Black Tech Weekly

Road to Black Tech Week: 2022 Keynote Speaker Serena Williams shares how she transitioned from tennis icon to venture capitalist, raising a $111M fund to back diverse and everyday innovation through Serena Ventures. 

Guest: Serena Williams 

Host: Candice Matthews Brackeen 

Recorded: July 2022 Black Tech Week 2022 in Cincinnati, OH

Road to Black Tech Week: In this insightful episode, Sandy Moore shares her powerful journey and practical wisdom for first-time fund managers. From structuring investment theses to LP engagement strategies, Sandy opens up about the creation of Empower the Change, a $200M impact fund dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap through intentional capital investment. This is essential listening for anyone raising capital while trying to stay mission-aligned. 

Guest: Sandy Moore, Chief Impact Officer and Managing Director, Advantage Capital 

Host: Vanessa Stevens 

Recorded: July 20th, 2023 Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH

Road to Black Tech Week: In this vulnerable and powerful conversation, Denzil Porteous, a trailblazing leader at the intersection of queerness, Blackness, and entrepreneurship, opens up about identity, leadership, access to capital, and living your truth. As CEO of Pride Fund 1 and Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus, he’s building ecosystems that make space for underrepresented founders—and showing up fully while doing it. 

Guest: Denzil Porteous – CEO of Pride Fund 1, Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus 

Host: Margaret Ntambi, Africa Tech Enthusiast

Recorded: July 19th, 2023. Black Tech Week – Cincinnati, OH

Road to Black Tech Week: Felicia Hatcher breaks down the transformative power of discovering your genius. In this energetic and deeply personal conversation, she shares how she moved from burnout and self-doubt to purpose-driven leadership—empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs through Black Ambition and beyond. 

Guest: Felicia Hatcher – CEO, Black Ambition; Co-founder, Black Tech Week 

Host: Vanita Cooper – CEO, Arbit 

Recorded: July 20th 2023 Black Tech Week 2023 – Cincinnati, OH

Road to Black Tech Week: In this compelling conversation, industry leaders dive into the role of storytelling in culture, media, business, and personal identity. They discuss everything from ancient narratives to the algorithms of social media, how vulnerability builds connection, and how Black voices can reclaim control of their own narratives. 

Guest: Vanessa Missoon – Director of Communications, Lightship Foundation DeTavio Samuels – CEO, Revolt Josh Ott – Head of Revenue, The Shade Room 

Host: Jefferson Noel, Barbershop Speaks 

Recorded: Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH July 18th, 2023

Road to Black Tech Week: Issa Rae dives into entrepreneurship, authenticity, Black storytelling, and legacy. From building Hooray Media to lessons in failure, this episode is a candid and inspirational journey. 

Guest: Issa Rae 

Host: Candice Matthews Brackeen 

Recorded: July 20, 2023 Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH

Road to Black Tech Week: Everett Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter, sits down for an honest and powerful conversation on authentic leadership, mental health, culture, and resilience. In this wide-ranging and deeply personal chat, he reflects on navigating identity, building intentional teams, operating in the spotlight, and how empathy fuels both his business and personal life. 

Guest: Everett Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter 

Host: Candy Glenn, Senior Commercial Executive for Microsoft Education 

Recorded: July 17th 2023 Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH

Road to Black Tech Week: Damien Hooper-Campbell, StockX's first Chief Impact Officer, delivers a powerful conversation on building inclusive innovation cultures, navigating corporate leadership as a Black man, mental health in the workplace, and the evolving role of DEI. This honest, vulnerable, and empowering conversation sheds light on what it truly takes to lead with integrity, purpose, and impact in today’s corporate landscape. 

Guest: Damien Hooper-Campbell, Chief Impact Officer, StockX 

Host: Thornell Jones, Managing Partner at the Ovation Agency 

Recorded: July 19th 2023 Black Tech Week 2025, Cincinnati, OH

Road to Black Tech Week: In this electrifying conversation, Detavio Samuels—CEO of Revolt—pulls back the curtain on building the “Black Disney,” staying mission-aligned, and leading a billion-dollar Black-owned media company against impossible odds. With humor, urgency, and truth, he discusses ownership, legacy, faith, and the challenge of raising capital while keeping Revolt 100% Black-owned. 

Guest: Detavio Samuels, CEO of Revolt 

Host: Umindi Francis, Founder of UFCG 

Recorded: July 18th 2023, Black Tech Week - Cincinnati, OH

Road to Black Tech Week: In this inspiring fireside chat, Delali Dzirasa, CEO of Fearless, shares how he built one of the largest Black-owned software companies in the country—starting from his mother’s basement with $6,000 and a dream. He breaks down the power of bootstrapping, public sector innovation, and staying mission-aligned while scaling to nearly 500 employees. 

Guest: Delali Dzirasa, Founder & CEO, Fearless 

Host: Brian Brackeen, General Partner, Lightship Capital 

Recorded: July 20th 2023, Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH