitch, Owncast gives you the flexibility and independence to host your own livestreams. It's a great way to explore new creative opportunities and build your own community.

Stirling PDF: The PDF Editing Shop

1: Stirling PDF is a one-stop shop for handling and editing PDF documents. It offers a wide range of features such as converting, editing, merging, splitting, and signing PDFs without having to upload your files to sketchy file conversion websites. 2: If you don't want to use Adobe's software or trust cloud giants with your sensitive documents, Stirling PDF provides a reliable alternative. You can choose to self-host if you have particular sensitivity concerns, ensuring that your PDF documents are in safe hands.