N.C. A&T Alumnus Riley Receives Patent-Pending for Fashion Technology Invention

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Dec. 2, 2024) — North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University alumnus Daryl “DJ” Riley Jr. ‘22 has received patent pending for his wireless solar-powered charging jacket through Microsoft’s #MakeWhatsNext Patent Program. 

Riley, who received his M.S. in electrical engineering from the College of Engineering, is the CEO and co-founder of fashion technology brand Tendaji — the Swahili word for “make things happen.” He said the goal of the brand is to create fashion tech products that offer state-of-the-art technology without sacrificing style. 

The solar-powered bomber jacket is the first product to be offered under this brand and is the first of its kind, offering completely wireless charging capabilities for compatible devices. 

The jacket will contain solar cells that are connected to a battery charging source. The cells receive solar energy and store it in the battery so the jacket will charge devices regardless of weather conditions.  

This invention began as an undergraduate senior project idea for Riley and his co-founders, Stanton Ridley, chief design officer, and Jordan Walls, chief technical officer, at Hampton University. With the patent pending status, and a newly appointed chief financial officer, Kagame Li-A-Ping, the product is now in its prototyping and design phase.  

Riley is collaborating with student interns Nicholas Kochanski, a business information technology major, Ashton-Taylor Lovette and Nicholas Hobbs, both majoring in fashion merchandising and design. The students are working to generate ideas for the business model and develop the prototype. 

“The students’ creativity and expertise contributed to our business operations and the solar-powered wireless charging jacket has been pivotal,” he said. “Their fresh perspectives and commitment to innovation align perfectly with Tendaji’s mission to integrate fashion and technology in sustainable ways.” 

This partnership came about through Lisa Snyder, Ph.D., interim chair of the Department of Management in the Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics, who connected Riley with Elizabeth Hopfer, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. 

“Having student interns from both North Carolina A&T’s MBA student intern and fashion merchandising and design programs working on our business and prototype is truly an inspiring collaboration,” said Riley. “It’s amazing how Tendaji is giving back to my grad school alma mater only two years after I graduated.” 

Philanthropy has always been important to Riley, who also established a nonprofit called GiveBLK. Through GiveBLK, he aims to serve as a catalyst for opportunities and development within the African diaspora community. 

Last year, the Tendaji trio won $20,000 in funding through Black Ambition, a nonprofit initiative created by multi-hyphenate producer Pharrell Williams. Black Ambition is dedicated to closing the opportunity and wealth gap through entrepreneurship by investing capital and resources in high-growth startups founded by Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs. 

Riley earned an IBM Masters Fellowship for Artificial Intelligence and was named TMCF’s “The Pitch 2021” Program MVP. He earned his B.S. in electrical engineering from Hampton University and was named to its Forty Under 40 Society this year. He holds certifications from Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Inside LVMH and has been featured in Essence Magazine. 

Tendaji is expected to launch its first product line in early 2025.