On this episode of Black Tech Green Money, we ask a simple question: who actually owns the audience? Coltrane Curtis (Team Epiphany) takes us back to building influencer marketing before Instagram existed. Isaac Hayes III (Fanbase) makes the case that creators deserve equity, not just exposure. Roland Martin (#RolandMartinUnfiltered, Black Star Network) explains why owning the platform means owning the narrative. Thai Randolph breaks down how to win brand deals on value, not follower count. And RAUD, a Twitch streamer with more than 2 million followers, shows what all of it looks like for Gen Z. Influence is easy to rent. The goal is to own it.

Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucas

Learn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

On this episode of Black Tech Green Money, we ask a simple question: who actually owns the audience? Coltrane Curtis (Team Epiphany) takes us back to building influencer marketing before Instagram existed. Isaac Hayes III (Fanbase) makes the case that creators deserve equity, not just exposure. Roland Martin (#RolandMartinUnfiltered, Black Star Network) explains why owning the platform means owning the narrative. Thai Randolph breaks down how to win brand deals on value, not follower count. And RAUD, a Twitch streamer with more than 2 million followers, shows what all of it looks like for Gen Z. Influence is easy to rent. The goal is to own it.
Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at <a href="https://instagram.com/willlucas">@willlucas</a>
Learn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Black Tech Green Money presents the stories of successful Black entrepreneurs and technologists, as well as actionable advice and wealth-building strategies from a Black perspective. Hosted by Will Lucas (@willlucas), an entrepreneur, content creator, and Brand Manager at AfroTech, the world's largest Black tech digital platform and conference, Black Tech Green Money is THE podcast for Black entrepreneurs and moguls in the making.

Technology and business from a Black perspective.

Black Tech Green Money

Black Tech Green Money presents the stories of successful Black entrepreneurs and technologists, as well as actionable advice and wealth-building strategies from a Black perspective. Hosted by Will Lucas (<a href="https://instagram.com/willlucas">@willlucas</a>), an entrepreneur, content creator, and Brand Manager at AfroTech, the world's largest Black tech digital platform and conference, Black Tech Green Money is THE podcast for Black entrepreneurs and moguls in the making.

The Culture Built It. Who Owns It Now? Featuring Isaac Hayes III, Roland Martin, Thai Randolph, Coltrane Curtis, RAUD.

Stop Renting Your Audience: Black Creators on Ownership, Equity, and Influence.

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c9e9e2ce-98a8-42d0-8666-b4e200df4360/transcript

John Imah is Co-Founder and CEO at SpreeAI, an AI-driven company transforming the future of fashion and e-commerce with our photorealistic try-on technology.

Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026

Black Tech Green Money listeners get 15% off Premier tickets and higher for ATC '26. Use code BTGM152026 at checkout. The code is valid from September 15 through September 30, 2026.

How to redeem:
Go to ATC '26 Registration
Select a Premier ticket or higher
Enter your registration information
Enter BTGM152026 in the Promotional Code field
Complete your registration

The discount applies only to Premier tickets and higher. The code expires September 30.

If you want a shorter version for YouTube or a platform with a character limit:

Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026 Premier tickets and higher with code BTGM152026. Valid through September 30. Register: https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/

Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucas

Learn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

John Imah is Co-Founder and CEO at SpreeAI, an AI-driven company transforming the future of fashion and e-commerce with our photorealistic try-on technology.
Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026
Black Tech Green Money listeners get 15% off Premier tickets and higher for ATC '26. Use code BTGM152026 at checkout. The code is valid from September 15 through September 30, 2026.
How to redeem:
<ol dir="ltr">
<li>Go to <a href="https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/">ATC '26 Registration</a></li>
<li>Select a Premier ticket or higher</li>
<li>Enter your registration information</li>
<li>Enter BTGM152026 in the Promotional Code field</li>
<li>Complete your registration</li>
</ol>
The discount applies only to Premier tickets and higher. The code expires September 30.
If you want a shorter version for YouTube or a platform with a character limit:
Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026 Premier tickets and higher with code BTGM152026. Valid through September 30. Register: <a href="https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/">https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/</a>
Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at <a href="https://instagram.com/willlucas">@willlucas</a>
Learn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

John Imah is Co-Founder and CEO at SpreeAI

John Imah is building the future of fashion, fit and sizing, styling, and wardrobe intelligence

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/724c7ac2-6623-4080-85da-b4e0013d16b8/transcript

Coltrane Curtis is the Founder and Managing Partner of Team Epiphany, the culture marketing agency he launched in 2004, which pioneered influencer marketing as a term before Twitter or Instagram even existed. Before that, he was an early employee at streetwear brand Ecko Unlimited, helped launch Complex as its first Editor-at-Large, and was a fashion VJ for MTV Style.



Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026

Black Tech Green Money listeners get 15% off Premier tickets and higher for ATC '26. Use code BTGM152026 at checkout. The code is valid from September 15 through September 30, 2026.

How to redeem:
Go to ATC '26 Registration
Select a Premier ticket or higher
Enter your registration information
Enter BTGM152026 in the Promotional Code field
Complete your registration

The discount applies only to Premier tickets and higher. The code expires September 30.

If you want a shorter version for YouTube or a platform with a character limit:

Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026 Premier tickets and higher with code BTGM152026. Valid through September 30. Register: https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/

Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucas

Learn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Coltrane Curtis is the Founder and Managing Partner of Team Epiphany, the culture marketing agency he launched in 2004, which pioneered influencer marketing as a term before Twitter or Instagram even existed. Before that, he was an early employee at streetwear brand Ecko Unlimited, helped launch Complex as its first Editor-at-Large, and was a fashion VJ for MTV Style. 
Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026
Black Tech Green Money listeners get 15% off Premier tickets and higher for ATC '26. Use code BTGM152026 at checkout. The code is valid from September 15 through September 30, 2026.
How to redeem:
<ol dir="ltr">
<li>Go to <a href="https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/">ATC '26 Registration</a></li>
<li>Select a Premier ticket or higher</li>
<li>Enter your registration information</li>
<li>Enter BTGM152026 in the Promotional Code field</li>
<li>Complete your registration</li>
</ol>
The discount applies only to Premier tickets and higher. The code expires September 30.
If you want a shorter version for YouTube or a platform with a character limit:
Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026 Premier tickets and higher with code BTGM152026. Valid through September 30. Register: <a href="https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/">https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/</a>
Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at <a href="https://instagram.com/willlucas">@willlucas</a>
Learn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Coltrane Curtis is the Founder and Managing Partner of Team Epiphany

Coltrane Curtis Built Influencer Marketing Before Instagram Existed

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b21a0011-9790-4bae-bc5f-b4d5000fce66/transcript

Tamar Huggins built Canada's first accelerator for Black and Brown founders, then built the pipeline it was missing by opening a tech school for kids. Now she's the founder of Spark Plug AI, a generative AI platform trained on Harlem Renaissance and Civil Rights era writers. She breaks down how she raised $1.4 million in a market where Black women average $30,000, why AI is a power structure and not a tool, and what building on your own terms means when everyone is renting the same few models.



Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026

Black Tech Green Money listeners get 15% off Premier tickets and higher for ATC '26. Use code BTGM152026 at checkout. The code is valid from September 15 through September 30, 2026.

How to redeem:
Go to ATC '26 Registration
Select a Premier ticket or higher
Enter your registration information
Enter BTGM152026 in the Promotional Code field
Complete your registration

The discount applies only to Premier tickets and higher. The code expires September 30.

If you want a shorter version for YouTube or a platform with a character limit:

Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026 Premier tickets and higher with code BTGM152026. Valid through September 30. Register: https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/

Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucas

Learn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Tamar Huggins built Canada's first accelerator for Black and Brown founders, then built the pipeline it was missing by opening a tech school for kids. Now she's the founder of Spark Plug AI, a generative AI platform trained on Harlem Renaissance and Civil Rights era writers. She breaks down how she raised $1.4 million in a market where Black women average $30,000, why AI is a power structure and not a tool, and what building on your own terms means when everyone is renting the same few models. 
Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026
Black Tech Green Money listeners get 15% off Premier tickets and higher for ATC '26. Use code BTGM152026 at checkout. The code is valid from September 15 through September 30, 2026.
How to redeem:
<ol dir="ltr">
<li>Go to <a href="https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/">ATC '26 Registration</a></li>
<li>Select a Premier ticket or higher</li>
<li>Enter your registration information</li>
<li>Enter BTGM152026 in the Promotional Code field</li>
<li>Complete your registration</li>
</ol>
The discount applies only to Premier tickets and higher. The code expires September 30.
If you want a shorter version for YouTube or a platform with a character limit:
Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026 Premier tickets and higher with code BTGM152026. Valid through September 30. Register: <a href="https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/">https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/</a>
Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at <a href="https://instagram.com/willlucas">@willlucas</a>
Learn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Tamar Huggins, Founder and CEO of Spark Plug AI

Tamar Huggins Built an AI That Speaks to Black Students

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d7480a30-945b-4806-a9bd-b4cd013bae76/transcript

Stop Renting Your Audience: Black Creators on Ownership, Equity, and Influence.

Black Tech Green Money

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