1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 1: I'm Will Lucas and this is Black Tech, Green Money. 2 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 1: Megan Holsts and Alexander is a partner at Injuries and Horowitz, 3 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 1: where she leads the Cultural Leadership Fund, Silicon Valley's first 4 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:16,639 Speaker 1: venture capital fund consisting exclusively of black culture leaders and 5 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: organizations committed to black wealth generation. Megan overseas colf's dual 6 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: mission of connecting the world's greatest cultural leaders, including athletes, entertainers, musicians, 7 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: and sea level executives, to the best new technology companies 8 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,880 Speaker 1: and engaging in elevating African Americans in the technology industry. 9 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 1: Black culture has long influenced global trends. So you talk 10 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: about dance, music, food, you know, across the board fashion, 11 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 1: we influence all of it, but the economic participation hasn't 12 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: always been there. That has lagged. And I wonder what 13 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: your thoughts are on how black investors and entrepreneurs can 14 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: better capitalize on the culture that we helped create. 15 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely so, So that's a really good question, and 16 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 2: you are that is all factual and we've seen it, 17 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 2: you know, from even back in the day, in the 18 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 2: early days of in the early days of music in 19 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 2: different genres and hip hop like that has persisted that 20 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 2: the early contributors, quite frankly, were not kind of paid 21 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 2: and compensated equal to their input into the success of 22 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 2: that thing. And so for us, you know, we specifically 23 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 2: invest in tech. So my lens is around wealth generation 24 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 2: in technology, especially for black people. And I think there's 25 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 2: there's three way to do that in tech. Three ways 26 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 2: to do that in tech. The first is investing early 27 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 2: into the best new companies. And so when you think 28 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 2: about companies that have grown and IPO that we all 29 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 2: talk about, the you know, the facebooks and ANBs and 30 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 2: instacarts of the world, a lot of people who made 31 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 2: money when those companies went public were investors ten years 32 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 2: before that, right, So they were in and the seed 33 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 2: and the Sea and the Series B. So one of 34 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 2: the core things that I do in my role is 35 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 2: help black investors get on those early cap tables. How 36 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 2: do you invest in Facebook in two thousand and five, 37 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 2: So that's the first thing. You have to be an 38 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 2: investor early. The second thing is early employeehood. It's kind 39 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 2: of in a similar fashion, the folks who go and 40 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 2: work at the company when it's ten or fifty or 41 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 2: one hundred people have the opportunity to earn early employee 42 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 2: equity and that grows over time and turns into something 43 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 2: meaningful should that company have a really great liquidity event. 44 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 2: So working in tech early and sometimes that can be 45 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 2: a big risk. You never know how it will turn out. 46 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 2: But the reward of something like that, especially if it's 47 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 2: an area you're passionate about, can pay off immensely you 48 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 2: having that impact early with that company. And then the 49 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 2: final thing is actually putting capital into the hands of founders. 50 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:56,239 Speaker 2: We love seeing them be able to build and grow 51 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 2: their businesses. And that's one of the true ways to 52 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,799 Speaker 2: build wealth from your contributions and tech is it is 53 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:03,640 Speaker 2: starting a company. 54 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: And so I want to touch on Megan first. Of course, 55 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: there's a lot of ways I'm going to go off 56 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: of what you just said, but I want to make 57 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: I should people people understand who Megan is first. And 58 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: so you know you grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, correct, yes, sir, 59 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: deep history that city does in civil rights, deep deep history. 60 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: How did that How to growing up in that environment 61 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 1: influence who you are today? 62 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 2: That is a big question because but I guess the 63 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 2: answer is simple, because it's like everything the things that 64 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 2: people read about in books are the things that I 65 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 2: saw growing up. It was in the water I drank 66 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 2: growing up as a kid, Right folks read about the 67 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 2: bus boycott and rows of parks. I would be walking 68 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 2: downtown and there's a sign of this is where Rosa 69 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 2: Parks did not get off the bus, right, this is 70 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 2: where this happened. This is where this happened. So it 71 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 2: was really in front of my face on a constant basis. 72 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 2: And so when I left to go off to college 73 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 2: to Clark Atlanta, I very much carried those things with me. 74 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 2: Also important kind of part of growing up in Alabama 75 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 2: is that both of my parents went to HBCUs. So 76 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:16,279 Speaker 2: this culture around black evolution and black empowerment and black 77 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 2: independence has kind of been a part of my story 78 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 2: for a very long time, and I still very much 79 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 2: hang on to that now and use it in the 80 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 2: way that I work. I am very focused on how 81 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 2: do I support this community, in the words of Beyonce 82 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 2: getting everything that came for? How do I support growth? 83 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 2: How do I support wealth generation and economic development? And 84 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 2: that's also one of the really I think special reasons 85 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 2: about why I came back. So I left in two 86 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 2: thousand and six to go to college in Atlanta. Shout 87 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 2: out to CAU And I was gone until twenty twenty two. 88 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 2: I didn't live here anytime in between that, and when 89 00:04:57,320 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 2: COVID hit, a really great opportunity to move back home 90 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 2: bubbled up where I could still do this work in 91 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 2: Silicon Valley and with this this this fund, while also 92 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:09,600 Speaker 2: doing it from home and contributing here. Because a lot 93 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 2: of brain drain happens across the South, whether it's Mississippi 94 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:16,039 Speaker 2: or Alabama or Louisiana. How can I come back and 95 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 2: be a contributing member because I have a home here 96 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:21,359 Speaker 2: and I know that there's so much potential in the 97 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 2: things that it could be. So a special shout out 98 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 2: also to our mayor, the first black mayor of our city, 99 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 2: Stephen Reid, is also a product of someone coming back 100 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 2: and really wanting to make a difference, and so I 101 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 2: appreciate his support and have loved tapping in with him 102 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 2: on ways to make our city better and help it grow. 103 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 1: You know, I want to touch on this three You 104 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 1: just mentioned the line there, you know, being able to 105 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 1: make a difference. I want to touch on that thread 106 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: because like you started off in like nonprofit work, and 107 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 1: you still sit on some boards today. I believe in 108 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 1: the nonprofit world. And at the risk of putting this 109 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: the wrong way, so I'm gonna I'm going to preface 110 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 1: this for the audience. I'm trying to take the wrong 111 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 1: I'm trying to figureut how to say this. So, sometimes 112 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: we pursue nonprofits when we should as a people be 113 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: building companies, like and like where I'm from, like we 114 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: over we have more nonprofits per capita. That's just a 115 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: fact that we have. We have more nonprofits per capita 116 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: than anywhere else in the country. And too often, like 117 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:21,039 Speaker 1: we as just a people, in my view, pursue nonprofit 118 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: work when we could go build a company and put 119 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: resources back in the community. Is that is that? Okay, 120 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: just say it that way. 121 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 2: I think that's factual. 122 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: Okay, okay, okay. So with that, now that you're doing 123 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 1: you're making a difference. I think about doing well while 124 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: doing well. And so with that said, like, what are 125 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 1: the yes? Yes, And she's one of the people out 126 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,839 Speaker 1: there talk about it. It's like, what are some of 127 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 1: the mindset shifts for the people who should be pursuing business. 128 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: What are some of the mindset shifts that need to 129 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: happen in order to be successful there, Like, what do 130 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 1: you say to all the things I just put in 131 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: that gumbo right there. 132 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:05,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's really important because a lot of times when 133 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 2: we think about helping people or supporting the community, we 134 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 2: automatically think of nonprofits because that's who we see out 135 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 2: active doing the work, right if you're if you're doing 136 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 2: a direct service nonprofit, where you're in schools, et cetera. 137 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 2: We grow up and we see those things, and so 138 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 2: it's very easy easy to think that that that's the 139 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 2: only way, Like with most things in life, as you 140 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 2: continue to go through you find out new versions of 141 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 2: a story and you start a big company and you 142 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 2: can give to nonprofits or you can do that sort 143 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 2: of thing, or you can be sure that you're I 144 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 2: don't know, running a sustainable company that's not you know, 145 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 2: damaging the water in your city, or you know, there's 146 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 2: all these things that you can do that are contributing 147 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 2: to bettering where you live. I do want to say that, 148 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 2: you know, nonprofits are companies, They're essentially the same. It's 149 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 2: just that that profit margin doesn't come back into into 150 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 2: the business. In terms of a mindset shift, I think 151 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 2: it's just about thinking about early what are the many 152 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 2: ways that I could do this. Oftentimes it's like a 153 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 2: like an association game. It's like I want to give back, 154 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 2: I have to do nonprofit. It's about maybe taking a 155 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 2: pause and thinking about what are the structures and what 156 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 2: are the different ways, and what are the things that 157 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 2: my community actually needs because it may not actually be 158 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 2: a specific, you know, new nonprofit. The other thing that's 159 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 2: very important about that conversation is, and this is what 160 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 2: we work on a lot with our group, and when 161 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,079 Speaker 2: I worked with athletes early on, and they're kind of 162 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:36,959 Speaker 2: philanthropy and that work. Everybody doesn't have to start a nonprofit. 163 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 2: You can just support one. A lot of really great 164 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 2: nonprofits already exist. And what people don't realize is when 165 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 2: they start one, either you have to fund it yourself 166 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 2: or you got to go out and raise money. And 167 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:52,559 Speaker 2: that tends to be the most difficult part, because the 168 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 2: capitals to sustain a nonprofit and do the work you're 169 00:08:56,080 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 2: constantly fundraising, constantly fundraising. So I often encourage people you 170 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 2: don't have to not do nonprofit work, but how do 171 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 2: you exponentiate your impact by doing it in a meaningful way, 172 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 2: doing it together? And so that's usually what I what 173 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 2: I try to encourage. 174 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, I want to because you like when you say, 175 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:17,959 Speaker 1: you know, it's a lot of work going to raise 176 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: money for these nonprofits. I think what I hear when 177 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: people go to start a nonprofit is they believe it's 178 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:25,079 Speaker 1: easier to pull on the heartstrings and get you to 179 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 1: write a check to support this cause, and it is 180 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: to sell a product to a customer. 181 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 2: Which is debatable, right, I'm sure it's one side is 182 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 2: easier to pull on the heart strings because some people 183 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 2: are great storytellers or you know, some people when you 184 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 2: have personal experience in a thing. Because what you often 185 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 2: find people want to start nonprofits that are focused on 186 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 2: things that they know about and they have experience, and 187 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 2: it's you experienced homelessness, or you experienced a certain disease. 188 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 2: Telling that story comes very naturally to you, which I 189 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:00,560 Speaker 2: think sometimes can be a little bit more difficult in 190 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 2: starting your own company. But I would argue they're both 191 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 2: probably equally difficult. It depends on what your strengths are 192 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 2: as a person and as a storyteller. But I really 193 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:14,080 Speaker 2: encourage people again, it's okay to start a nonprofit if 194 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 2: that essentially is the best way to actually do what 195 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:19,320 Speaker 2: you want to do, and that's not that may not 196 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 2: always be the case. And as we work, you know, 197 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:24,079 Speaker 2: in CLF, we our second mission is how do we 198 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 2: get more young African Americans into the technology industry. We 199 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 2: think a lot of companies could benefit from having some 200 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 2: of these really great talented folks in them. And we 201 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 2: do that work through a donation program. So one hundred 202 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,679 Speaker 2: percent of our management fee, all of our carrier, so 203 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 2: every dollar of profit that CLF makes goes back to 204 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 2: organizations that are specifically focused on that mission. And we 205 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 2: tried early on to build out our own program and 206 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 2: we found it like, that's not our zone of genius. 207 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 2: There are people who've been working to get more young 208 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 2: African America can take for years and are doing it 209 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 2: successfully while we're over here trying to string something together. 210 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 2: And we would be better off and the students and 211 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 2: the people who we want to serve would be better 212 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 2: off if we put that capital into those companies, into 213 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:17,559 Speaker 2: those those nonprofits. And so it really just is about 214 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 2: how to have the impact and the way that you are. 215 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 1: You know, I remember listening to I think it was 216 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: metro Boom and the producer talking about how difficult it 217 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 1: was to get other rappers and artists who come from 218 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: where they come from to think about investing in a 219 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 1: certain way because they wanted to see the return like 220 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 1: right now quick? Yeah yeah, and so how so you 221 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 1: work with but we. 222 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 2: Want to see the return quick and then also don't 223 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 2: want to take the risk. 224 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, so speak on that. So because you work 225 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 1: with athletes, musicians, et cetera, you know, you help them 226 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 1: find deals, source deals, get into deals like how is 227 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: it mindset? You know, things that you have to work 228 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: with them more and to figure out, Okay, this is 229 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:56,679 Speaker 1: a different type of investing where you're not going to 230 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: see it. You know, you may not ever see it, 231 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 1: you know, but you may not for years. 232 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. So I would say a huge percentage of my 233 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 2: job is education. A lot of athletes and entertainers get 234 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:12,560 Speaker 2: really lucky when they have a great team around them 235 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:15,440 Speaker 2: that say like, yes, you need to do your public 236 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 2: market investing in your stocks, but also let me show 237 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:20,440 Speaker 2: you this thing and are really teaching them kind of 238 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 2: the breadth of everything that they can be doing financially. 239 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 2: But most of my job is teaching people about investing 240 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 2: in technology, specifically at the early stage and what you 241 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 2: brought up is actually one of the most common important 242 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 2: things that I have to hammer in from the beginning 243 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:42,319 Speaker 2: is that venture investing is a long term game. It's 244 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 2: we tell people eight to ten years, your money is 245 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,679 Speaker 2: locked up. It's not a very liquid hasset where you 246 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 2: can come back and get it in a couple of years. 247 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 2: I tell people when they're thinking about investing in the fund, 248 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 2: I say, if you're going to be looking for this 249 00:12:56,960 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 2: money in two years, don't give it to me. Don't 250 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 2: give me your money if you're going to need it 251 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 2: in two to three years, because the likelihood is that 252 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:07,720 Speaker 2: you're not going to be able to get it. Because 253 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 2: you know, when you think about the biggest companies when 254 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 2: they go public, there's usually a ten year period between 255 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 2: when they get ten years plus from when they get 256 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 2: their investment to when they actually have exit meaning a 257 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 2: liquidity event, a IPO which is an initial public offering, 258 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 2: are called going public or m and a activity meaning 259 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 2: they get acquired or bought by a company ten years 260 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 2: so that money starts coming back to the investors. So 261 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 2: that's the biggest thing is venture is very much a 262 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 2: long term game, and venture is also risky. So depending 263 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 2: on what your risk profile is as an investor, should 264 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 2: determine where you want to start investing. Maybe like you 265 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 2: want to be a little bit safer and you want 266 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 2: to put your money into two stocks or into you know, 267 00:13:55,880 --> 00:14:03,080 Speaker 2: some of the more lesser yielding opportunities. Venture it is 268 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 2: high risk, high reward, So you're investing your money into 269 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 2: companies that may not be operationally proven yet a lot 270 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:12,079 Speaker 2: of times investing in companies that have no product. You 271 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 2: don't know if people gonna like it, people are gonna 272 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 2: hate it, but maybe you really believe in the team, etc. 273 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 2: And so teaching them about the holding period, teaching them 274 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 2: about the level of risk, meaning most of your companies, 275 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 2: most that you invest in will fail, you know, in 276 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 2: the early stage, but you're hopeful that you know, those 277 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 2: two or three or five that you invest in out 278 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 2: of the fifty will really knock it out of the park. 279 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 2: That is the goal. And then we also tell people third, 280 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 2: like the lingo. Once you learn the lingo of venture 281 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 2: and of tech and of investing, you're really ninety percent 282 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 2: of the way there. You can start making some really 283 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 2: thoughtful decisions around where you want to put your money. 284 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 2: Once you know how all of these things work together. 285 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: You mentioned something earlier about how the people who made 286 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 1: the money on facebooks, etc. Like we're either like super 287 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: dorouper early investors or early employees and those were deals 288 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:05,120 Speaker 1: like we are people in our community weren't getting in 289 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 1: on those deals. 290 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, and now they are with CLS Yes. 291 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: Yes, And this is the question because I think about 292 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: I'm gonna give you the question that I'm gonna give 293 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 1: you the back of why I'm asking this question, like 294 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 1: how do you evaluate a cultural leader to you know, 295 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 1: have that opportunity? Who are the athletes, the intent, entertainers, executives. 296 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 1: And here's why I ask is because you know, there's 297 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: a difference between like what you're doing in like a 298 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 1: reg CF, like you know, a crowdfunding campaign to where 299 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: we can get on you know, on those deals. But 300 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: you're not necessarily and you can clarify this like there's 301 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: not everybody can't go and put money in you know CLF, 302 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: but you're picking you know, you guys are finding strategic 303 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: partners that make sense for this fund. How how does 304 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 1: this make a difference over time to to where there's 305 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: more of us that are able to get involved. 306 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 2: Yep. So that's a really good question, because when it 307 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 2: comes to investing in venture, there's a couple of things 308 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 2: that makes matter really great candidate. One kind of a 309 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 2: non negotiable is you have to have the capital to 310 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 2: invest and that requires either you know, obviously a certain 311 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 2: level of success or a certain level of of experience 312 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 2: over time that you're able to invest in venture. So 313 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 2: there's different requirements that you have to hit legally through 314 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 2: your government to invest in like a venture fund, et cetera. 315 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 2: The second thing is, uh, how useful and helpful and 316 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 2: supportive can you be of a tech company like this, 317 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 2: because that's what's going to get you access you have. 318 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 2: You have to have the capital, that's a non negotiable, 319 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 2: and then you have to get the access to the 320 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:45,080 Speaker 2: companies to be able to put that capital. And usually 321 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 2: access comes from either having some expertise. Right, somebody's building 322 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 2: an auto company and you used to be. 323 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: A NASCAR driver at. 324 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 2: GM, you know what I mean? What are the ways 325 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 2: that you're aligned with the company that are also going 326 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 2: to get you into the door, So that can be 327 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 2: you know, on the entertainment side, that you have a 328 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 2: really great audience and people really maybe you're a big 329 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,679 Speaker 2: time gamer and we have a bunch of games companies, right, 330 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 2: there's a lot of alignment. There's a lot of our 331 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 2: athletes are gamers, and we have a really we have 332 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 2: two games funds at the firm, and so there's a 333 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 2: lot of interesting alignment there. So I would say the capital, 334 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 2: the access the other thing that was important. I think 335 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:30,159 Speaker 2: there was another part of your question, No. 336 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:32,479 Speaker 1: I was talking about over time, how do more of 337 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:36,919 Speaker 1: us have fine opportunities to be getting in on the 338 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: next facebooks, the next insta cards. 339 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 2: Yep. Absolutely. The other thing that's really exciting, and I 340 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 2: think a way that a lot of people are going 341 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 2: to become investors is there have been so many I'm 342 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:49,880 Speaker 2: sure you've noticed over the past probably four or five years, 343 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:53,199 Speaker 2: so many new venture firms popping up. Obviously, you have 344 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 2: big ones like Injuries and Horrorwitz. Right, we've got forty 345 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 2: four billion dollars under management, but most funds are smaller 346 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,919 Speaker 2: funds that have a specific focus. Maybe they only do 347 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 2: precede companies, maybe they only do fintech companies. And really 348 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,640 Speaker 2: building relationships with the funds where you have a level 349 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 2: of expertise where you can get that access, I think 350 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:14,920 Speaker 2: is going to be critical. It really is about doing 351 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 2: the research because I can't tell you how many people 352 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 2: waste time going to funds that maybe they've just heard 353 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 2: the name, but they have no idea what they do. 354 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:28,160 Speaker 2: There are hundreds of venture firms out there that are 355 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:31,360 Speaker 2: really looking for folks for their port codes to join 356 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 2: advisory boards, which also can get you a little bit 357 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 2: of equity. So that's a way to also earn actual 358 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 2: boards of directors. So say you're an executive in a 359 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:44,160 Speaker 2: specific area, you can come on as like a pre 360 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 2: IPO board director. There's I think a lot of interesting opportunities. 361 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 2: It's just about getting in with really great founders and 362 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 2: then also figuring out which venture firms might align with 363 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 2: your investment interests. It's all about, I think, the capital 364 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 2: and then the access. A lot of access comes through 365 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 2: the people that you know and the founders that are 366 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:05,679 Speaker 2: doing that work. 367 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 1: Can you talk about an example. 368 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 2: Because we will now me and you know each other, 369 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 2: and if will you say to me like, oh, Magan, 370 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:14,880 Speaker 2: I've got the capitol, I've got a big podcast, I've 371 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 2: got a huge platform. I love to invest in tech. 372 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 2: Now I can keep you in mind for opportunities that 373 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:20,840 Speaker 2: come up. 374 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 1: Okay, we might have to talk here you go. Can 375 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:27,920 Speaker 1: you talk about, like, can you share an example of 376 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:31,359 Speaker 1: like a strategic partnership between like a cultural leader and 377 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: a technology company startup that has worked so far exceptionally well. 378 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 2: Two that I would probably share. Patrick Mahomes is actually 379 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:42,159 Speaker 2: one of our LPs, and it feels really timely because 380 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:44,399 Speaker 2: you know, they were just in the super Bowl. But 381 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:50,119 Speaker 2: he plays golf and was really looking for a way 382 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 2: to support his nonprofit work and his philanthropy through he 383 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 2: has a golf tournament. We also have this other portfolio 384 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,200 Speaker 2: company called Whatnot. I don't know if you've heard of them, 385 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:06,360 Speaker 2: but it's like an online kind of live shopping company, 386 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 2: and they had mentioned they're like, we really want to 387 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 2: do more kind of in our impact work on our 388 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,879 Speaker 2: nonprofit side. We're looking for the right opportunity, and we're like, 389 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 2: you know, kind of antenna's going off because we also 390 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 2: knew what Patrick was interested in doing, and so we 391 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 2: put those two together. They had a number of conversations 392 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:31,880 Speaker 2: that over time evolved into a live streaming event. Obviously 393 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 2: you know through the fund that their investors, but he 394 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 2: had a live streamed his charity golf tournament and he 395 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:42,000 Speaker 2: had a Hole in one challenge and it was in 396 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:46,159 Speaker 2: order to raise money for his nonprofit. He had it 397 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 2: was like twenty or twenty five chances to get a 398 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 2: hole in one to win for his nonprofit. And one 399 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 2: it's really great for the company because who doesn't want 400 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 2: to tune in and watch Patrick Mahomes try to hit 401 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:01,119 Speaker 2: twenty five hole in one and obviously, you know, missing 402 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 2: every single one. That's really exciting for the company and 403 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 2: for that team to have him involved, but also really 404 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:09,960 Speaker 2: great for Patrick because he wants to bring more attention 405 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 2: to his nonprofit it's called fifteen in my homies, and 406 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:14,439 Speaker 2: he wants to raise more money for them. And so 407 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 2: it's about matching the right person with the right company 408 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:22,639 Speaker 2: on the right initiative, and they ended up raising Uh. 409 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 2: I want to say, I don't remember the exact number. 410 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:27,679 Speaker 2: Don't quote me. I'll get it for you maybe after this. 411 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 2: But for his nonprofit, and it was really a win 412 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:31,359 Speaker 2: win for both of them. 413 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: I love it. There is a there's a a learning 414 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 1: out there. I don't want to call it a fact 415 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:43,119 Speaker 1: because there's depending on where you go, you find different numbers. 416 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:45,400 Speaker 1: But they say the black dollar circulates in our community 417 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 1: for about six hours, while you can go all the 418 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 1: way to you know, white communities and then the Jewish communities. 419 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 1: It's like thirty something days. 420 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:54,960 Speaker 2: You know, what is the calculation? 421 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 1: What? That's what I'm saying, the use, That's what I'm saying. 422 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 1: Don't come for me, don't come me. I've already set 423 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:02,680 Speaker 1: the stage for this. 424 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:07,439 Speaker 2: And funny story, this is actually remember I told you 425 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 2: so background Will and I were talking about some time 426 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:15,119 Speaker 2: I lived in Toledo before. I was actually studying sociology, 427 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 2: so it was a social science and I focused on 428 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 2: metrics and outcomes and like data. So all of my 429 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 2: work was statistics. Yeah, and so anytime somebody gives me 430 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:25,359 Speaker 2: numbers like that, I'm like me. 431 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 1: And again, I told you there's there's a lot of 432 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 1: different ones out there. I did not say that this 433 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 1: was a fact. I will not say as a fact. 434 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 1: But if you do, people say this is only banks, 435 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:36,160 Speaker 1: et cetera. 436 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:38,720 Speaker 2: I'm giving you a we're good. 437 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 1: We're good because I did. I did a good preface 438 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 1: on that. 439 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 2: I feel like you did it was appropriate. 440 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:48,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, I appreciate that. So the conversation around like the 441 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: power to black dollar and venture, how can we be 442 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:55,479 Speaker 1: more intentional about circulating wealth, no matter if for six hours, 443 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,479 Speaker 1: six days, whatever it is. How can we be more intentional? 444 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 1: Because and the reason I asked that is because we 445 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: are I would say, decently good at economic protests. And 446 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:10,960 Speaker 1: then there's another conversation to be had on Okay, but 447 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:13,159 Speaker 1: where are we going to do instead? So are we 448 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 1: going to be buying from actively black? Are we going 449 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: to be buying from you know, these other black owned companies? 450 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 1: Like it's one thing to take the money away and 451 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: neke it out of the system, but where are we 452 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 1: going to put it? 453 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 2: Yeah? 454 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 1: So how can we be more intentional? Is the question? 455 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:33,560 Speaker 2: Uh huh uh huh. I think there's probably a lot 456 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 2: of opinions about how we could be more intentional. But 457 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 2: you know how, I don't mean to make a probably 458 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 2: a bad joke. You know how when somebody is dating 459 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:48,280 Speaker 2: somebody and they say, oh, they never call me, and 460 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 2: they say, well, they make time for what they want. 461 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:53,000 Speaker 1: That's great, that's good. 462 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 2: Similar to our dolls. That's probably the most random example, 463 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 2: but that's the best one I could think of. Is 464 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 2: if people want to buy black, they can. There's a 465 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:05,399 Speaker 2: way to do it. Sometimes it takes a little bit 466 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:08,440 Speaker 2: of work, right, to find. You know, it's easy to 467 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 2: find maybe a black owned fashion brand. Maybe it's hard 468 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:17,360 Speaker 2: to find black owned bathroom cleaner. Who knows. But if 469 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:19,640 Speaker 2: you want to make that transition, you can. And one 470 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 2: of the probably in terms of like actually investing, if 471 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:27,200 Speaker 2: somebody wants to make a percentage of their portfolio where 472 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:29,119 Speaker 2: they focus on that. It doesn't mean you have to 473 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:31,399 Speaker 2: only do that. But if you say, okay, I've got 474 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 2: one hundred dollars to invest, I'm going to put fifty 475 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 2: in the public mark and fifty over here, and I'm 476 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 2: eight percent adventure because venture should really only be a 477 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 2: single digit percentage of your total portfolio. Your whole portfolio 478 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 2: should not be venture. And then you say, of that 479 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:48,520 Speaker 2: eight percent, I'm going to put four percent of that 480 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 2: into it to black companies. That's a decision that someone 481 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 2: could make. And so I think, you know, I would 482 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 2: venture to say for those who are committed to it, 483 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:03,399 Speaker 2: are doing it. Also, this decision, like any other decision. 484 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 1: I love to hear that as that's encouraging. Actually, so 485 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: how do you think AI blockchain of emergency real real quick? 486 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 2: I just also want to add there are actually quite 487 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 2: a few even if you just google you give me 488 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 2: black owned X, Y and Z companies, right Am. I 489 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 2: hallucinated a little bit, but like it'll probably get you 490 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 2: some good answers. There's actually a couple of websites also 491 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 2: that list out different types of black businesses that you 492 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,399 Speaker 2: can support us purchasing from or investing in. We're actually doing. 493 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:38,359 Speaker 2: We just recently launched a partnership. I don't know if 494 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:42,080 Speaker 2: you're familiar with the fifteen Percent Pledge. Yes, I am, okay, wonderful. 495 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 2: So fifteen percent Pledge founded by I. 496 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:46,440 Speaker 1: Want to say, we had them on here, We may 497 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: have had them on the podcast. 498 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 2: For Oh Perfect, My Girl, Roa James. We just launched 499 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 2: this thing called the AI Illumination Grant and the goal 500 00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:57,680 Speaker 2: is and this actually might get into your next question. 501 00:25:57,720 --> 00:25:59,359 Speaker 2: So I'm sorry because I already heard you say AI 502 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:04,400 Speaker 2: and crypto, But the fifteen Percent Pledge supports black businesses 503 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 2: both in beauty, fashion, CpG, perfume jewelry who are black 504 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 2: owned getting shelf spaced in large retailers. They got several 505 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:18,879 Speaker 2: hundred brands, if not thousands of brands on their website 506 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:23,359 Speaker 2: that people can search and go support. We created grant 507 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:27,360 Speaker 2: together us the Cultural Leadership fund the fifteen Percent Pledge 508 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 2: and Kevin Hart's Heartbeat Ventures called the AI Illumination Grant, 509 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:36,119 Speaker 2: and it is specifically focused on ensuring that the black 510 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 2: founders that are part of the fifteen Percent Pledge program 511 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:43,680 Speaker 2: don't get left behind in the usage of AI because 512 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:45,880 Speaker 2: everybody's talking about it, but it's not really clear where 513 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 2: you start and it's not really clear how to supercharge 514 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,360 Speaker 2: your business using AI. And so we're doing thirty five 515 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 2: thousand dollars grant. We're hosting two webinars, one webinar on 516 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 2: using AI for storytelling, the second webinar on using AI 517 00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 2: for product design for all of the founders hundreds of 518 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:05,119 Speaker 2: founders that are part of that program, and actually the 519 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:08,800 Speaker 2: first session is on March thirteenth. I believe and like 520 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 2: people are doing the work to highlight black brands and 521 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:13,920 Speaker 2: now it's just a matter of supporting them and being 522 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:15,240 Speaker 2: sure they're set up for success. 523 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:18,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, it wasn't the podcast we had AURA at afro 524 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:20,440 Speaker 1: Tech in twenty twenty two. That's what it was. I knew. 525 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:21,640 Speaker 1: I would say, yeah, there you go. 526 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:23,239 Speaker 2: The row is about it. 527 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:28,119 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, so emerging technologies, how can we as you know, 528 00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:32,439 Speaker 1: black people interested in creating generational wealth participation. How what 529 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:35,240 Speaker 1: should we be focused on with AI, blockchain, other emergency 530 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 1: emerging technologies, like where should our attention be on learning 531 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 1: and getting involved? 532 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:44,960 Speaker 2: The first thing is, don't be scarred. I'll be scared 533 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:50,920 Speaker 2: because that's the number one thing I hear is the fear. Now, 534 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:53,600 Speaker 2: I want people to have healthy skepticism, because we can't 535 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:55,800 Speaker 2: just let people tell us any old thing. Have a 536 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,960 Speaker 2: healthy amount of skepticism, but be open to learning and 537 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:01,320 Speaker 2: taking a couple of risks because we saw it very 538 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 2: early on in the crypto space of it was a 539 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 2: learning curve for a lot of people, not just black people. 540 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 2: But how do I engage with the technology? How do 541 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:16,200 Speaker 2: I begin to use it? How do I just get started? 542 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:19,919 Speaker 2: You have to just get started, because a lot of 543 00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 2: it is a rabbit hole, you know what I mean. 544 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:23,119 Speaker 2: You learn one thing and learn the next thing, and 545 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 2: then you see this other link. And so people leaning 546 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:30,320 Speaker 2: in versus letting the fear consume them. And I would say, 547 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:33,040 Speaker 2: you know, we saw a huge change over the last year, 548 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:37,199 Speaker 2: even in the AI conversation, because even last spring you 549 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 2: bring up AI, people are so hesitant, They're like, oh no, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope. 550 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:47,280 Speaker 2: But the tech is coming. It's coming. You can either 551 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:49,840 Speaker 2: you know, join the movement and figure out how to 552 00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:51,440 Speaker 2: make it work for you or are gonna get run over. 553 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:54,440 Speaker 2: And I want to figure out how do we encourage 554 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:58,880 Speaker 2: people to utilize the technology to their benefit. Which is 555 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 2: part of the reason why we're doing this whole grant 556 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:04,480 Speaker 2: program in these webinars is because we want people to 557 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:10,040 Speaker 2: learn how to supercharge themselves, their productivity, their their output, 558 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 2: et cetera. So that's one of the things we should 559 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:16,560 Speaker 2: be doing is quelling our fears as best we can 560 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:21,080 Speaker 2: with a healthy dose of skepticism, and then learning AI 561 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 2: is changing and improving every day. You got to stay 562 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 2: on top of it. I think that's the most important thing. 563 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:32,040 Speaker 2: One of the big questions we always get is uh, 564 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:34,440 Speaker 2: where do I start? Because that's the hard part because 565 00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 2: there's a lot out there. So we kind of came 566 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:41,960 Speaker 2: up with this this acronym called Gucci P shout out 567 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 2: to Davars over at Maroksa who we were on a 568 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:49,240 Speaker 2: panel together, and I came up with these six companies 569 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:52,800 Speaker 2: that people to start, you know, their journey. And I'm 570 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 2: talking to the audience, and I'm like, yeah, I was 571 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:56,200 Speaker 2: trying to come up with like a you know, cute 572 00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:58,280 Speaker 2: little acronym to make it easy for y'all. And I 573 00:29:58,360 --> 00:29:59,720 Speaker 2: was like, but I don't have like I was thinking 574 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 2: about it for a week, will a week, trying to 575 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,320 Speaker 2: come up with something good. And I was like, I'm sorry, 576 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:06,600 Speaker 2: I'm just gonna give you all the letters. I was like, 577 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:12,760 Speaker 2: see I you see g whatever, and Devars goes Gucci 578 00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 2: P and I was like, Gucci pie. They're nice and easy, 579 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:22,600 Speaker 2: so so usually I think that these six are a 580 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:25,880 Speaker 2: good place to start. So it's Gamma, it's ud Oh, 581 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:30,240 Speaker 2: it's captions, it's chat GPT, which is a good one. 582 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:34,600 Speaker 2: It's ideogram Elizabeth. You remember my pee? My p is 583 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:42,920 Speaker 2: escaping me? Do you remember the Pliabeth community? And then 584 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:44,680 Speaker 2: I'll just I'll just say it all again. I'll just 585 00:30:44,680 --> 00:30:50,760 Speaker 2: say it all again. He escaping me? E. I don't know, 586 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 2: but now why is it escaping me? I know this, 587 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:57,600 Speaker 2: I've said this nine million times. I don't know. We 588 00:30:57,680 --> 00:30:58,360 Speaker 2: can just cut this. 589 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:01,840 Speaker 1: Part out, but keep in. I love this, I know, 590 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:02,560 Speaker 1: hang on. 591 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:07,880 Speaker 2: Oops, I feel like it's it's uh, I don't It'll 592 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:10,480 Speaker 2: come to you and I'll just say it all again 593 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 2: photo m Chames editor on your phone. Thank you. But 594 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:18,960 Speaker 2: that was about to make me crazy. That was getting hot, 595 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:22,360 Speaker 2: like make it in the thirty seven. My age is 596 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:22,840 Speaker 2: hiding me. 597 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 1: I want to keep I want to keep that in. 598 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:26,400 Speaker 2: We'll get that should I should I back up and 599 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:27,040 Speaker 2: start that hour. 600 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:29,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, you get acam again if you want. 601 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:34,480 Speaker 2: Okay, wonderful. So the six companies are Gucci, PI so, 602 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:41,360 Speaker 2: it's Gamma, It's Udio, Captions, Chat, GPT, Idea, gram and 603 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:44,560 Speaker 2: photo Room. So that's a great six to kind of 604 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:46,880 Speaker 2: just start tinkering with so you can get familiar with 605 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:48,920 Speaker 2: the tech and figure out the ways that it can 606 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 2: work for you, and then you'll be in a you'll 607 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:51,720 Speaker 2: be on a journey from there. 608 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:54,120 Speaker 1: I love it. I want you to talk about it. 609 00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:57,480 Speaker 1: You mentioned the programs you guys are doing to help people. 610 00:31:57,640 --> 00:31:58,960 Speaker 1: You want to we'll talk a little bit about that 611 00:31:59,080 --> 00:32:00,760 Speaker 1: while we got two minutes left. 612 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:04,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, totally. So really, when you think about the work 613 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:09,240 Speaker 2: of CLF, it's twofold. So the first mission of CLF 614 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:12,960 Speaker 2: is connecting the world's greatest cultural leaders to the best 615 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:18,200 Speaker 2: new technology companies, and for us, that includes athletes, entertainers, musicians, 616 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:21,480 Speaker 2: and C level executives who may not be in tech, 617 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:25,000 Speaker 2: but they're excited about tech, they're interested in innovation, they 618 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:27,080 Speaker 2: want to play a role on the things that are 619 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:28,920 Speaker 2: being built across this industry, and we get to be 620 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 2: their arm ramp into doing that. And the interesting piece 621 00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:33,880 Speaker 2: is that kind of ties back to what you mentioned 622 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:36,120 Speaker 2: earlier about how do we get more of us involved 623 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:39,560 Speaker 2: in tech as investors, et cetera, Because like we're not 624 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:43,800 Speaker 2: all athletes and we're not all entertainers. We have more 625 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:50,600 Speaker 2: executives as CLF LPs than anything. Our executive network is 626 00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:56,280 Speaker 2: a huge pillar of CLF and the capital that we deploy, 627 00:32:56,840 --> 00:32:58,360 Speaker 2: and so if you're an exit, you could be a 628 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:00,719 Speaker 2: marketing executive, you could be kind of in any space 629 00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:03,800 Speaker 2: that is valuable to startups, and that's a huge part 630 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:06,000 Speaker 2: of our LPBA. So I want to be sure folks 631 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:08,640 Speaker 2: know you don't have to be an entertainer, you don't 632 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:11,000 Speaker 2: have to be an athlete to invest. And then the 633 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:12,840 Speaker 2: second mission of CLF is how do we get more 634 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:15,719 Speaker 2: young African Americans in tech? So we support over thirty 635 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:21,040 Speaker 2: organizations through CLF who are doing the work of getting 636 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:23,240 Speaker 2: more young African Americans in tech. We kind of do 637 00:33:23,280 --> 00:33:26,640 Speaker 2: it in three stages. So the first group that we 638 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:30,200 Speaker 2: fund are called our ecosystem Partners. So these are partners 639 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:34,000 Speaker 2: who are nationwide who have proven over time that they're 640 00:33:34,080 --> 00:33:39,320 Speaker 2: putting talent into that tech pipeline, and we fund them. 641 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:41,680 Speaker 2: What we say is the life of the fund, meaning 642 00:33:41,760 --> 00:33:44,200 Speaker 2: eight to ten years. We are committing to funding them 643 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:47,240 Speaker 2: every year. That's really unheard of in the nonprofit space. 644 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:49,560 Speaker 2: If you get a three year grant, you're like, ah, yes, 645 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:51,840 Speaker 2: if you get a five year grant, you're like even better. 646 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 2: But an eight to ten year grant is not normal. 647 00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:58,480 Speaker 2: And we're doing that very intentionally because we want to 648 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:01,200 Speaker 2: have a long term relationship and we want people to 649 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:06,360 Speaker 2: feel like again they don't constantly have to chase dollars, 650 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:08,600 Speaker 2: as tough as it could be to run a nonprofit. 651 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:12,399 Speaker 2: The second group we have is our community builders, and 652 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:17,880 Speaker 2: this became really important because we realized as technology changes 653 00:34:18,080 --> 00:34:21,080 Speaker 2: AI crypto, there's not going to be organizations that have 654 00:34:21,160 --> 00:34:24,240 Speaker 2: been around for twenty years that are helping people earn crypto. 655 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:28,040 Speaker 2: Crypto ain't even been around for twenty years, So how 656 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:31,600 Speaker 2: do we support organizations that are doing something new and 657 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:35,080 Speaker 2: ensuring that black people aren't getting left behind. So these 658 00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:38,080 Speaker 2: are more so one time grant to help you kind 659 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:40,600 Speaker 2: of get that vision over the line to start proving 660 00:34:40,640 --> 00:34:43,799 Speaker 2: out that, you know, you're helping to get more people 661 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:45,880 Speaker 2: in crypto, or you're helping to teach folks how to 662 00:34:45,880 --> 00:34:48,879 Speaker 2: design through AI. And so we wanted to fund new 663 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:51,839 Speaker 2: and innovative programs. And the third thing we do is 664 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:57,840 Speaker 2: kind of our big project, big swing initiatives. During the 665 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:01,719 Speaker 2: kind of NFT craze back in maybe twenty twenty one, 666 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:04,440 Speaker 2: twenty twenty two, one of the things we noticed is 667 00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:06,400 Speaker 2: that there weren't a lot of projects being done on 668 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:09,839 Speaker 2: black art. They were all artists who did not look 669 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:11,799 Speaker 2: like us. And I said, I'm you know, the whole 670 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:15,280 Speaker 2: team actually said, now we know there are black artists 671 00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:18,440 Speaker 2: creating things, how do we ensure that they're part of 672 00:35:18,480 --> 00:35:22,600 Speaker 2: this kind of new movement in the web three space. 673 00:35:22,640 --> 00:35:26,320 Speaker 2: So we created the Black Digital Art Collective. We committed 674 00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:30,040 Speaker 2: about four hundred thousand dollars to that program over three 675 00:35:30,120 --> 00:35:34,479 Speaker 2: years in order to buy black digital art, help HiPE 676 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:36,680 Speaker 2: it up, help it grow, help the artists get some 677 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:40,279 Speaker 2: note of writing to then sell those pieces at you know, 678 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:42,680 Speaker 2: once they get marked up and then use that money 679 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:45,440 Speaker 2: to buy more black art. And so those are kind 680 00:35:45,480 --> 00:35:47,440 Speaker 2: of big swing things that we try to do to 681 00:35:47,680 --> 00:35:51,040 Speaker 2: support our community, both in business and on the nonprofit side. 682 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:53,600 Speaker 2: So that second mission is really important to us, and 683 00:35:53,640 --> 00:35:55,480 Speaker 2: we we kind of make a joke that that's not 684 00:35:55,560 --> 00:35:57,799 Speaker 2: a joke. Honestly, that's the real reason why we come 685 00:35:57,840 --> 00:35:58,640 Speaker 2: to work every day. 686 00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:01,000 Speaker 1: I love it. You want to learn more about what 687 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:02,839 Speaker 1: you're doing. Where can they find you? Where can they 688 00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:03,200 Speaker 1: follow you? 689 00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:08,600 Speaker 2: Yes? So they can find us on Instagram. Our Instagram 690 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:13,520 Speaker 2: is at a sixteen z clf. I'm on Instagram at 691 00:36:13,680 --> 00:36:17,720 Speaker 2: Meghan h Alexander. No extra h, no extra am Megan. 692 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:20,719 Speaker 2: So it's just m E g A n H Alexander. 693 00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:25,520 Speaker 2: Also online a sixteen z dot com slash clf. It's 694 00:36:25,600 --> 00:36:29,000 Speaker 2: really important work. Please go check it out and we 695 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:31,760 Speaker 2: hope to keep kind of evangelizing the story of investing 696 00:36:31,800 --> 00:36:32,840 Speaker 2: in tech to our community. 697 00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:35,920 Speaker 1: Black Tech Green Money is a production of Blavity Afro 698 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:38,960 Speaker 1: Tech on the Black Effect podcast Networking Night Heart Media. 699 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:42,239 Speaker 1: It's produced by Morgan Debaun and me Well Lucas, with 700 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:45,400 Speaker 1: the digital production support by Kate McDonald, Sarah Ergan and 701 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:48,480 Speaker 1: Jaden McGee. Special thank you to Michael Davis and Love Beach. 702 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:50,640 Speaker 1: Learn more about my guests other tech. This show is 703 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:54,360 Speaker 1: an Innovators at afrotech dot Com. Video version this episode 704 00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:56,520 Speaker 1: will drop to Black Tech Green Money on YouTube, So 705 00:36:56,680 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 1: tap it enjoin your Black Tech Green Money. Somebody put 706 00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:03,399 Speaker 1: each of money, peace and love,