On this episode of Black Tech Green Money, we strip away the packaging to reveal the hard science and high-stakes finance powering the Black hair revolution. The days of "kitchen chemists" are evolving into an era of AI-driven diagnostics and nine-figure exits. Will Lucas sits down with the architects of this shift to answer the trillion-dollar question: Can you scale a culturally rooted brand without losing its soul?

We hear from industry titans Courtney Adeleye (The Mane Choice) and Monique Rodriguez (Mielle Organics) on navigating the controversial waters of acquisition and what it really takes to transition from a community favorite to a global powerhouse. Meanwhile, a new guard of tech-founders—Candace Mitchell (Myavana) and Dr. Tiffany St. Bernard (HairDays)—explain how they are training algorithms to diagnose scalp health and personalize care. And, Ciara Imani May (Rebundle) breaks down the chemistry of comfort, revealing how banana fiber is disrupting the toxic synthetic hair market. This is the business of beauty, engineered.

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

Ep. 239 Baratunde Thurston is a storyteller, Emmy nominated host, writer, public speaker and most recently his work explores AI, nature, and humanity.

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On this episode, we explore the collision of sports culture, high-stakes finance, and the digital frontier. We move past the scoreboard to look at the business of being an athlete in the modern era—from the "identity economy" where virtual skins hold as much weight as vintage sneakers, to the brutal reality of the "Jock Tax" and the pressure to save everyone back home. This conversation redefines what it means to build a legacy, shifting the focus from simply making money to mastering the systems that preserve it.

Features: Kai Bond (Courtside VC) explains the billion-dollar shift in how Gen Z defines ownership; NFL linebacker Jaylon Smith and business manager Michael Edo get real about financial literacy and overcoming the "Savior Complex"; Tyrre Burks (Player's Health) shares how he leveraged athletic resilience to disrupt the insurance industry; and NBA star Terance Mann joins Julian Aikens (W3 Sports) to discuss navigating the volatility of Web3. Tune in for a masterclass on how the discipline of sport translates into the language of equity and innovation.

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REWIND // Ryan Wilson is Co-Founder and CEO of The Gathering Spot, a private membership club deeply rooted in community & culture. The Gathering Spot has clubs in Atlanta, DC & LA, and communities in NYC, Chicago, Charlotte, Detroit & Houston.

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REWIND // Carter Cofield and George Acheampong are financial experts behind Melanin Money, dedicated to helping Black entrepreneurs and professionals build lasting wealth. Together, they're building the #1 Financial Education Community Designed to serve aspiring Melanin Millionaires.

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Throwback Episode as we're ramping back up post AfroTech. Fonz Morris is Lead Product Designer, Global Conversion at Netflix.

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Throwback Episode as we're at AfroTech this week. Tyrre Burks is Founder and CEO at Player's Health

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Thai Randolph is co-founder and former CEO of HARTBEAT, and led the merger of Kevin Hart’s entertainment companies into a $650 million media empire.

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Tade Oyerinde is Chancellor at Campus.edu.

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Nina Westbrook is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, entrepreneur, and Founder of Nebbi app.

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