Black Tech Green Money

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more about other Black tech disruptors and innovators at AfroTech.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more about other Black tech disruptors and innovators at AfroTech.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more about other Black tech disruptors and innovators at AfroTech.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more about other Black tech disruptors and innovators at AfroTech.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more about other Black tech disruptors and innovators at AfroTech.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more about other Black tech disruptors and innovators at AfroTech.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.