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Derek Lewis’ corporate experience gave him the upper hand in becoming a franchisee. Lewis had an extensive career at PepsiCo that spanned 35 years, and he managed multi-billion-dollar operations. He spent the first seven years in various sales roles before rising through the ranks to become Pepsi Bottling Group’s regional sales manager (2001–2004), followed by three separate vice president roles (2001-2008) and two senior vice president positions (2008-2019). He exited the company at the end of 2022 after serving as president of multicultural business at PepsiCo North America for one year. Franchisee Lewis is now occupied as a franchisee of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, with 10 traditional locations slated for Central Florida. He is projected to be the largest franchisee in the Southern Region of the United States, according to a news release shared with AFROTECH™. His locations have broken ground at Orlando’s Kia Center and Camping World Stadium, and most recently in Oviedo, FL. Leslie...
Entreprenuership is a risk that Monique Rodriguez was willing to take on. Business Risks Rodriguez is the co-founder of haircare brand Mielle Organics, which she launched with the help of her husband, Melvin. She shares on the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast, hosted by AFROTECH™ Brand Manager Will Lucas, that her earliest risk in her entrepreneurship journey was walking away from a stable position as a registered nurse. Melvin also took a leap, leaving his corporate role. Together, they trusted in what they believed was a vision from God and created a blueprint that ultimately led to success. “We didn’t just leave our jobs and say, ‘Oh, we don’t have a plan in place or we don’t have income.’ We had to have a solid plan in place to map out how we were going to get some type of income to still keep our bills afloat and food in our kids’ mouth. So we had to plan that out. But it was a huge risk of the unknown, of both of us turning away from our jobs,” Rodriguez mentioned on the...
The third annual Black Effect Podcast Festival will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Pullman Yards in Atlanta, GA. Founder Charlamagne Tha God will join popular personalities from his and iHeartMedia’s Black Effect Podcast Network for the one-day festival — which promises some of the “biggest and best” podcasts — featuring live recordings to amplify Black voices and informative discussions to inspire the next generation of podcasters. The Black Effect Marketplace will also be in full effect, featuring various Black-owned businesses and a lineup of food trucks to keep the energy high throughout the day. “We’re excited to return to Atlanta, building on the incredible momentum of the podcast industry and the growing impact of Black creators in the space,” Charlamagne said in a statement. Mandii B and WeezyWTF, hosts of the “Decisions, Decisions” podcast, will host the festival with sounds by DJ Loui Vee of 105.3 The Beat in Atlanta. Appearances are anticipated by popular...
Spill is allowing its users to have a stake in its success. As AFROTECH™ previously reported , the social media app was created by Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell and DeVaris Brown who had both worked for Twitter. In 2022, Terrell was laid off around the time Elon Musk had acquired the platform now known as X, while Brown had exited the company in 2020. Terrell says the focus in Spill’s creation was to support his colleagues and to answer a personal call, which was branching out to build a new platform. “Starting as a non-technical founder, that was a pretty daunting challenge. And I think it was that mindset of just determination that no matter what, I’m going to figure out a way to make something,” Terrell shared on the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast hosted by AFROTECH™ Brand Manager Will Lucas. “If I don’t raise a dollar, if I got to do whatever, everything starts, I think, from that particular mindset, and that is what’s magnetized.” He continued, “I think the type of energy that...
Morgan DeBaun went against Silicon Valley’s metric of success. Her entrepreneurial journey began at age 13 when she started investing in the stock market. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and entrepreneurship from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. By 2014, she had become a founder and CEO, launching Blavity Inc. — a global company dedicated to providing media and product solutions for Black Millennial and Gen Z consumers, as well as businesses and organizations aiming to connect with this audience. By 25 years old, she became one of the few Black women founders to secure $1 million in funding. Blavity Inc. has since continued to raise capital, successfully completing three acquisitions and integrations — two of which she executed before turning 24 years old, within just 18 months. The most recent, RNB House Party (now Blavity House Party), was acquired in November 2023. Today, Blavity Inc. encompasses brands like Blavity, AFROTECH™, 21Ninety, Travel...
Former Hartbeat CEO and award-winning producer Thai Randolph believes creators need to build a strong foundation in business. The serial entrepreneur, who currently serves as a board member and strategic advisor at Rock The Bells, knows firsthand what it takes to succeed. Randolph co-founded Hartbeat, the multi-platform media company now led by founder and comedian Kevin Hart. Hartbeat was valued at $650 million following a merger she spearheaded in 2022. She made history by leading one of the largest funding rounds ever secured by a Black woman. Beyond this, Randolph’s career encompasses success across content, consumers, and commerce. She has helped Hart, WPP, Publicis, Sony, and Facebook with brand development and revenue. While on the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast hosted by AFROTECH™ Brand Manager Will Lucas, she shared her industry insights on what she believes is a requirement for creators in today’s digital age. Business Acumen Is A Must “I really don’t think you can...
Kevin Hart is aligning himself with an initiative to support Black founders using artificial intelligence (AI). The AI Illumination Grant has been launched by the Fifteen Percent Pledge, a nonprofit advocacy organization founded by Aurora James. The initiative challenges retailers and corporations to allocate 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned brands. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, 29 retailers have committed to this pledge, benefiting 800 Black-owned brands . The Fifteen Percent Pledge is scaling its efforts to support Black entrepreneurs with the aid of Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz’s (A16z) Cultural Leadership Fund. Eligible members of the Fifteen Percent Pledge’s Business Equity Community are invited to apply for a chance to gain insights on leveraging AI and compete for a share of a $35,000 grant pool—$20,000 for the winner and $15,000 for the runner-up. “It is specifically focused on ensuring that the Black founders that are a part of the 15%...
Megan Holston-Alexander and Andreessen Horowitz’s Cultural Leadership Fund is shifting the investment mindset of cultural leaders. The Montgomery, AL, native is a partner at Andreessen Horowitz’s Cultural Leadership Fund, which connects global leaders such as athletes, entertainers, musicians, and C-level executives with emerging technology companies and champions the next generation of Blacks in technology. According to TechCrunch, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has a stake in at least 300 companies in sectors that include crypto, consumer, enterprise, fintech, healthcare, and biotech. It is also “Silicon Valley’s first venture capital fund consisting exclusively of Black cultural leaders and organizations,” its website mentions. Holston-Alexander is dedicated explicitly to wealth generation in technology for the Black community and is tasked with finding and sourcing deals. She has remained in her role at Andreessen Horowitz since 2020. “When you think about companies that have grown...
Corporate Executive Justin Grant wants to see more Black executives sponsor people within their community. Sponsorship allows an individual in a higher position than you to advocate for you in rooms with the goal of helping your career reach new heights, unlike mentorship , which typically is intended for skill building and obtaining more knowledge. “You want your boss’s peers in other departments to know who you are and to be in your network and to be folks that will, when your name comes up, when they’re deciding who to promote or who to give the bigger bonus to. ‘Yeah, I know that person. I vouch for them.’ So I think that’s the distinction,” Grant said on the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast hosted by AFROTECH™ Brand Manager Will Lucas. Grant credits three white individuals for serving as executive sponsors throughout his career and speaks to an alarming trend that he witnessed that has prompted a call to action. He notes that Black executives have been less inclined to open...
After her first business failed, Carolyn Rodz is now making it her mission to help other entrepreneurs succeed. Rodz was an investment banker for JPMorgan Chase between 2001 and 2005, per her LinkedIn. After exiting her job, she ventured into entrepreneurship , but that did not fare well, leading her to reenter the workforce. Although this was a trying time, it did not deter her from entrepreneurship altogether — she launched Cake, a digital media company, in 2009 and exited in 2015 — and it paved a pathway of opportunity for a wider community. “I knew very little about starting a company and my first business failed,” Rodz said in an interview with the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast. “I went back to work, paid off debts, licked my wounds for a bit, started a second company that I ultimately sold, ran it very differently with the lessons that I learned and feel very fortunate that I got to start over again because many people don’t have that opportunity. I was young and single and...
Beatrice Dixon does not want to police how shoppers spend their dollars, but she acknowledges the risks of neglecting business owners on shelves. Dixon is the co-founder, CEO, and chief innovation officer of The Honey Pot Company, which is a plant-based feminine-care company that sells washes, wipes, and pads. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, she experienced chronic vaginal issues, which prompted her to create a vulva-safe formula that she grew into a business in 2014 with the support of a $21,000 loan. The company scaled to more than 33,000 stores across the nation, including retailers like Target, Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens. In January 2024, the company was acquired by Compass Diversified in a deal valued at $380 million. Dixon maintains a significant minority stake in the business. Part of The Honey Pot Company’s success can be attributed to its strong presence in retail stores. However, there is a shift among consumers to be more strategic about where they spend their dollars...
Allow your money to work for you. Financial experts Carter Cofield and George Acheampong are bridging the gap in financial literacy among Black entrepreneurs and professionals. Through their platform, Melanin Money, they aim to close the $100 billion wealth gap and help their users achieve their first seven-figure net worth, its website notes. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the platform launched as an e-commerce brand but scaled into a financial social network in 2017. It offers courses on personal finance, wealth building, and entrepreneurship led by educators. In 2024, these workshops reached 20,000 people. “We decided to create this hybrid educational model where every other month we’re basically doing a virtual conference where people who may be not in a position to hire an advisor or are curious if an advisor is right for them, they get to learn our top strategies over the course of five days,” Acheampong said on the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast, which AFROTECH™ Brand...
The power of representation led Omar Johnson to recognize his potential as a marketer in the technology sector. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Johnson developed an interest in the field and discovered his passion for marketing. This motivated him to earn an MBA from Emory University in 2004, which paved the way for his career at Nike. He joined the company as an assistant brand manager in 2005 and, within two years, was promoted to content manager for advising and innovation. During his tenure at Nike, he was inspired by Trevor Edwards, who served as chief marketing officer before advancing to executive vice president of global brand and category management from 2003 to 2013. Edwards later became president of Nike Brand, a role he held until 2018. “One of my mentors, his name is Trevor Edwards, he was a president at Nike when I met him…Knew every part of the world that mattered when it came to culture and led this beautiful and big magnanimous way,” Johnson said on the “Black...
Lauren Harwell Godfrey, jewelry designer, entrepreneur, and founder of Harwell Godfrey, turned a hobby into a success story. Godfrey’s journey dates back to a career path where she sported several hats. She spent 15 years in the advertising space as a creative director and art director, collaborating with clients such as Adidas, Levi’s , and Ray-Ban. While speaking on the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast, she stated that this period in her career taught her how to communicate her visual ideas effectively. “I think that’s really served me well in the jewelry world because, again, I’m coming up with these designs. I’m not the actual bench jeweler who makes them,” she said on the podcast with host Will Lucas. Godfrey chose to walk away from the advertising space to nurture her spirit of creativity elsewhere. This led her to attend the San Francisco Cooking School and spend a year staging at Bar Tartine under Cortney Burns and Nick Balla, according to an interview with entrepreneur and...
Erin Harkless Moore believes artificial intelligence (AI) can improve the Care Economy. Since 2020, Moore has served as vice president and managing director of investments at Pivotal Ventures, a company launched by billionaire philanthropist Melinda French Gates to advance social progress and accelerate women’s influence globally, per its website. Gates has even committed $2 billion towards the mission. Furthermore, alongside partners, Pivotal Ventures prioritizes an expansive list of pillars within the $648 billion Care Economy, including mental health, paid medical and family leave, and women and tech innovation. Moore is tasked with leading a team responsible for selecting, investing in, and managing a diverse portfolio that adheres to Pivotal Ventures’ mission, her LinkedIn states. “We really start with our investment thesis and our direct investments in care looking at you know tech solutions that reduce burdens of care, lower cost of care, and improve access to care, and...