Black Tech Green Money

Kobie Fuller on AI, Black Founders, and the Future of VC May 21, 2024

Ep. 165 Kobie Fuller is General Partner at Upfront Ventures. He’s got deep expertise in enterprise SAAS and frontier technologies including AR/VR. Previously, he was Chief Marketing Officer at REVOLVE, one of the largest global fashion e-commerce players based in Los Angeles. He’s got deep interest in artificial intelligence, and he’s placing bets on startups building in the space - even building some projects of his own.

On this episode, Kobie speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about frontier technologies, investing in AI, and what kind of startups are interesting to VCs like him.

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The Real Economics of the Music Business || Ryan Leslie May 14, 2024

Ep. 165 Ryan Leslie is a Grammy nominated musician and producer, and founder at SuperPhone which helps creatives and businesses increase engagement, drive revenue, and build better relationships with SMS / MMS marketing.

On this episode, Ryan talks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the economics of the music industry, why artists are selling their catalogs, and how creatives get wealthy.

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We Could Own All We Give Away for Free on Social Media || Isaac Hayes III May 07, 2024

Ep. 164 Isaac Hayes III is on a mission to change social media forever. With his Fanbase app, he’s empowering content creators to monetize and own their contributions to the cultural conversation.

His commitment to creating an equitable landscape for the next generation of social media users has grown Fanbase to $100 Million + valuation, ad he’s the first black man in history to raise $9.2 Million Dollars in seed funding on StartEngine in a Reg CF campaign. And, he’s currently in the middle of a $17 million fundraising campaign.

On this episode, Isaac speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how crowdfunding works, AI's impact on creators, and his record-breaking fundraising campaigns.

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HBCU Financial Literacy Roadshow at WSSU Presented by State Farm Apr 30, 2024

Ep. 163 Ben Holmes is Vice President, Enterprise Credit Risk Management at Wells Fargo and was previously an Assistant VP at Bank of America. He also runs Boardroom Vision which was created to help the everyday Black families learn financial literacy.

Ben talks with AfroTech’s Will Lucas on stage at Winston Salem State University for our Financial Literacy HBCU Roadshow, presented by State Farm.

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Storytelling with Founders and Venture Capitalists || Aaron Samuels, Collide Capital Apr 23, 2024

Ep. 162 Aaron Samuels is Founder and Managing Partner of Collide Capital a $66M fund, so far, which is the first VC fund simultaneously backed by Amazon, Alphabet, and Twitter. He’s also co-founder and served as COO at Blavity, the largest global Black Media company for Millennials and Gen-Z, and AfroTech, the largest Black Tech conference in the world.

He began his career as a spoken word artist before working at Bain & Co. as a strategy consultant and TeleSign as a Product Manager.

On this episode, Aaron speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the paths to becoming a VC, his $66 million fund, and the current legal landscape for investing in underrepresented founders.

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Black Tech Green Money: Social Impact's Effect on Black Wealth || Alphonso David, Global Black Economic Forum Apr 20, 2024

The Black Effect Presents... Black Tech Green Money!

Alphonso David has committed his life to actualizing a more just and equitable world. Currently, he’s President & CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum, focused on reimagining what diversity, equity, inclusion, and opportunity looks like in global workspaces and marketplaces, as well as achieving the notion of economic justice for the Black diaspora globally. The Global Black Economic Forum engages business executives, policy makers, entrepreneurs, activists, and consumers globally on thought leadership; corporate and entrepreneurial career development; and advancing social and economic justice for marginalized communities across the globe.

On this episode, Alphonso speaks with AfroTech’s Will Lucas about how tech can be leveraged to support justice at scale, the overlooked sectors of our community when we talk about wealth and business success, and how Black operators find success with government contracting.

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Using Tech to Save Our Democracy || D'Seanté Parks of 1000 MORE Apr 09, 2024

Ep. 160 D’Seanté Parks is founder and CEO of 1000 MORE, an app that makes it easier for people from underrepresented communities, like the ones she’s from, to engage in politics — a topic that is super important to everyone’s well-being and growth but often difficult to participate in. Her app provides digestible nonpartisan summaries of legislation coming up for a vote, written in a way that doesn’t require a law degree to understand. You can also find the popular arguments for and against bills. It also helps you connect with elected officials, and participate in crowdfunding campaigns for organizations you care about.

On this episode, D'Seanté speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how to leverage technology for political change, building community and wealth simultaneously, and the underutilized power of each engaged citizen.

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J. Byron's $900 Million Project on Chicago's South Side Apr 02, 2024

Ep. 159 J. Byron is the Lead Developer at Woodlawn Central, a $900 million economic development project on Chicago’s South Side. The massive project will include a boutique hotel, call and data center, residential buildings, theater, urban farm and microgram. And, there are plans to integrate a lot of technology like AI, AR, and VR to assist with the community health, safety, education and tourism aspects of the project. And, they’re developing with the community, not in spite of it — this project focuses on economic development without displacement.

On this episode, the brothers speak with AfroTech's Will Lucas about Woodlawn Central's 'development without displacement' focus, how to build when you don't have all the money, and changing the perspective of a Black community.

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The Burns Brothers on Serial Entrepreneurship Mar 26, 2024

Ep. 158 John and Mike Burns, known as The Burns Brothers are serial entrepreneurs with companies in a variety of verticals like organizational culture & diversity, marketing, pr& events, hospitality and lifestyle. You may have heard of their companies like Manchester Park, a creative agency, HQ House, which is a social club, or Koi Collective, a DEI strategy firm. John is an attorney by trade and community activist. Mike is a seasoned executive, coach, and former Army officer.

On this episode, the brothers speak with AfroTech's Will Lucas about finding success as serial entrepreneurs, how they navigate businesses in diverse industries, and mission driven Black-owned enterprise.

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Jarvis Sam, The Rainbow Disruption Mar 19, 2024

Ep. 157 Jarvis Sam is the Founder and CEO at The Rainbow Disruption where the mission is to partner with organizations to develop practical solutions that champion DEI in the workplace and enable systemic progress where authenticity, empathy, growth mindset, and transparency are celebrated. Previously, he was Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer at Nike.

On this episode, Jarvis speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how to know when we've been successful at DEI efforts, how to build credibility as a DEI officer, and why you may not want a 'seat at the table'.

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Andrew Hawkins, StatusPRO Mar 12, 2024

Ep. 156 Andrew Hawkins, aka Hawk, is a former NFL wide receiver, having played 6 seasons in the league with teams like Bengals, the Browns, and the Patriots. Today, he’s a media personality AND co-founder at Status Pro, an athlete led technology company, which makes software for training and consumer entertainment.

On this episode, Hawk speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how to secure A-List celebrity investors, NFL contracts, and the future of VR gaming.

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Andrew McCaskill, LinkedIn Mar 05, 2024

Ep. 155 Andrew McCaskill is a communications executive with 20 years of experience delivering award-winning communications and PR campaigns at Fortune 500 companies and highly successful technology start-ups. He was SVP of Global Communications and Multicultural Marketing at Neilsen, Head of D&I, Global Sales & marketing at Facebook, is an investor and advisor at Culture Genesis, and is a Career Expert & Global Communications at LinkedIn. He’s also PR Week's Top 40 Under 40.

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Drew Henson, TOQi Feb 27, 2024

Ep. 154 Drew Henson is an award-winning designer, entrepreneur and founder of twenty2b, a lifestyle and technology product design studio based in Toronto, Canada, founder/CEO of SEAM Technic, an IoT personal safety platform, and founder of TOQi, a cannabis accessory technology company. Armed with both a B.Sc. in Engineering Physics from The University of Saskatchewan and a Masters in Industrial Design from Italy, Drew balances the requirements of both fields naturally in any design strategy.

On this episode, Drew speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about designing cannabis related hardware, how to test a market, and how to communicate ideas.

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Jehron Petty, ColorStack Feb 20, 2024

Ep. 153 Jehron Petty is Founder and CEO at ColorStack, a non-profit collegiate organization that helps Black and Latinx Computer Science students get degreed and hired. When he was at Cornell, he worked as an intern at google, and later turned them down for a full-time role to start his own entrepreneurial journey.

On this episode, Jehron talks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the pipeline for Black talent, personal branding while still in school, and overcoming barriers to Black students not graduating from college.

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Jerome Howard, Culture Wireless Feb 13, 2024

Ep. 152 Culture Wireless is a Black owned internet service provider which delivers fast, reliable, affordable internet solutions. Jerome Howard is Chief Operating Officer, working to empower communities with high-quality and affordable internet service.

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Corporate Responsibility for Closing the Wealth Gap Feb 06, 2024

Ep. 151 This episode features a fireside chat with Dennis Cail of Zirtue, and Abim Kolawole of Northwestern Mutual.

Dennis Cail is the founder and CEO of Zirtue, a fintech company pioneering in the $200 billion relationship-based lending market segment by automating the loan process between family and friends with payments going directly to designated creditors.

Northwestern Mutual’s For two decades, Abim Kolawole has held numerous leadership positions at Northwestern Mutual. Now, he serves as chief audit executive and further backs the financial services company’s mission to relieve its clients from financial anxiety by creating a personalized financial plan.

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Brandon Butler, Butter.ATL Jan 30, 2024

Ep. 150 Brandon Butler is Partner + Chief Culture & Innovation Officer @ Majority // CEO @ Butter.ATL, an Atlanta-based media company covering all things Atlanta, from sports and news to food and music.

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We'll Beg for Forgiveness, Because We Ain't Asking for Permission with Will Lucas Jan 23, 2024

Ep. 149 Permissionless often refers to public blockchains that allow anyone to participate in validating and mining transactions as well as using the system to buy, sell and trade assets.

Wealth and Success are also permissionless. You don't need anyone's approval to go after your dream, start your company, or invest in your future. Since you don't need it, don't wait for it. Just GO and figure things out along the way. There is no playbook for you to specifically find your success in advance. The playbook for your life reveals itself only when you're in motion.

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The Story of Arthur George Gaston and The Case for Black Entrepreneurship & Wealth Jan 17, 2024

Ep. 148 In the season we celebrate and honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I wanted to introduce you to a lesser known character in his life that played a massive impact. The story of A.G. Gaston is one that, when you look closely, represents the power of Black wealth and entrepreneurship, allowing us to use our resources to make the changes we wish to see in the world.

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Documenting the Journey with Will Lucas Jan 09, 2024

Ep. 147 Necessary to start your year off with this episode; 'A life worth living is worth recording'. These are words to live by, from a great entrepreneur and speaker. On this episode, Will Lucas, Brand Manager for AfroTech and Black Tech Green Money discusses why you should put in the work to document your journey via a personal journal, blog, podcast, or YouTube channel, and how your story has value to both your audience and future-you.

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Fashion Design That Drives Culture Forward w/ Randall Yarborough FLASHBACK Jan 02, 2024

Ep. 147 Randall Yarborough is a multidisciplinary designer with professional experience in sporting equipment, apparel, and footwear. He was Senior Footwear Designer at YEEZY, working under Ye (Kanye West), and recently launched his own company, Joyshed, an athletic shorts brand.

On this episode, Randall speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the technical aspects of design and how to balance moving fashion design forward artistically while still driving market demand.

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The Spill Team: Alphonzo "Phonz" Terrell and Kenya Parham FLASHBACK Dec 26, 2023

Ep. 146 Alphonzo "Phonz" Terrell is founder and CEO at Spill, and Kenya Parham is Global VP, Community & Partnerships at the culture-first social media app. At launch, Spill jumped to the top of the app store and still maintains a formidable position.

On this episode, Phonz and Kenya speak with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how Spill makes a lasting impression in the social media landscape, why we needed another social media platform, and how they knew how much money to raise.

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LIVE: Chat with AI Expert Cliff Worley at HOPE Global Economic Forum 2023 Dec 19, 2023

Ep. 145 Cliff Worley is an accomplished marketing leader and growth advisor to startups. As Sr. Director of Portfolio Growth Marketing at Kapor Capital, he provides strategic coaching to help VC-backed companies effectively go to market and scale customer acquisition. He also currently stands at the forefront of artificial intelligence, speaking nationally to audiences on his secrets to leveraging AI.

This conversation took place at the 2023 Annual Meeting of HOPE Global Economic Forum in Atlanta, GA. HOPE Global Economic Forums are the largest gathering in the world on behalf of empowering poor and underserved communities. The conference convenes like-minded leaders from around the world dedicated to advancing the financial well-being of all people.

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Jonathan Viard, Northwestern Mutual Dec 12, 2023

Ep. 144 Jon Viard is Program Lead of the SARE Task Force at Northwestern Mutual, which stands for Sustained Action for Racial Equity. Prior to leading SARE, Jon was Senior Director of Centralized Supervision at Northwestern Mutual.

SARE encompasses an accelerator in NM’s ongoing commitment to fight racism, prejudice and social injustice in all forms and focuses on making bold, long-term, positive impact within black communities. Through SARE, they are supporting black entrepreneurship, black small businesses, supplier diversity, accessibility for clients and other important enterprises. Northwestern Mutual recently committed $175 million to help reduce the wealth gap, and support businesses and entrepreneurs as they continue to grow and create positive economic momentum within local communities.

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Evaluating Your Tech Stack Dec 05, 2023

Ep. 143 Your tech stack is the set of applications you use to operate your business. As you grow, your needs are certainly going to evolve, and what worked for you at one level, may not be the best fit for you at future levels. This episode offers a few categories and concepts you should consider as we approach the end of the year regarding the technology you use to run your business, no matter what industry you're in. In many cases, EOY is the best time of year to consider which software, apps, and processes you will keep as your business grows, and what you should transition. Doing it at the end of the year gives you the opportunity to make a clean break, hopefully reducing the frustration and issues should you do this mid-year.

This episode is about how you should, especially this time of year, evaluate your tech stack.

I hope you gain a lot of insights and inspiration from it!

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Your Minimum Viable Product Nov 28, 2023

Ep. 142 We’re taught to give things our best. But what if, with respect to business and ideas in the beginning, that’s the absolute worst thing you should do? My goal is that, by the end of this episode, not only are you convinced that you may not need to dive in with both feet, but also that you have an idea of what you should do next in exercise of validating your business ideas.

This episode is about building your MVP: Minimum Viable Product.

I hope you gain a lot of insights and inspiration from it!

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Demystifying AI for Our Community Nov 21, 2023

We are living in the days where the people who beg for forgiveness vs. ask for permission are going to be in position to succeed. If you’re waiting for the perfect time to start your thing, you’ll be at a disadvantage.

There's a lot going on in AI as of late. The stuff happening, both in the actual tech as well as in the ecoystem of AI, is at a fever pitch. Things that used to play out over months are now happening in a matter of hours.

It's time to bust a move if you're 'bout it.

Jessica O. Matthews, CEO and founder of Uncharted, stopped by the AfroTech Executive conference in Seattle 2023 to discuss how we can have a sustainable future and harness the power of AI. She’s on the stage speaking with Jonnie Bradley who is the Responsible AI Official for the Department of Energy and Sr. Program Manager for the Artificial Intelligence and Technology Office.

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How to Start Nov 14, 2023

Ep. 140 It is not uncommon or irregular for someone stop me at some point during my day, at least once a week, with a request for advice on a business concept or even a business move. I’m ok with that. This episode isn’t about making your first million. This episode isn’t about how to scale and sell your thing to people all over the world. Neither is it about how to raise money.

This episode is about how to start.

I hope you gain a lot of insights and inspiration from it!

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Rodney Williams, Solo Funds Nov 07, 2023

Rodney Williams is Co-Founder and President at Solo Funds, one of the leading financial technology companies for underserved communities.

On this episode, Rodney speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how to launch a fintech startup MVP with no venture capital, how challenging disruption can be in a highly regulated industry, and finding success when facing existential threats.

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Put Yourself In Position To Be Successful Oct 31, 2023

Ep. 138 We're at AfroTech Conference in Austin, TX this week, so I'm bringing you one of the most downloaded episodes of Black Tech Green Money. There are a lot of new subscribers here, so unless you went back deep into the archives, this gem is one you might have missed. I hope you gain a lot of insights and inspiration from it!

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The Best Apps and Systems for Solopreneurs Oct 24, 2023

Ep. 137 I've listened to the comments from entrepreneurs and solopreneurs who've asked for advice on tech, apps, and systems to grow their businesses. Here's the best advice I can give you: to grow a business, you need to become the type of person who can! If you're looking for ways to become the kind of person who can start and grow an enterprise, this episode was made with you in mind.

Tap in for the latest AfroTech News clips also.

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Grow By Developing Your Own Talent Oct 17, 2023

Ep. 136: If you're a small business owner, often in the early days of your business you struggle to hire the best talent. With todays conversation, I want to help you rethink this challenge, and encourage you instead to develop your own talent.

I share some of my experiences in getting solid at the skills I needed to hire for myself, what convinced me to start developing talent instead of falling to the idea that I couldn't hire qualified and skilled people to grow my business, and a few strategies I used to find ambitious people to join my team.

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Wemimo Abbey, Esusu Oct 10, 2023

Ollen Douglass is the Managing Partner of Motley Fool Ventures. The $250 million company is one of the largest Black-run venture capital firms in the world.

Wemimo Abbey is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Esusu, the leading financial technology company helping individuals save money and build credit.

This conversation presents a fireside chat from AfroTech Executive Brooklyn 2023.

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Osinachi, Africa's First Crypto Artist Oct 03, 2023

Osinachi is a self-taught digital artist based in Lagos. The first crypto artist out of Africa, he makes artworks that mirror his personal experiences through a unique visual language that he has perfected for over 15 years. In addition to numerous collaborations with big players in the art world, in 2021 Osinachi became the first African artist to auction five unique NFTs in Europe through Christie’s, the world-leading art and luxury business. He was named as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans for 2022 by New African Magazine. Osinachi makes his art using the word processing software Microsoft Word.

On this episode, Osinachi speaks with AfroTech’s Will Lucas about fine art in digital form, the true value of digital art, and his unique method of creating visual art using only Microsoft Word.

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Charles Kuykendoll, Blavity House Party Sep 26, 2023

Charles ‘Beloved’ Kuykendoll is the founder at RNB House Party, a unique party experience where R&B and Gospel music are at the center, bringing the vibes, as well as the nostalgia. Just recently, RNB House Party was acquired by Blavity, Inc., which is also the parent company of AfroTech and its rebranded as Blavity House Party. Charles comes aboard as the General Manager of Community, charged with creating even more experiences for us to connect globally around music, networking, and more.

On this episode, Charles speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about starting RNB House Party, his new role at Blavity as GM of Community, and the future of Blavity House Party.

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Chaucer Barnes, Translation + United Masters Sep 19, 2023

Chaucer Barnes is Chief Marketing Officer of Translation + United Masters, the parent company of award-winning creative agency Translation, and artist services platform UnitedMasters. In creating a new normal for the way brands and creators alike mint and trade cultural capital, Chaucer applies tools and lessons from every chapter of his life – as a media planner, brand strategist, creative director, partnership architect, and independent musician.

In this episode, Chaucer speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how advertising has embraced culture, the challenges marketers and advertisers face with trying to break through the noise, and strategic content creation.

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Mandy Bowman, Official Black Wall Street Sep 12, 2023

Mandy Bowman is founder and CEO of Official Black Wall Street (OBWS), a marketplace app that is the fastest growing platform for finding and supporting Black-owned businesses in the United States. Internal reports say her app has recirculated about $10 million in sales and business services back into Black-owned businesses. Now, she is focused on expanding her services to ten other countries including Canada, South Africa, France, the UK, and the Netherlands.

In this episode, Mandy speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about thriving Black small businesses and their characteristics, being a non-technical founder, and how she's outsmarting the many on-comers in Black business directory startups.

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Angela Yee, Way Up with Angela Yee Sep 05, 2023

Angela Yee is a Radio Hall of Fame inductee and multi-business entrepreneur who runs companies in various industries. She recently started her solo radio show, Way Up with Angela Yee, after her long tenure at The Breakfast Club.

In this episode, Angela Yee speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about her holdings, being a 'serial' entrepreneur, and how to decide what to focus on.

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Alphonzo "Phonz" Terrell and Kenya Parham, Spill Aug 29, 2023

Alphonzo "Phonz" Terrell is founder and CEO at Spill, and Kenya Parham is Global VP, Community & Partnerships at the culture-first social media app. At launch, Spill jumped to the top of the app store and still maintains a formidable position.

On this episode, Phonz and Kenya speak with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how Spill makes a lasting impression in the social media landscape, why we needed another social media platform, and how they knew how much money to raise.

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Marlon Nichols, MaC Venture Capital Aug 22, 2023

Marlon Nichols is the founding managing partner at MaC Venture Capital, a seed-stage venture capital firm that invests in visionary founders building the future that the world wants to see.

Prior to MaC Venture Capital, Marlon was founder of Cross Culture Ventures and served as Investment Director at Intel Capital. Some of his current and previous portfolio companies include Blavity, Gimlet Media, LISNR, Mayvenn, MongoDB, PlayVS, Pipe, Thrive Market and Wonderschool, among others.

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Ruben Harris & Rachelle Olden of Black Genius Academy Aug 15, 2023

Ruben Harris is the co-founder and CEO at Career Karma, which bills itself as the easiest way to find a job training program online. Rachelle Olden is Lead at Google’s Tech Equity Collective, which creates energizing paths into tech for Black people.

Together, they’re launching the Black Genius Academy — a software initiative to demystify fast-growing tech career fields and support Black talent in identifying technical education programs that prepare them to enter the industry with no prior experience required.

On this episode, Ruben and Rachelle speak with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the launch of the initiative.

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Making Pizza and Big Opportunistic Energy w/ Derrick Moore & Clint Gray // REFRESH Aug 08, 2023

Derrick 'Moe' Moore, Clint Gray, and Emmanuel ‘EJ’ Reed are the founders of Slim & Huskey's Pizza Beeria, a fast-casual artisan pizza shop with a love for Hip Hop and R&B culture. The Nashville Based company now boasts restaurants in Antioch, Chattanooga, Memphis, Murfreesboro, TN as well as Atlanta, GA and Sacramento. CA.

On this episode, Clint and Moe talk with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the Italian History of pizza places and how their take on a pizza restaurant instead amplifies Black culture, and how that takes each slice and topping to another level.

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The Power Behind What We Buy, Do, and Who We Want to Be w/ Marcus Collins // Refresh Jul 31, 2023

Marcus Collins is Head of Strategy at Wieden+Kennedy and is a Clinical Marketing Professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan. He previously led iTunes + Nike sport music initiatives at Apple (iTunes Partner Marketing) before running digital strategy for Beyoncé.

On this episode, Marcus speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the power behind what we buy, do, and who we want to be.

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Becoming A Rocket Scientist w/ Olympia LePoint Jul 25, 2023

Hailed “The New Einstein” by her fans and named the “Modern Day Hidden Figure” by People Magazine and Newsweek, Olympia LePoint is an award-winning rocket scientist and author.

On this episode, Olympia talks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the myths of becoming a rocket scientist, why the US is near the bottom of math performance, and the value of a college degree.

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AfroTech 2023, ChatGPT, and Threads w/ Morgan DeBaun Jul 18, 2023

Morgan DeBaun is a serial entrepreneur, executive, and corporate advisor. She’s founder & CEO of Blavity Inc., the leading digital media company for Black culture and millennials.

On this episode, Morgan chats with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the entrance of Threads into the social networking conversation, how generative AI like ChatGPT changes the game for tech-enabled workers, and AfroTech 2023.

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AI Tech for Healthy Black Hair w/ Dr. Tiffany St. Bernard Jul 11, 2023

Dr. Tiffany St. Bernard is the CEO and Founder of HairDays, a one-of-a-kind hair intelligence platform providing personalized hair, scalp, and holistic wellness insights.

On this episode, Dr. St. Bernard talks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how AI has enhanced our ability to maintain healthy hair and scalp wellness, how important timing is when building a startup, and the classic inventors mistake.

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FLASHBACK Pizza For The Culture w/ Derrick Moore & Clint Gray Jul 04, 2023

Derrick 'Moe' Moore, Clint Gray, and Emmanuel ‘EJ’ Reed are the founders of Slim & Huskey's Pizza Beeria, a fast-casual artisan pizza shop with a love for Hip Hop and R&B culture. The Nashville Based company now boasts restaurants in Antioch, Chattanooga, Memphis, Murfreesboro, TN as well as Atlanta, GA and Sacramento. CA.

On this episode, Clint and Moe talk with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the Italian History of pizza places and how their take on a pizza restaurant instead amplifies Black culture, and how that takes each slice and topping to another level.

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$2 Million in One Day with No Nicotine Hookah w/ Blakk Tatted Jun 27, 2023

Blakk Tatted is founder and CEO at Blakk Smoke, the world's #1 leader in no nicotine, no tobacco hookah products.

On this episode, Blakk talks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about million dollar sales days, how he formulated no nicotine hookah pens, and the difference between having followers vs. having influence.

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How Creatives Get Wealthy w/ Ryan Leslie Jun 20, 2023

Ryan Leslie is a Grammy nominated musician and producer, and founder at SuperPhone which helps creatives and businesses increase engagement, drive revenue, and build better relationships with SMS / MMS marketing.

On this episode, Ryan talks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the economics of the music industry, why artists are selling their catalogs, and how creatives get wealthy.

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Making Space for Black Toy Designers w/ Dr. Lisa Williams Jun 13, 2023

Dr. Lisa Williams, founder of World of EPI and The Fresh Dolls, helps children embrace their beauty, uniqueness and positive play through doll representation.

On this episode, Dr. Williams talks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about her journey from education to toy-making, how children shape perceptions of themselves and representation in toys, and why we need more Black toymakers.

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Growth Stage Investing and Board Service w/ Ceci Kurzman Jun 06, 2023

Ceci Kurzman is the founder of Nexus Management Group and is a private investor, entrepreneur, and independent board member. She has served on public, private, and nonprofit boards since 2012, including Warner Music Group, Man Group, and Lanvin Group. Ceci was Vice President of Global Marketing for Epic Records at Sony Music Entertainment. Before that role, she held various positions at Arista Records, leading marketing and artist development functions.

On this episode, Ceci speaks to AfroTech's Will Lucas about her journey from talent management and development into private equity, why she focuses on investing in growth-stage companies, and her experiences in sitting on corporate boards.

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Fashion Design That Drives Culture Forward w/ Randall Yarborough May 30, 2023

Randall Yarborough is a multidisciplinary designer with professional experience in sporting equipment, apparel, and footwear. He was Senior Footwear Designer at YEEZY, working under Ye (Kanye West), and recently launched his own company, Joyshed, an athletic shorts brand.

On this episode, Randall speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the technical aspects of design and how to balance moving fashion design forward artistically while still driving market demand.

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Elements of the New Music Business w/ EVGLE (ft. Blxst, Victor Burnett, and Karl Fowlkes) May 23, 2023

Matthew "Blxst” Burdette and business partners Victor Burnett and Karl Fowlkes are the founders of EVGLE — an LA-based company that houses a record label, production company, clothing brand, publishing company, and investment arm.

Blxst is a rapper, singer, and producer. Victor Burnett is Blxst's manager and serves as president of EVGLE, and Karl Fowlkes is an entertainment attorney and co-founder at EVGLE.

On this episode, the partners speak with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how the music business is evolving, creating brand deals for artists, and concerns around AI in music.

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Harnessing The Power Of AI w/ Jessica Matthews recap from AfroTech Executive Seattle May 16, 2023

Jessica O. Matthews, CEO and founder of Uncharted, stopped by the AfroTech Executive conference in Seattle 2023 to discuss how we can have a sustainable future and harness the power of AI. She’s on the stage speaking with Jonnie Bradley who is the Responsible AI Official for the Department of Energy and Sr. Program Manager for the Artificial Intelligence and Technology Office.

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BLACK REPRESENTATION IN CARTOONS w/ Gracie's Corner May 09, 2023

Javoris and Arlene Hollingsworth are the founders of Gracie’s Corner, which features their daughter Graceyan, who was the inspiration for the hit YouTube animated series which was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award - up against big budget animation studio offerings.

On this episode, Javoris, Arlene, and Graceyn speak with AfroTech's Will Lucas about creating a cartoon from their living room, how they vet new opportunities that come from their success, and the early indicators that showed them they were on track to success.

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HOW TODAY'S BANKING CLIMATE IMPACTS STARTUPS w/ Maisha Leek May 02, 2023

Maisha Leek is an angel investor and startup advisor working at the intersection of venture investing, startups, and social impact. Her work aims to build a more equitable future through strong businesses, new models for investment, and supporting founders that are frequently undervalued.

On this episode, Maisha speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how the current banking climate affects startup capitalization and how to successfully fundraise during uncertain times.

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FINDING SUCCESS WHEN FACING EXISTENTIAL THREATS w/ Rodney Williams Apr 25, 2023

Rodney Williams is Co-Founder and President at Solo Funds, one of the leading financial technology companies for underserved communities.

On this episode, Rodney speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how to launch a fintech startup MVP with no venture capital, how challenging disruption can be in a highly regulated industry, and finding success when facing existential threats.

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IS THE GOAL OF DEI TO ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR DEI? w/ Jarvis Sam Apr 18, 2023

Jarvis Sam is the Founder and CEO at The Rainbow Disruption where the mission is to partner with organizations to develop practical solutions that champion DEI in the workplace and enable systemic progress where authenticity, empathy, growth mindset, and transparency are celebrated. Previously, he was Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer at Nike.

On this episode, Jarvis speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how to know when we've been successful at DEI efforts, how to build credibility as a DEI officer, and why you may not want a 'seat at the table'.

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SUSTAINABILITY IN THE HAIR INDUSTRY w/ Ciara Imani May Apr 11, 2023

Ciara Imani May is the Founder and CEO at Rebundle, the first U.S. plant-based braiding hair company. One in three women experience scalp irritation from plastic synthetic hair. With Rebundle, an alternative finally exists.

On this episode, Ciara speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the chemicals used in many hair extensions, how she sourced natural ingredients and manufactures her product, and the case for building a lifestyle business.

Use code AT21N to receive 15% off + free shipping on your first order with Rebundle

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REVERSE GENTRIFICATION & AMPLIFYING BLACK BUSINESSES w/ Derrick Faulcon Apr 04, 2023

Derrick Faulcon is the founder and CEO at Cloudy Donut Co., a vegan donut shop with locations in Baltimore, MD and Brooklyn, NY.

On this episode, Derrick speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about opening the first Black-owned business in Brooklyn Heights, "reverse gentrification," and his take on what holds Black entrepreneurs from reaching their fullest potential.

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NIL, NFTS, AND RARE TRACKS w/ Lockerverse Mar 28, 2023

Lockerverse is a Web3 platform that empowers creators and brands to tell culture-defining stories and deliver unique access and experiences.

On this episode, co-founders Trey McDonald and Carlos McFall speak with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how NIL is changing amateur sports, the remaining value of NFTs, and how they secured rare Hip Hop tracks.

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THE POWER BEHIND WHAT WE BUY, DO, AND WHO WE WANT TO BE w/ Marcus Collins Mar 21, 2023

Marcus Collins is Head of Strategy at Wieden+Kennedy and is a Clinical Marketing Professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan. He previously led iTunes + Nike sport music initiatives at Apple (iTunes Partner Marketing) before running digital strategy for Beyoncé.

On this episode, Marcus speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the power behind what we buy, do, and who we want to be.

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SOCIAL MEDIA ECHO CHAMBERS w/ Vernon Coleman Mar 14, 2023

Vernon Coleman (@vernnew) is CEO at REALTIME (@byrealtime) and creator of JOT— an invitation-only social media app for GenZ to express one thought a day.

On this episode, Vernon speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how social media is evolving, fundraising during COVID, and the human need for real-world experiences.

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ANGELA YEE IS BUILDING AN EMPIRE w/ Angela Yee Mar 07, 2023

Angela Yee is a radio hall of fame inductee and multi-business entrepreneur who runs companies in various industries. She recently started her solo radio show, Way Up with Angela Yee, after her long tenure at The Breakfast Club.

In this episode, Angela Yee speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about her holdings, being a 'serial' entrepreneur, and how to decide what to focus on.

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THE CANNABIS MARKET OPPORTUNITY w/ Drew Henson Feb 28, 2023

Drew Henson is an award-winning designer, entrepreneur and founder of twenty2b, a lifestyle and technology product design studio based in Toronto, Canada, founder/CEO of SEAM Technic, an IoT personal safety platform, and founder of TOQi, a cannabis accessory technology company. Armed with both a B.Sc. in Engineering Physics from The University of Saskatchewan and a Masters in Industrial Design from Italy, Drew balances the requirements of both fields naturally in any design strategy.

On this episode, Drew speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about designing cannabis related hardware, how to test a market, and how to communicate ideas.

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REVISITING THE TALENTED TENTH w/ Torian Robinson and Brigette Jones Feb 21, 2023

From AfroTech 2022 in Austin, TX, Blavity Inc’s Tammy Gordon is on the MainStage with talking ‘Revisiting the Talented Tenth’, a concept of creating leadership in Black communities via education, and missionaries of cultur and expansion of thought. That is a simplification, but you can do your homework on W.E.B. Dubois. She’s talking with Torian Robinson is in biz dev at Alkeme Health. Brigette Jones is "The Hood Historian" is a Tennessee-based historian focusing on race relations and the lasting legacy of US slavery.

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THE BUSINESS OF HIP HOP w/ Tim Hinshaw and Wallace Joseph Feb 14, 2023

From AfroTech 2022 in Austin, TX, Stephanie Ogbogu, who was Associate Director of Editorial at Blavity, speaks with Tim Henshaw, Head of Hip Hop & R&B at Amazon Music, and Wallace Joseph, VP of A&R at Warner/Chappell Music.

There’s a lot of money in the music business, some of it is pretty obvious even to laypeople, but the fine print on the contracts is where the real money is. Find it in publishing, streaming, music rights, and more.

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WHY COMPANIES ARE DROPPING THE COLLEGE REQUIREMENT w/ RUBEN HARRIS Feb 07, 2023

At AfroTech 2022, we spoke with Ruben Harris, Co-Founder and CEO at Career Karma and Sydnee Sampson Blackwell, an engineer who came through Career Karmas pogromming about how we better prepare ourselves for the changing demands of the workforce.

Career Karma is technology which helps match students to educational opportunities like boot camps, to better prepare you for product and technical careers.

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TECH TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE INCARCERATED w/ FREDERICK HUTSON Jan 31, 2023

Frederick Hutson, co-founder and CEO at Pigeonly is on the main stage at AfroTech 2022 (Austin, TX) talking with Blavity Co-Founder and COO Jeff Nelson. Pigeonly is a simple, affordable way to stay in touch with loved ones who are behind bars nationwide.

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BEAR MARKET NFTs STILL WIN w/ KALAH HALEY Jan 24, 2023

Kalah Haley is an NFT strategist, and founder at Saint Rock Media, which helps companies all over the world craft culture experiences and events. A frequent speaker on NFT related topics, Kalah is a prolific investor and trusted voice on blockchain technologies.

On this episode, Kalah speaks with AfroTechs Will Lucas about the current NFT bear market and investor outlook. Whats happening in the world of NFTs that gives investors like Kalah hope?

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PIZZA FOR THE CULTURE w/ DERRICK MOORE & CLINT GRAY Jan 17, 2023

Derrick 'Moe' Moore, Clint Gray, and Emmanuel ‘EJ’ Reed are the founders of Slim & Huskey's Pizza Beeria, a fast-casual artisan pizza shop with a love for Hip Hop and R&B culture. The Nashville Based company now boasts restaurants in Antioch, Chattanooga, Memphis, Murfreesboro, TN as well as Atlanta, GA and Sacramento. CA.

On this episode, Clint and Moe talk with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the Italian History of pizza places and how their take on a pizza restaurant instead amplifies Black culture, and how that takes each slice and topping to another level.

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WHY BLACK PEOPLE SHOULD CARE ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES w/ TELVA MCGRUDER Jan 10, 2023

Telva McGruder is the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at General Motors, and has spent more than 28 years at the company - starting as an engineer. Today, she’s focused on weaving DEI into the fabric of the company, working in partnership with internal and external leaders to champion the broad and diverse workforce.

On this episode recorded at the 2022 AfroTech Conference in Austin Texas, Telva speaks with Blavity Co-founder and COO Jeff Nelson about corporate commitments to DEI, electric vehicles, and why Black people should care about the future of EV.

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EMBRACING SALARY TRANSPARENCY w/ EVERETT HARPER Jan 03, 2023

Everett Harper is the CEO and Co-Founder of Truss, a human-centered software development company. He is the author of the new leadership book Move to the Edge, Declare it Center, which was published by Wiley earlier this year. He was previously Director of Customer Acquisition and Community at Linden Lab (maker of Second Life). A CEO and technologist who also hits many stages around the world to talk about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

On this episode, Everette speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about corporate diversity responsibility, the 'Back To Office' trend, and finding startup ideas.

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THE FIRST FORTUNE 500 BLACK WOMAN CEO w/ URSULA BURNS | Flashback Dec 27, 2022

Ursula Burns was CEO of Xerox from 2009 to 2016, the first among black women to be a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, and the first woman to succeed another as head of a Fortune 500 company.
Most pertinent to todays conversation is her board roles. Ms. Burns sat on the Boards of Directors for more than 15 companies, including Boston Scientific, the University of Rochester, the MIT Corporation, American Express, Exxon Mobile, Uber, Waystar and more.

During this conversation, which was held at AfroTech Executive Brooklyn, Ms. Burns talks with Heather Hiles, managing partner at Black Ops Ventures, and founder at Pathbrite about how corporate boards work, how to get one one, and determining if its the right fit for you in the first place.

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WRITING CHECKS IN ATLANTA w/ COLLAB CAPITAL | Flashback Dec 19, 2022

Collab Capital is an investment fund helping Black founders build sustainable, innovation-centered businesses. The partners, Barry Givens, Jewel Burks and Justin Dawkins are previously operators and engineers who've raised significant venture capital, and successfully sold their companies. The partners chat with Will Lucas about whats missing in venture capital to meet the needs of Black founders, how wealth generation impacts our community, and using contractors to build your startup.

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THE PIPELINE FOR BLACK COMPUTER SCIENTISTS Dec 13, 2022

Jehron Petty is Founder and CEO at ColorStack, a non-profit collegiate organization that helps Black and Latinx Computer Science students get degreed and hired. When he was at Cornell, he worked as an intern at google, and later turned them down for a full-time role to start his own entrepreneurial journey.

On this episode, Jehron talks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the pipeline for Black talent, personal branding while still in school, and overcoming barriers to Black students not graduating from college.

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BLACK VC'S PLACING BIG BETS w/ ELLIOTT ROBINSON Dec 06, 2022

Elliott Robinson is partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. He’s focused on growth stage series C, D and E opportunities investing across the spectrum of Cloud Software, Consumer Internet, and Frontier Tech with check sizes between $20M and $150M. Elliott chat's with Will Lucas about how cloud computing accelerates innovation during the age of COVID in stubborn industries, how Black people can finally capitalize on the culture we lead, and how to get more Black-led startups past series A.

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INVESTING IN THE MIDWEST w/ Candice Matthews Brackeen Nov 29, 2022

Candice Matthews Brackeen is the Founder and CEO of Lightship Capital, the Cincinnati based portfolio service firm including accelerators Hillman and NewMe, and venture capital fund Lightship. Candice raised the most money ever for a first time fund ran by a Black woman, a $50 million fund. Candice chat's with Will Lucas about why she can't make early bets on startups, and how she impacted state and local policy to help make her Midwest community more startup friendly.

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DOING WHAT OTHERS DON'T DARE TO DO w/ Chandra Vasser Nov 22, 2022

Chandra Vasser is Vice President and Chief DEI officer of Nissan Americas and her job is to drive DEI and develop plans and partnerships to share the company's DEI commitment with employees, customers and the community.

On this episode, she chat's with Will Lucas about what 'doing what others don't dare to do' means in practice at a major automotive company, what robotics will mean for the future of jobs in automotive, and how Nissan is committed to promoting Black talent from the manufacturing line into management roles.

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THE BLACK EXCELLENCE BRUNCH w/ TRELL THOMAS Nov 15, 2022

Trell Thomas is the Founder of the Black Excellence Brunch, an annual event that gives #BlackExcellence a seat at the table. His work spans from career beginnings on the historic Obama Presidential Campaign in 2008 to overseeing talent relations and communication within some of the biggest brands at Viacom to perfectly aligning social good causes, corporations and celebrities.

On this episode, he chat's with Will Lucas about betting on the excellence of Black culture, how to make money producing live events, and building lucrative relationships in business.

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SUPPORT IS A VERB w/ DR. KEY HALLMON Nov 08, 2022

Dr. Key Hallmon is the founder and CEO of The Village Market, and cultivates events to provide a platform for socially-conscious, black-owned startups and entrepreneurs to get support, build community, and showcase their products and services.

On this episode, Dr. Key talks with Will Lucas about 'Support' as a verb, strategies to building community around commerce, and how communities can replicate Atlanta's Black business success.

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EVERYONE WON'T BUILD A UNICORN & THAT'S OK w/ DAMON BROWN Nov 01, 2022

Damon Brown is a tech entrepreneur, author and speaker who helps side hustlers, solopreneurs, and other non-traditional creatives bloom. He co-founded the popular platonic connection app Cuddlr and led it to acquisition within a year, all while being the primary caretaker of his infant first son.

On this episode, Damon talks with Will Lucas about how anyone can succeed in starting their own venture.

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The Future of Trucking is Black Tech w/ Pierre Laguerre Oct 25, 2022

Pierre Laguerre is CEO and Founder at Fleeting, a commercial fleet management and services company and the first Black man ever to raise more than $1 million from a crowdfunding campaign.

On this episode, he speaks with Will Lucas about how tech can avoid displacing people while still aiming for disruption, how technology improves logistics and the wealth opportunity for truckers, and why autonomous trucks are still 20 years out.

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FUND STARTUPS AS A BLACK VC w/ LO TONEY Oct 18, 2022

Lo is the Founding Managing Partner of Plexo Capital, which is an institutional investment firm he incubated and spun out from GV (Google Ventures).

On this episode, Lo talks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how VCs raise capital, the myth of Silicon Valley, and how legislation keeps would-be Black founders from large wealth-building opportunities.

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The Value of a College Degree to Fortune 500s w/ Maurice Jones Oct 11, 2022

Maurice Jones is CEO at OneTen, a coalition of leading chief executives and their companies (like AT&T, Delta and more) who are coming together to upskill, hire and promote one million Black Americans over the next 10 years - Black people who do not yet have a four-year degree into family-sustaining jobs with opportunities for advancement.

On this episode, Maurice talks to AfroTech's Will Lucas about the value of a college degree, necessary skills for all college graduates, and career technology education.

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Procurement & Jobs at the White House w/ Florence Kasule and Jordan Ginn Oct 04, 2022

Florence Kasule is the director of procurement at U.S. Digital Service (USDS), and leads a team focused on building amazing digital experiences for the American public by modernizing the acquisition process. Jordan Ginn is Director of Talent Acquisition for United States Digital Service (USDS) and initially joined the organization in 2016 under the Obama administration to make sure the organization that rescued Healthcare.gov remained fully staffed with top talent from the private sector.

On this episode, Florence and Jordan speak with AfroTech's Will Lucas about getting a tech job inside the White House, securing a government contract for your small business, and why tech disruption on the federal level takes so long.

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Banking Black is now easier than ever w/ Ryan Glover FLASHBACK Sep 27, 2022

Ryan Glover is the co-founder and chairman of Greenwood bank, a new digital bank designed for Black and Latinx communities. Previously he was co-founder and CEO at Noontime, a music publishing and production company, and he's co-founder and CEO at Bounce TV. Ryan talks with Will Lucas about why Black banking efforts haven’t led to generational and transformative wealth for African Americans, and tips for successful partnerships - the kind that have led to his personal success.

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FLASHBACK - How creatives claim a seat at the table or build their own w/ Bimma Williams Sep 20, 2022

Bimma Williams is a creative industry leader, former executive at Nike, Yeezy (Adidas) and Saucony. Currently, he runs the #1 iTunes rated career podcast, 'Claima', which is a career discovery podcast to help Black and Brown creatives discover their dream careers.

On this episode, Bimma talks with Will Lucas about the institutional constrains to building big brands, how design collaborations work, and how creatives claim a seat at the table, or build their own.

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FLASHBACK - Knowing your numbers is the key to the bag w/ Courtney Adeleye Sep 14, 2022

As founder and CEO of The Mane Choice, Courtney Adeleye, built her innovative hair empire to reported net sales of over $25 million. The company was acquired by MAV Beauty Brands. Her products are sold in over 20,000 retail stores and has a lineup of more than 90 hair treatments. Courtney chat's with Will Lucas about how to scale a hair care brand, and remain profitable when the consumer is increasingly particular, and highly interested in the chemicals involved in making the products.

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Upwork is one thing, a back-office Tech team is another - Oladosu Teyibo Sep 09, 2022

Oladosu Teyibo is founder at Analog Teams, which connects talent people from underrepresented backgrounds with tech companies looking to build digital products.

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0378_Doubly hard building on the Continent Sep 08, 2022

Oladosu Teyibo is founder at Analog Teams, which connects talent people from underrepresented backgrounds with tech companies looking to build digital products.

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How to pivot a startup gracefully - Oladosu Teyibo Sep 07, 2022

Oladosu Teyibo is founder at Analog Teams, which connects talent people from underrepresented backgrounds with tech companies looking to build digital products.

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Africa is the new India for outsourced tech w/ Oladosu Teyibo Sep 06, 2022

Oladosu Teyibo is the Founder and CEO of Analog Teams, which connects talented people from underrepresented backgrounds with tech companies looking to build digital products

On this episode, Oladosu speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas building technology on the Continent, as well as keys to outsourcing, properly valuing International tech expertise, and how to build a VC back-able startup that uses outsourced talent.

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How to embrace salary transparency - Everett Harper Sep 02, 2022

Everett Harper is the CEO and Co-Founder of Truss, a human-centered software development company.

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Will going 'Back to Office' hurt Black techies? - Everett Harper Sep 01, 2022

Everett Harper is the CEO and Co-Founder of Truss, a human-centered software development company.

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Knowing when corporate DEI is real - Everett Harper Aug 31, 2022

Everett Harper is the CEO and Co-Founder of Truss, a human-centered software development company.

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How to win, simply as an opportunist - Everett Harper Aug 31, 2022

Everett Harper is the CEO and Co-Founder of Truss, a human-centered software development company.

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Move to the Edge, Declare It Center w/ Everett Harper Aug 30, 2022

Everett Harper is the CEO and Co-Founder of Truss, a human-centered software development company. He is the author of the new leadership book Move to the Edge, Declare it Center, which was published by Wiley earlier this year. He was previously Director of Customer Acquisition and Community at Linden Lab (maker of Second Life). A CEO and technologist who also hits many stages around the world to talk about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

On this episode, Everette speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about corporate diversity responsibility, the 'Back To Office' trend, and finding startup ideas.

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Its actually good biz to support Black startups Aug 26, 2022

Johnny Bailey is a social entrepreneur and marketing strategist.

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All too common issues that plague Black small business from scaling up Aug 25, 2022

Johnny Bailey is a social entrepreneur and marketing strategist.

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Why understanding Black history is the key to business success Aug 24, 2022

Johnny Bailey is a social entrepreneur and marketing strategist.

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The Big Corporation Imperative to Support Black Owned Startups w/ Johnny Bailey Aug 23, 2022

Johnny Bailey is a social entrepreneur and marketing strategist with a passion for economic empowerment. A hall of fame high school athlete and graduate of Hampton University, he’s taken his pursuit of excellence into the world of business and technology.

He’s Washington DC’s ‘Grow with Google’ digital coach, founder of the ShineHard Foundation where the mission is to close the racial wealth gap, and a national speaker, trusted by the biggest companies on the planet.

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Web3 creates a deep sense of FOMO Aug 21, 2022

Shondra Washington is co-founder at Black @, which is building a token-gated community of Black creatives, investors, and entrepreneurs.

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Can there be distinct Black spaces on the blockchain? Aug 20, 2022

Shondra Washington is co-founder at Black @, which is building a token-gated community of Black creatives, investors, and entrepreneurs.

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Get what you want by helping others get what they want Aug 19, 2022

Shondra Washington is co-founder at Black @, which is building a token-gated community of Black creatives, investors, and entrepreneurs.

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You can't learn the blockchain on the sidelines Aug 18, 2022

Shondra Washington is co-founder at Black @, which is building a token-gated community of Black creatives, investors, and entrepreneurs.

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How to build a Web3 Community w/ Shondra Washington Aug 16, 2022

Shondra Washington worked in financial services in New York since 2013. She learned corporate finance and financial modeling as a technology investment banker at one of the fastest growing investment banks in the world. In 2018, Shondra co-founded TBC-Capital, an education-first investment firm.

Today, she’s an on-demand CFO and strategist for early stage companies, and is co-founder at Black @, which is building a token-gated community of Black creatives, investors, and entrepreneurs.

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Cashing In On Sports Without A Jersey w/ Kai Bond Aug 09, 2022

Kai bond is an investor, founder and entrepreneur and serves as partner at Courtside VC which focuses on sports, gaming, and fitness verticals.

On this episode, Kai speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the differences between sports of yesteryear, and the sports of today - and why the sports of today, is ripe for innovation in ways it's never been before.

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Web3 and Pro Sports w/ Julian Aikens and Terance Mann Aug 02, 2022

Julian Aikens is founder at W3 Sports and Terance Mann plays for the LA Clippers
Episode Description: Julien Aiken is founder at W3 Sports, a web3 consulting firm working to bridge the gap between athletes and brands of the new internet. And, Terence Mann is an NBA player, currently serving on the Clippers roster.

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Timing is everything w/ Nash Ahmed Jul 26, 2022

Nash Ahmed is a serial entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Undock, an AI meeting platform built for the future of work. He recently raised a $1.6M seed round to put some fuel in the tank to grow the business. I asked Nash about how, previous to founding Undock, he found himself running multiple small businesses at once, and how running those businesses led him to founding Undock.

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FLASHBACK - Tech trends you can cash in on w/ Mercedes Bent Jul 18, 2022

Mercedes Bent is a Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, a multi-stage venture capital firm with offices around the world, including Silicon Valley, Israel, China, India, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Previously she served as an executive at a VR startup and a General Manager at General Assembly (acquired, 2018) where she oversaw a multi-million dollar business line.

On this episode, we talked about what industry accelerations happened because of COVID 19 that she finds interesting as an investor.

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Building A Digital Business with Longevity In Mind w/ Natasha Eubanks Jul 12, 2022

Natasha Eubanks is an entrepreneur, content creator, founder and editor in chief at TheYBF, which is a go-to site to learn the scope on your favorite celebrities. Young Black and Fabulous is one of the hottest Black celebrity gossip sites on the planet, and millions of readers per month sip the tea on her platform.

On this episode from AfroTech 2020 in the metaverse, we talked with Natasha about building an imprint that can stand the test of time, content creation, and the entrepreneurship bend among Black women.

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The First NFL Licensed VR Experience w/ Andrew Hawkins Jul 05, 2022

Andrew Hawkins, aka Hawk, is a former NFL wide receiver, having played 6 seasons in the league with teams like Bengals, the Browns, and the Patriots. Today, he’s a media personality AND co-founder at Status Pro, an athlete led technology company, which makes software for training and consumer entertainment.

On this episode, Hawk speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how to secure A-List celebrity investors, NFL contracts, and the future of VR gaming.

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The Proper Care of Your Seat At The Table w/ Merline Saintill Jun 28, 2022

Merline Saintil is founder at Black Women on Boards, and herself sits on 6 boards of directors. and was on the board of 4 companies that IPO’d in 2021.

On this episode, Merline discusses taking a company across the IPO finish line, and thoughtful perspectives from an experienced Black director, and the red flags you’ll want your antennas up for should you decide to consider board service.

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Increasing the Ranks of Black Senior Leaders in Engineering Roles w/ Nick Caldwell Jun 21, 2022

Nick Caldwell is, at the time, Vice President of Engineering at Reddit, one of the largest online community platforms, and the 9th most visited website in the world. Today, Nick is a General Manager at Twitter, having just recently been promoted from Vice President of engineering at Twitter.

On this episode from AfroTech 2017, Nick talks about how we increase our representation of Black senior leaders in engineering departments.

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No More Crumbs. How to Raise A Large VC Fund w/ Ollen Douglass Jun 14, 2022

Ollen Douglas is Managing Partner at Motley Fool Ventures which is an early stage technology focused venture fund focused on companies at the series A level. He previously served as a Chief Financial Officer, and parlayed his experiences to raising one of the largest venture funds to date.

On this episode from AfroTech World 2020, Ollen speaks with Blavity CEO Morgan DeBaun about fundraising keys, trends in VC, and the Black opportunity as a financier.

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Why We Need More Black Data Scientists w/ Matthew Finney Jun 07, 2022

Matthew Finney is a Data Scientist and Strategy Consultant at Harvard. There, he develops AI decision systems to help large organizations make an impact on their most challenging business and mission problems.

On this episode, Matthew speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about algorithmic bias and why we need more Black representation in data science roles.

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FLASHBACK - How Black Culture Leads All Global Culture w/ Tristan Walker May 31, 2022

Tristan Walker is the Founder & CEO of Walker & Company Brands which include the brands Bevel and FORM, both designed to meet the health and beauty needs of people of color. He’s also Founder and Board Chairman of CODE2040, which matches high performing Black and Latino undergraduate and graduate coders and software engineering students with Silicon Valley start-ups for internships. He sits on the Board of Directors for both Foot Locker and Shake Shack.

On this episode, Tristan speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how Black culture leads all global culture, how he made his imprint on Silicon Valley, and why he decided to chart a new course in Atlanta.

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Tech, The Metaverse and Mental Happiness with Tamar Blue May 24, 2022

Tamar Blue, is a Y Combinator alum and founder and CEO of MentalHappy– a mental health platform helping individuals overcome challenging life events via professionally-led peer support groups.

On this episode, Tamar speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how tech can both positively and negatively impact mental health, the metaverse and it's potential impact on mental health, and the struggle to embrace being a tech startup.

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FLASHBACK - Scaling Non-Profits with Tech w/ Sevetri Wilson May 17, 2022

Sevetri Wilson is a serial entrepreneur and founder at Resilia, a New Orleans based technology startup that helps nonprofit organizations increase capacity and enable enterprises that deploy billions of dollars scale their impact.

On this episode, I talk with Sevetri about what the all-to-present bottlenecks and issues that keep non-profits from maximizing their impact, and how leveraging technology can help them grow, fundraise, and help more people.

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Black Women Navigating Generational Wealth from AfroTech Executive Brooklyn May 10, 2022

We can’t have a conversation about wealth in the Black community without highlighting how Black women build it, as, there’s nuance. It’s different for Black people to build wealth than it is for white people, and it’s different for Black women that it often is for Black men.

On this episode, which is a conversation held at AfroTech Executive Brooklyn 2022, Morgan DeBaun, CEO at Blavity, hosts a conversation between Samantha Tweedy of the Black Economic Alliance Foundation, coalition of business leaders and aligned advocates committed to economic progress and prosperity in the Black community and Latraviette D. Smith-Wilson who is Chief Marketing & Equity Officer at Horizon Media which is the largest US Media agency.

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How Corporate Boards Really Work with Ursula Burns May 03, 2022

Ursula Burns was CEO of Xerox from 2009 to 2016, the first among black women to be a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, and the first woman to succeed another as head of a Fortune 500 company.
Most pertinent to todays conversation is her board roles. Ms. Burns sat on the Boards of Directors for more than 15 companies, including Boston Scientific, the University of Rochester, the MIT Corporation, American Express, Exxon Mobile, Uber, Waystar and more.

During this conversation, which was held at AfroTech Executive Brooklyn, Ms. Burns talks with Heather Hiles, managing partner at Black Ops Ventures, and founder at Pathbrite about how corporate boards work, how to get one one, and determining if its the right fit for you in the first place.

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Cultural Icons and Web3 w/ Jeff Staple Apr 26, 2022

Jeff Staple is a creative visionary with work encompassing graphic design, fashion design, footwear design, and brand marketing. He is the founder of the REED ART DEPARTMENT (f.k.a. Staple Design) and has worked on creative projects ranging from startup brands to Fortune 100 companies. Jeff founded STAPLE in 1997, the NY-based pioneering streetwear brand with the now infamous “Pigeon” logo.

On this episode, Jeff talks his take on NFTs and Web 3, why he never made his own sneaker label, and finding a lane and value in collecting.

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Gaming & The Genesis of the Metaverse Apr 19, 2022

Metaverse, metaverse, metaverse. We hear this term almost daily now. But, what is it, especially when it comes to gaming?

On this episode from AfroTech World 2022, tap in to this conversation with 3 gaming, VR, and metaverse experts: Mary Spio, CEO & Founder at Ceek VR Metaverse, Erin Ashley Simon, Gaming and Entertainment Host, Co-Owner of Xset, and Chris Barbour, Director fo AR Content Business Dev & Partnerships at Meta

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Community, Crypto, and Culture... DAOs w/ Derrick Thomas Apr 12, 2022

You keep hearing people say 'DAO', but what exactly is it? Who can start one? Is there any money in it? Can I engage with my community better by using DAO technology?

On this episode, Will Lucas, Brand Manager at AfroTech, speaks with Derrick 'DT' Thomas, Founder and CEO at DAO Labs and co-creator of MiamiTechRuns and LATechRuns about how to start a DAO and how to create community in Web3.

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Building a Million Dollar Beauty / Barber Business with Courtney Adeleye, Dave Salvant, and Songe LaRon Apr 05, 2022

Building a large business in the beauty, barber, and wellness industries is no easy feat. These sectors are ripe for competition, and historically, don't scale.

On todays episode, Will Lucas, Brand Manager at AfroTech talks with entrepreneurs who've built million dollar enterprises in an industry that is known for being a hodge-podge of hustlers with no actual business operations to see how they did it, and you can too.

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The Future of Black Media w/ 4 Powerhouse Media Moguls Mar 29, 2022

Have you ever wanted to pick the brain of present day media mogul to get their hot takes on how you can find your way into brand deals, TV castings and paid influencer/celebrity status? On this episode, we tap in with Ahmed Islam, CEO at Ten35, a full-service advertising company that leans into culture, Michelle Ghee, CEO at Ebony / Jet, Rahsan-Rahsan Lindsey, CEO at MediaCo, and Detavio Samuels, CEO at REVOLT.

This conversation was recorded at the first AfroTech Executive, held in Los Angeles, California.

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Documenting the journey w/ Will Lucas Mar 22, 2022

'A life worth living is worth recording'. These are words to live by, from a great entrepreneur and speaker. On this episode, Will Lucas, Brand Manager for AfroTech and Black Tech Green Money discusses why you should put in the work to document your journey via a personal journal, blog, podcast, or YouTube channel, and how your story has value to both your audience and future-you.

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Rewind: AT World 2022: Venture Capital in Los Angeles w/ Slauson & Co Mar 15, 2022

Venture capital, especially these days - when technology is shifting so quickly - has to follow the convictions of passionate and studied investors.

In the days of many Black founders building venture-worthy business, Web 3 and the Blockchain, we need investors who think differently. The team at Slauson & Co are working to do just that.

On this episode from AfroTech World 2020, the founders speak with Blavity COO Aaron Samuels about doing venture in Los Angeles, opportunities for Black Founders, and learnings from being in the game for years.

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Determining your value in Web 3.0 w/ Solo Ceesay Mar 08, 2022

Solo Ceesay is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Calaxy, an open social marketplace for creators, by creators, that aims to reimagine the entertainment industry and the fundamental ways with which we all interact digitally. I met Solo, in person, at AfroTech Exec, where he spent a lot of time talking about how the met averse will change the game for influencers and marketers

On this episode, we talk about determining the value of NFTs, what the metaverse will look like in 5 years, and how influencers can tokenize themselves for huge rewards.

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What Is A Crypto Wallet w/ Will Lucas Mar 01, 2022

On this episode, Will Lucas, AfroTech Brand Manager and host/producer of Black Tech Green Money discusses the differences between various crypto wallet types, and which you should go with if you prefer simplicity over security.

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The Power of DAOs w/ Ashley Caines Feb 22, 2022

Ashley Caines is a self taught crypto trader and Web 3.0 enthusiast, and she uses her passion for educating and mentoring Black women about crypto, blockchain technology and the value of DAOs to lead Blavity's presence and projects in the crypto space.

On this episode, Ashley speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how DAOs work, governance structures and token rewards, and what's in store at AfroTech Executive 2022 in Miami.

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How To Responsibly Own An NFT w/ Will Lucas Feb 15, 2022

Will Lucas is the Brand Manager at AfroTech, the largest Black tech digital platform and conference globally, and Black Tech Green Money.

On this episode, Will talks about critical ideas of NFT ownership, like storage and decentralization. You may think you really own your NFT, but if its not properly stored, it could be gone tomorrow. Learn how to steer clear of "rug pulls" and scams by listening in.

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Small Business and Tech Money Moves w/ Tanya Sam Feb 08, 2022

Tanya Sam is a tech savvy businesswoman. and Director of Partnerships at TechSquare Labs, an Atlanta based technology startup hub and venture capital fund. She also starred on the show The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

On this episode, Tanya talks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about building a team to help you on your wealth creation journey, the real effort it takes to win, and moonlighting until your side hustle becomes your main hustle.

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17 NFT Terms You Should Know w/ Will Lucas Feb 01, 2022

Will Lucas is the Brand Manager at AfroTech, the largest Black tech digital platform and conference globally, and Black Tech Green Money.

On this episode, Will talks about some of the most important terms anyone should know when getting into NFTs, either as a producer of NFT assets, or as an investor.

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We're in an NFT Moment w/ Will Lucas Jan 25, 2022

There are plenty of features and ways of engaging in the world of NFTs that - if you’re waiting for things to get simpler, you’re really just going to miss some great opportunities. And, this message isn’t to be hyperbolic, or to exaggerate the moment we’re in.

But, the truth is, we’re in a moment.

On this episode, Will Lucas, Brand Manager at AfroTech and Black Tech Green Money, talks about the complexities of engaging in the world of NFTs, and why you shouldn't let that dissuade you from getting in the game.

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Here's $40 million to reimagine education w/ Ruben Harris Jan 18, 2022

Ruben Harris CEO and Co-Founder at Career Karma, which gives you the information, tools, and support you need to quickly get into a tech career. They recently announced a $40 million series B to bolster their efforts to reimagine education.

On the episode, Ruben talks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the future of education, what colleges and universities need to do to compete, and his $40 million series B.

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Venture Capital 101 w/ Nasir Qadree Jan 11, 2022

Nasir Qadree is the Founder and Managing Partner of Zeal Capital Partners, a Washington, DC-based inclusive investment vehicle focused on partnering with exceptional management teams with diverse backgrounds and skillsets narrowing America’s Wealth and Skills gap. He entered the world of venture capital six years ago, and announced last year that that he’d closed an oversubscribed first fund with $62.1 million, making it one of the largest funds to be raised by a solo general partner to date. It was initially targeting $25 million.

On this episode, Nasir speaks with Will Lucas about the fundamentals of VC, what a fund is, how partners operate, and how founders navigate the fundraising process successfully.

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Funding and Addressing the Needs of the Underrepresented founders and consumers w/ Sean Mendy Jan 04, 2022

Sean Mendy is a co-founding Partner of Concrete Rose which invests financial & social capital into exceptional ventures led by underrepresented founders of color, founders addressing the needs of underrepresented consumers of color, and founders with a demonstrated commitment to creating inclusive cultures and building diverse teams.

On this episode, Sean speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about growing up in Silicon Valley and how it shapes his worldview, and how his professional work gets more Black people hired at startups.

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Understanding Equity Cap Tables w/ Marlon Nichols Dec 28, 2021

Marlon Nichols, a VC with Mac Venture Capital is on the main stage helping us understand startup funding rounds, and their impacts on the cap table, a spreadsheet or table that shows the equity capitalization for a company. Cap tables include all the equity in a company, like common and preferred shares, and more.

Marlon is THE person to give this talk, he’s a seed-stage venture capitalist that invests in visionary founders building the future that the world wants to see. Some of his current and previous portfolio companies include Blavity (which owns AfroTech), Gimlet Media, LISNR, Mayvenn, MongoDB, PlayVS, and more. This talk was presented at AfroTech 2017, held in San Francisco, CA.

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The Business of eSports w/ Delane Parnell Dec 21, 2021

Delane Parnell is founder and CEO at PlayVS, which makes a Web app used by U.S. schools to create esports teams and participate in state-sanctioned, competitive leagues. The app schedules matches, tracks player statistics and auto-reports wins and losses, which prevent cheating in popular games like League of Legends.

His startup has raised $96 million dollars in just 13 months.

This talk is a throwback to AfroTech 2019, held in Oakland, CA. Delane joins Blavity’s HNIC Morgan DeBaun on the main stage.

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Toy Making, Representation, and Securing Shelf Space w/ Yelitsa Jean-Charles Dec 14, 2021

Yelitsa Jean-Charles is the founder and CEO of Healthy Roots Dolls, which makes toys that represent more diverse backgrounds. A Detroit native, her dolls teach natural hair care to young girls of color through the toys.

On this episode, Yelitsa chats with AfroTech's Will Lucas about toys and social impact, acquiring or being acquired, and how startups can secure shelf space in major retail outlets.

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How to Mint Your First NFT w/ Will Lucas Dec 07, 2021

NFT has become Collins Dictionary's word of the year for 2021. The technology, which is game-changing for creators has generated much excitement in the world of tech and art, and soon, will be common in mainstream conversation.

On this episode, Will Lucas, Brand Manager at AfroTech, host of the Black Tech Green Money podcast and an NFT enthusiast helps to break down the exact steps to creating and minting your first non-fungible token.

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All the fuss about NFTs w/ Ros Gold Unwude Nov 30, 2021

Rosalyn Gold-Onwude is a sports broadcaster and played college basketball at Stanford and the Nigeria women's national basketball team. She’s also a heavy NFT head, an investor and believer in the future of digital collectibles.

Ros speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas on the AfroTech World 2021 stage, alongside Morgan DeBaun, CEO and Co-Founder at Blavity, about NFTs, digital collectibles, and investing in art.

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How VCs Raise Money w/ Lo Toney Nov 23, 2021

Lo is the Founding Managing Partner of Plexo Capital, which is an institutional investment firm he incubated and spun out from GV (Google Ventures).

On this episode, Lo talks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about how VCs raise capital, the myth of Silicon Valley, and how legislation keeps would-be Black founders from large wealth-building opportunities.

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Black Narratives and Streaming Platforms w/ DeShuna Spencer & Sean B. Nov 16, 2021

Deshuna Spencer is Founder and CEO at Kweli TV, a streaming platform featuring 500+ undiscovered, award-winning indie films, documentaries, web series & kids shows celebrating global black stories. Sean B. is creator of Connect, the Series which now streams on @kweliTV.

The platform developer and content creator talk with Will Lucas about the need for our ownership of the Black narrative, and how media constructs our world view, when it may not be what is reality on the ground.

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Sports is Culture, and How We Capitalize w/ Kai Bond Nov 09, 2021

Kai bond is an investor, founder and entrepreneur and serves as partner at Courtside VC which focuses on sports, gaming, and fitness verticals.

On this episode, Kai speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about the differences between sports of yesteryear, and the sports of today - and why the sports of today, is ripe for innovation in ways it's never been before.

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How Black Talent Imagines and Builds the Future w/ Janeen Uzzell Nov 02, 2021

Janeen Uzzell is an American global technology executive and CEO of the National Society of Black Engineers. She previously served as Director of Healthcare Programs in Africa and Head of Women in Technology for General Electric and as COO of the Wikimedia Foundation.

On this episode, Janeen speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about why engineers need global experiences and how Black engineers can leverage our contributions to culture.

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How founders and VCs will miss out if they don't pay attention to the rest of the world w/ Maisha Leek Oct 26, 2021

Maisha Leek was, at the time of this recording, a partner at Human Ventures, an NYC based venture capital firm and startup studio. Today, she's Managing Director at A/B Partners, a digital storytelling agency.

On this episode, AfroTech's Will Lucas sits down with Maisha Leek to talk about the capitalism with heart, opportunity in flyover country, and distributed teams.

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Putting yourself in a position to be successful w/ Will Lucas Oct 19, 2021

One of my favorite quotes is by the late, great Steve Jobs who said 'You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.' This quote is a summation of my life experience.

On this episode, I discuss how intentionally putting yourself in a position to be successful can open up doors of opportunity that you couldn't have prescribed in advance, and how putting in generous, thoughtful, and disciplined work creates an environment ripe for your success.

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TERM SHEETS, a talk with New York VC, Richard Kerby Oct 12, 2021

Richard is Co-Founder and General Partner at Equal Ventures. Prior to co-founding Equal Ventures, Richard was an investor at Venrock, where he led seed-stage and Series A stage investments in 6Sense, Amino Apps, Beckon, Burner, Luxe Valet, and Salsify.

On this episode, AfroTech's Will Lucas sits down with Richard Kerby to talk about the things that are at the core of Venture Capital: investing early stage entrepreneurs and startups, and how to know if a startup is a good fit for your investment profile.

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Big Tech's investment in Black Led Startups w/ Jewel Burks Solomon and Joey Womack Oct 05, 2021

Jewel Burks Solomon is the Head of Google for Startups in the US. She works to level the playing field for underrepresented startup founders and communities by connecting them with the best of Google’s products, people and platforms. Joey Womack is the mind behind Goodie Nation which exists to eliminate the relationship gap that stands in the way of success for too many promising entrepreneurs, especially those who are people of color, women, or aren't located in coastal financial centers.

On this episode, Jewel and Joey talk with Will Lucas about Google's investment into Black startup founders and investing in socially focused startups that may not be billion-dollar businesses.

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Proof you can raise millions building tech for social justice w/ Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins Sep 28, 2021

Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins is a social justice advocate and CEO at Promise, which helps people avoid utility shutoffs, license revocations, sky-high interest fees, and even incarceration with flexible, interest-free payment plan, a range of payment options, and 24/7 client support. She was also a union organizer and previously served as Princes manager.

On this episode, Phaedra talks with Will Lucas about how tech can amplify social justice work, how one experience prepares you for the next, and how to pivot gracefully.

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How to Become a VC Investor as a Black Woman with Ita Ekpoudom Sep 21, 2021

Ita Ekpoudom is partner at Gingerbread Capital, and her mission is to engage, educate, and elevate the next generation of successful women business leaders and investors. She holds an MBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurial Management from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and a certificate in Finance, from Princeton University.

On Term Sheets, a 3 episode video series, which is available to watch in full on YouTube, I travelled to NYC to meet Ita to discuss venture capital in New York City, and what it takes to be a successful venture capitalist.

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Leaders of the New Cannabis Industry Sep 14, 2021

Al Harrington and Wilson Chandler are both former NBA players turned businessmen. John Monopoly is Kanye West’s manager. The partners joined forces to work together on expanding the current 3% market share of the cannabis industry that is owned by black people.

On this episode, the entrepreneurs and investors talk with Will Lucas about Village, the largest, national conglomerate for black-owned cannabis brands and Nobody’s Home, a free music festival featuring top Rap and R&B Acts.

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How you too can raise $18.2 Million w/ Clarence Bethea Sep 07, 2021

Clarence Bethea is founder and CEO of Upsie, a technology company offering consumers an alternative when purchasing extended warranties for electronics like mobile devices and home appliances.

He recently closed an $18 million Series A funding round.

On this episode, Clarence speaks with Will Lucas about raising large startup financing rounds, capital intensive launch strategies, and how to make warranties sexy.

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Black Ownership of Music Festivals w/ J. Carter Aug 31, 2021

J. Carter is co-founder and chief marketing officer of the One Music Fest, one of the ONLY existing Black owned live music events in the country. He’s found a ton of success with his event expertise finding partnerships with some of the biggest global brands like Adidas, MillerCoors, BMW, Heineken and more.

On this episode, J. Carter speaks with Will Lucas about venture capital for entertainment, AR & VR for live events, and how to keep going and believing when the losses seem to mount.

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How to build Generational Wealth w/ A. Donahue Baker Aug 24, 2021

A. Donahue Baker, co-founder and CEO at Money Avenue teaches Entrepreneurship at Morehouse College and is also a Certified Public Accountant that specializes in helping clients create generational wealth through real estate acquisitions and entrepreneurial investment opportunities.

On this episode, A. Donahue speaks with Will Lucas about how to leverage the tax code for personal benefit, the importance of life insurance at all ages, and how to get started investing with as little as $500.

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Success is Compounding w/ Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche Aug 17, 2021

Tiffany Aliche, founder of “The Budgetnista”, is an award-winning teacher of financial education, and America's favorite personal financial educator. She is the author of Get Good with Money (a New York Times Bestseller), The One Week Budget, and the Live Richer Challenge series.

On this episode, Tiffany talks with Will Lucas about how to develop a content strategy that gets attention, LLC Twitter and the Tax Code, and bootstrapping a million-dollar business.

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Truckers need tech too w/ Pierre Laguerre of Fleeting Aug 10, 2021

Pierre Laguerre is CEO and Founder at Fleeting, a commercial fleet management and services company and the first Black man ever to raise more than $1 million from a crowdfunding campaign.

On this episode, he speaks with Will Lucas about how tech can avoid displacing people while still aiming for disruption, how technology improves logistics and the wealth opportunity for truckers, and why autonomous trucks are still 20 years out.

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Understanding Startup Equity Compensation w/ Malcolm Etheridge Aug 03, 2021

Malcolm Etheridge is a certified financial planner, speaker and blogger. His areas of expertise include retirement planning, investment portfolio development, tax planning, insurance, stock options and other executive benefits.

On this episode, Malcolm speaks with AfroTech's Will Lucas about who qualifies for equity at a startup, understanding the value of your shares, and paper millionaires.

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AI Bias, DEI and Tech Law w/ Bärí A. Williams Jul 27, 2021

Bärí A. Williams is COO of Bandwagon Fan Club. Inc., a data and identity analytics tech company focused on the sports and entertainment space, and a diversity, inclusion and corporate social responsibility consultant. Prior to Bandwagon, she held executive roles at companies like All Turtles, StubHub and Facebook.

On this episode, Bari speaks with Will Lucas about how artificial intelligence can be biased, the real meaning of DEI, and how lawyers can be critical to startup success.

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Leveraging Data to Amplify Social Events & Sell More Tickets w/ Jeff Osuji Jul 20, 2021

Jeff Osuji is a serial entrepreneur and Co-Founder at Eventnoire, a technology start-up and event ticketing platform that seeks to support and promote Black enterprises and cultural events.

On this episode, Jeff speaks with Will Lucas about discrimination in the events industry, how startups can make power moves in the same waters with bigger fish, and how promoters can leverage data to engage bigger audiences.

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Owning our voice in social media w/ Ayinde Alakoye Jul 13, 2021

Ayinde Alakoye is founder and CEO at Nēdl, the live audio platform where anyone can create a live call-in radio show that transcribes, amplifies & monetizes words as they're spoken. Nēdl also serves as an AI-powered search engine for live audio broadcast. Ayinde served as a speech contributor and message advisor to Senator Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential election campaign.

On this episode, Ayinde speaks with Will Lucas about the fast-growing audio technology industry, the opportunity for creators, speakers, and influencers with live-broadcast content, and how he aims to challenge Silicon Valley startup darlings.

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How creatives claim a seat at the table or build their own w/ Bimma Williams Jul 06, 2021

Bimma Williams is a creative industry leader, former executive at Nike, Yeezy (Adidas) and Saucony. Currently, he runs the #1 iTunes rated career podcast, 'Claima', which is a career discovery podcast to help Black and Brown creatives discover their dream careers.

On this episode, Bimma talks with Will Lucas about the institutional constrains to building big brands, how design collaborations work, and how creatives claim a seat at the table, or build their own.

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Success in Business is Tied to Community w/ Dr. Key Hallmon Jun 29, 2021

Dr. Key Hallmon is the founder and CEO of The Village Market, and cultivates events to provide a platform for socially-conscious, black-owned startups and entrepreneurs to get support, build community, and showcase their products and services.

On this episode, Dr. Key talks with Will Lucas about 'Support' as a verb, strategies to building community around commerce, and how communities can replicate Atlanta's Black business success.

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Building A Tech Empire Anywhere w/ Hajj Flemings Jun 22, 2021

Hajj Flemings is the founder at Rebrand Cities, a global civic design partnership with WordPress.com which holds the audacious goal is to get 10,000 local small businesses online.

On this episode, Hajj speaks with Will Lucas about how to build a tech ecosystem anywhere, connecting the right players to build a tech ecosystem, and why Silicon Valley isn't the only place to find tech success.

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Need an app built? Here's how you can do it yourself. w/ Tara Reed Jun 15, 2021

Tara Reed is a non-technical founder building software without writing code. She's the founder of 'Apps Without Code' the #1 online school for app entrepreneurs which helps anyone come up with a strong app idea, build it without writing code, and teaches them how to make money from their app idea.

On this episode, Tara speaks with Will Lucas about what's required to build an app, the difference between native apps and web apps, and how to determine if your app idea is worth the investment of time and money.

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Build your own shopping app in 10 minutes without learning to code w/ Sterling Smith Jun 08, 2021

Sterling Smith is the founder at Sandbox Commerce, which helps store owners launch e-commerce apps without having to learn to code, and in less than 10 minutes.

On this episode, Sterling chat's with Will Lucas about who needs a custom app and who doesn't, how to scale a small retail business by selling online, and how to gather and translate business data for financial wins.

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How Black founders can build for the mass market w/ Harold Hughes Jun 01, 2021

Harold Hughes is the Founder and CEO at Bandwagon, a venture-backed identity infrastructure company that helps its customers transparently manage, aggregate, and store valuable consumer identity data. He's also a prominent tech speaker, community builder and investor.

On this episode, Harold speaks with Will Lucas about how to avoid getting pigeon-hold as a Black founder, community building as a B2B company, and how to stop getting declined for accelerators and startup competitions.

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The Tech You DON'T Build Can Still Make You Very, Very Rich w/ Travis Montaque May 25, 2021

Travis Montaque is the Founder and CEO of Holler, a messaging technology company that delivers content in messaging environments like texts, social media and payment apps.

On this episode, Travis chats with Will Lucas about how to bring empathy in technology, how emojis are a new language, and finding business success by leveraging third party apps.

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How Entrepreneurs In Residence Translate Value for Startups and VCs w/ Davyeon Ross May 18, 2021

Davyeon Ross is the co-founder at ShotTracker, a sensor-based system that delivers statistics and analytics to sports teams, fans and broadcast networks instantly, and serves as an Entrepreneur In Residence at Coalition Venture Studio, an initiative launched by R/GA Ventures in support of Black founders.

On this episode, Davyeon talks with Will Lucas about how EIRs translate value for both startups and venture capitalists, how diverse teams can outperform but still get less funding, and how anyone can still participate in sports long after their glory days.

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Blitzscaling a Wellness Brand w/ Janell Stephens May 11, 2021

Janell Stephens is the mix-master, founder and CEO at Camille Rose. She's been at the forefront of the radical shift in the billion dollar beauty industry, and has been an iconic trendsetter within the space. Her products are available in stores nationwide, including Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sally’s Beauty, Whole Foods, Walgreens, CVS and more.

On this episode, Janell speaks with Will Lucas about how wellness brands can use social media to boost their brands, how to secure shelf space in a retail store, and what systems are needed to scale a skincare and haircare businesses.

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Tech Entrepreneurship For The Rest Of Us w/ Damon Brown May 04, 2021

Damon Brown is a tech entrepreneur, author and speaker who helps side hustlers, solopreneurs, and other non-traditional creatives bloom. He co-founded the popular platonic connection app Cuddlr and led it to acquisition within a year, all while being the primary caretaker of his infant first son.

On this episode, Damon talks with Will Lucas about how anyone can succeed in starting their own venture.

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Lunchtable Talks: Building a Classic Brand: From Personal Brand to E-Commerce Merchandising w/ Chris Classic Apr 27, 2021

Modern renaissance man Chris Classic is an American Music Award winning recording artist, social media influencer and business owner. He's the founder the lifestyle brand Savoir Faire, which features a signature fragrance and personal accessories.

Chris's music can be heard on several movie soundtracks including Alvin and the Chipmunks, Fifty Shades of Grey, Just Wright, Horrible Bosses and many more. And, the demand for his signature fragrance is in higher demand than ever before.

On this episode, Chris talks with Will Lucas about leveraging a personal brand to expand your opportunities in e-commerce and merchandising.

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Special White House Episode: A New American Economy Apr 20, 2021

Bharat Ramamurti, National Economic Council Deputy Director for the Biden Administration joins Will Lucas to talk about The American Jobs Plan President Joe Biden is initiating to re-imagine the American Economy.

On this special episode we discuss creating a new American economy, how Black entrepreneurs and techies can participate and win contracts, and the space for entrepreneurship when Black companies receive less venture funding.

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Lunchtable Talks: Smart Cities and Black Power w/ Jessica O. Matthews Apr 13, 2021

Jessica O. Matthews is the Founder & CEO of Uncharted Power, an award-winning renewable power and sustainability company, now on the bleeding edge of creating smart cities around the world. The company was founded by Jessica when she was only 22 years old.

On this episode, Jessica speaks with Will Lucas about the trillion-dollar opportunity in smart cities and sustainable energy, where Black people are uniquely positioned to reimagine energy infrastructure, and how to partner with governments to build the cities of the future.

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There's A Lot Of Money in Black Excellence w/ Trell Thomas Apr 06, 2021

Trell Thomas is the Founder of the Black Excellence Brunch, an annual event that gives #BlackExcellence a seat at the table. His work spans from career beginnings on the historic Obama Presidential Campaign in 2008 to overseeing talent relations and communication within some of the biggest brands at Viacom to perfectly aligning social good causes, corporations and celebrities.

On this episode, he chat's with Will Lucas about betting on the excellence of Black culture, how to make money producing live events, and building lucrative relationships in business.

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Democratizing the Creative Opportunity w/ Don Cannon and Kayla Shelton Mar 30, 2021

DJ Don Cannon, CEO Kayla Shelton are the co-founders of TmrO App, an app that helps you book a creative freelancer within minutes. Cannon is a multiplatinum music producer, and Kayla is a former performer, and lifestyle entrepreneur.

On this episode, Don and Kayla join Will Lucas to discuss how creatives can capitalize on their skills without being beholden to big corporations, how creatives can be entrepreneurial without being entrepreneurs, and how to stand out in saturated markets.

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Black Tech Green Money is now part of The Black Effect Podcast Network! Mar 29, 2021

Black Tech Green Money is now part of the Black Effect Podcast Network! BTGM presents the stories of successful Black entrepreneurs and technologists, as well as actionable advice and wealth building strategies from a Black perspective.

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Becoming a Black Investor with Arlan Hamilton Mar 23, 2021

Arlan Hamilton is an investor and the founder and managing partner of Backstage Capital which specializes in investing in Women, People of Color, and LGBT founders. She released her first book from Penguin Random House entitled It's About Damn Time, which is based on her personal journey into entrepreneurship and venture capital.

On this episode, Arlan speaks with Will Lucas about investing against the grain, who a person needs to be to be a good investor, and the makeup of a strong pitch.

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Owning your contribution to the culture w/ Isaac Hayes III Mar 09, 2021

Isaac Hayes III, also known as Ike Dirty, is an American record producer, voice actor, and founder of Fanbase, a subscription-based social network that is helping users monetize their content. He chats with Will Lucas about how he raised more than $1mm via crowdfunding, and how Black people can finally monetize the culture we create.

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How to know if people want what you're selling w/ Olori Swank Mar 02, 2021

Olori Swank is a Serial Entrepreneur, Celebrity Fashion Stylist and Author known for her electric blue hair and fearless style. On this episode, she chats with Will Lucas about how to find success with e-commerce and how to know if people want what you have.

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Investing in Mentorship to Reach New Levels of Success with Ronne Brown Feb 23, 2021

Ronne Brown is the founder and CEO at Girl CEO, a multi-faceted platform built specifically for female entrepreneurs, and helps women learn how to become the CEO in their lives to reach the success they desire. Ronne chat's with Will Lucas about finding success by investing in (actually paying for) mentorship and coaches, and how to test market interest before you invest in merch.

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Most Black Startups Don't Raise $1MM Plus. Here's How You Can w/ Nash Ahmed Jan 26, 2021

Nash Ahmed is the Founder and CEO of Undock, an artificial intelligence-enabled meeting platform built for the future of work. In 2020, he raised a $1.6M seed round that was oversubscribed. Nash chat's with Will Lucas about how successful startups describe their companies in one sentence, keys to raising a million plus, and how to sell the future.

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Building or Buying Into A Franchise The Right Way w/ Dennis McKinley Jan 19, 2021

Dennis McKinley is the CEO of a business conglomerate Detroit Equities, which runs the Atlanta-based businesses Cru Hookah Lounge and the Original Hot Dog Factory which boasts franchise operations nationally. A Detroit native, he’s described as a serial entrepreneur and has a background in real estate, retail, nightclub promotion and franchising. Dennis chat's with Will Lucas about how growing up in Detroit played into shaping his entrepreneurial spirit, and how to find success in franchising.

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The Business of Making Black Millionaires w/ Collab Capital Jan 12, 2021

Collab Capital is an investment fund helping Black founders build sustainable, innovation-centered businesses. The partners, Barry Givens, Jewel Burks and Justin Dawkins are previously operators and engineers who've raised significant venture capital, and successfully sold their companies. The partners chat with Will Lucas about whats missing in venture capital to meet the needs of Black founders, how wealth generation impacts our community, and using contractors to build your startup.

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The Space for Entrepreneurship in Content with Detavio Samuels Jan 07, 2021

One of corporate America's youngest executives and co-head of Diddy's Revolt Media & TV, Detavio Samuels has helped some of the world's biggest companies (including Walmart, Chrysler LLC, NBA and Johnson & Johnson) build their brands and connect to consumers. He was previously at Urban One. Detavio chats with Will Lucas about how Black people can capitalize on the culture we drive, ownership in media, and scaling content.

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Economics of the Culture with Gillie Da King & @Wallo267 Jan 05, 2021

Gillie Da King and @Wallo267 are the hosts of the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast - which is described as the perfect blend of discussions on music, real life issues, personal experiences, honest advice and comedy. @GillieDaKing and @Wallo267 chat with Will Lucas about understanding our value in business, authenticity on social media, and how their unique life journey's led to podcasting success.

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Generational Wealth, Legacy and Black Banking w/ Ryan Glover Dec 22, 2020

Ryan Glover is the co-founder and chairman of Greenwood bank, a new digital bank designed for Black and Latinx communities. Previously he was co-founder and CEO at Noontime, a music publishing and production company, and he's co-founder and CEO at Bounce TV. Ryan talks with Will Lucas about why Black banking efforts haven’t led to generational and transformative wealth for African Americans, and tips for successful partnerships - the kind that have led to his personal success.

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Finding a Way into a Career in Venture Capital w/ Hadiyah Mujhid Dec 18, 2020

Hadiyah Mujhid is the Founder and CEO of HBCUvc, a nonprofit mobilizing the next generation of venture capitalists to increase access to capital for communities historically overlooked. She brings an intersection of experience as a Black woman, software engineer, and technical founder. Hadiyah chat's with Will Lucas about how Black people can break down the barriers that keep us from being institutional investors, and the unique value a VC from an HBCU might bring to tech startups.

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Investing in the Double Bottom Line w/ Mercedes Bent Dec 15, 2020

Mercedes Bent is a Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, a multi-stage venture capital firm with offices around the world. Previously she served as General Manager at General Assembly (acquired, 2018) where she oversaw a multi-million dollar business line. Mercedes chat's with Will Lucas about how engaged VCs should be with startup operations, how she recommends founders vet their potential investors, and how she thinks about her investments ways other than just bottom-line returns.

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Knowing your numbers is the key to the bag w/ Courtney Adeleye Dec 08, 2020

As founder and CEO of The Mane Choice, Courtney Adeleye, built her innovative hair empire to reported net sales of over $25 million. The company was acquired by MAV Beauty Brands. Her products are sold in over 20,000 retail stores and has a lineup of more than 90 hair treatments. Courtney chat's with Will Lucas about how to scale a hair care brand, and remain profitable when the consumer is increasingly particular, and highly interested in the chemicals involved in making the products.

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Getting More Black Companies Past Series A w/ Elliott Robinson Dec 01, 2020

Elliott Robinson is partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. He’s focused on growth stage series C, D and E opportunities investing across the spectrum of Cloud Software, Consumer Internet, and Frontier Tech with check sizes between $20M and $150M. Elliott chat's with Will Lucas about how cloud computing accelerates innovation during the age of COVID in stubborn industries, how Black people can finally capitalize on the culture we lead, and how to get more Black-led startups past series A.

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Midwest Tech and Missed Opportunities with Candice Matthews Brackeen Nov 20, 2020

Candice Matthews Brackeen is the Founder and CEO of Lightship Capital, the Cincinnati based portfolio service firm including accelerators Hillman and NewMe, and venture capital fund Lightship. Candice raised the most money ever for a first time fund ran by a Black woman, a $50 million fund. Candice chat's with Will Lucas about why she can't make early bets on startups, and how she impacted state and local policy to help make her Midwest community more startup friendly.

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Cashing In on the Future of Work w/ Ruben Harris Nov 17, 2020

Ruben Harris is co-founder and CEO of Career Karma, a Silicon Valley startup that helps job training programs find qualified applicants. Ruben chat’s with Will Lucas about the future of work, and how anyone can break into startups.

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How Black culture leads all global culture w/ Tristan Walker Jul 28, 2020

Tristan Walker is the Founder & CEO of Walker & Company Brands which include the brands Bevel and FORM, both designed to meet the health and beauty needs of people of color. He sits on the Board of Directors for both Foot Locker and Shake Shack. Tristan chat’s with Will Lucas about if and why Black people should aspire to sit on corporate boards, and how Black culture leads all global culture.

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Building Profitable Business Models w/ Sherrell Dorsey Jul 21, 2020

Sherrell Dorsey is a data journalist, social entrepreneur, and speaker. She is the founder and CEO of The Plug—a distinctive, Black tech news and insights platform covering Black innovators in tech, venture capital, future of work policy, and more. Sherrell chat’s with Will Lucas about the why perspective is important when creating narratives around data like consumer trends and Black progress and innovation, and how to monetize content.

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Becoming a Master Marketer w/ Kenny Burns Jul 14, 2020

The Lifestyle Specialist Kenny Burns is a 20+ year music and entertainment industry influencer and executive. He was Senior Vice President of Brand Development at Combs Enterprises, the entrepreneurial aim for Sean P. Diddy Combs, and launched REVOLT TV while managing the Ciroc and Deleon Tequila brands for Combs Enterprises as well. Kenny chat’s with Will Lucas about monetizing your personal brand and staying authentic with your business moves.

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How Creatives Use Social Media To Capitalize On Their Art w/ Tuma Basa Jul 07, 2020

Tuma Basa is the Director of Urban Music at YouTube, and previously served as the global programming head for Hip Hop at Spotify, responsible for curating their widely popular playlists including RapCaviar, one of the biggest and most popular playlists with over 9 million followers. Tuma chat’s with Will Lucas about how creatives break through the noise and get noticed, and how artists can gain equity in the new landscape of music and distribution.

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The Art of Amplifying Social Impact w/ Sevetri Wilson Jun 30, 2020

Sevetri Wilson is a serial entrepreneur and founder at Resilia, a New Orleans based technology startup that helps nonprofit organizations increase capacity and enable enterprises that deploy billions of dollars scale their impact. Sevetri chat’s with Will Lucas about how non-profits scale their impact and transition from traditional fundraising for survival to business models that prioritize value exchange.

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The Art Of Brand Authenticity w/ Special Guest Karen Civil Jun 23, 2020

Karen Civil is a brand strategist who has built social media and digital strategies for companies like Beats by Dre and Universal Music Group as well as a host of artists, celebrities and politicians. Karen chat’s with Will Lucas about finding marketing opportunities on the Internet and finding lanes that are authentic to who you are so you can get paid to be yourself.

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The Deep Relationship Between Music & Tech w/ Bryan Michael Cox Jun 23, 2020

Bryan Michael Cox is a music producer and songwriter responsible for more than 100 million albums sales, 35 number one hits, and 12 grammy nominations (including 9 wins). While he’s less known for his business and entrepreneurial prowess, people are starting to take notice. Bryan talks with Will Lucas about the symbiotic relationship between music and technology, his multiple companies, and how tech has revolutionized music production.

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The power of the Black voice, and how to use tech to amplify it w/ Morgan DeBaun Jun 23, 2020

Morgan DeBaun is the co-founder and CEO at Blavity, which is home to AfroTech, 21 Ninety, Shadow And Act, and Travel Noire. She’s raised over 10 million dollars in venture funding to expand her empire, and leads a team of over 70 people. Alongside Blavity, Morgan also runs M. Roze Essentials, a beauty and skincare brand, Worksmart, a mentorship program for entrepreneurs, and launched the Growth Notebook, a daily mindset and productivity journal for entrepreneurs.

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Black Tech Green Money - Coming Soon Jun 16, 2020

Black Tech Green Money presents the stories of successful Black entrepreneurs and technologists, as well as actionable advice and wealth building strategies from a Black perspective. Subscribe now.

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