February’s Black Trailblazers: 28 Modern Money Moves You Should Know
February isn't just about celebrating Black history, it's about recognizing the Black present and future. Every day this month, we're spotlighting trailblazers who are literally writing the playbook on building wealth, creating opportunities, and shifting the economic landscape. These aren't just success stories; they're blueprints you can actually use.
Whether you're launching a side hustle, growing a business, or just trying to level up your financial game, these 28 modern money moves from today's Black innovators will show you what's possible when you invest in yourself and your community. And yeah, we're talking about the kind of moves that make #BuyBlack more than a hashtag, it's a lifestyle and an economic strategy.
Week 1: The Builders (Days 1-7)
Day 1 – Richelieu Dennis (Sundial Brands/Essence Ventures)
Money Move: Built a billion-dollar empire by staying authentic to his roots. Started selling shea butter products on the streets of Harlem, never compromised on quality or cultural authenticity. Lesson? Your culture isn't something to water down, it's your competitive advantage.
Day 2 – Jasmine Crowe (Goodr)
Money Move: Turned a social problem into a profitable solution. Her food waste management platform proves that purpose and profit aren't enemies. The move: Find where inefficiency meets impact, then build tech to bridge that gap.
Day 3 – Arlan Hamilton (Backstage Capital)
Money Move: When VCs wouldn't fund her, she became the VC. Raised millions to invest in underrepresented founders. The lesson? Sometimes you gotta build the table yourself.
Day 4 – Tristan Walker (Walker & Company/Form Beauty)
Money Move: Solved a problem major brands ignored, quality grooming products for people of color. Sold to P&G for millions. Your niche isn't too small; the big guys just aren't paying attention.
Day 5 – Melissa Butler (The Lip Bar)
Money Move: Got rejected on Shark Tank, then landed in Target stores nationwide. She proved that "no" just means "not yet" and built a multimillion-dollar beauty brand anyway.
Day 6 – Nnamdi Okike (566 Capital)
Money Move: Building wealth by teaching others to do the same. Creates content that demystifies investing and real estate for everyday folks. The move: Share your knowledge, it multiplies your impact.
Day 7 – Pinky Cole (Slutty Vegan)
Money Move: Made vegan food cool, accessible, and profitable in the heart of the South. Expanded rapidly by understanding her audience and delivering consistent vibes. Brand culture matters as much as product quality.
Week 2: The Disruptors (Days 8-14)
Day 8 – Ryan Wilson (The Gathering Spot)
Money Move: Created private social clubs for diverse professionals, building community while building equity. Membership models create recurring revenue and loyal customers.
Day 9 – Beatrice Dixon (The Honey Pot Company)
Money Move: Turned plant-based feminine care into a Target staple. Used influencer marketing before it was cool and stayed committed to natural ingredients. Sometimes the "alternative" market is bigger than you think.
Day 10 – Iddris Sandu (Spatial Labs)
Money Move: Started coding as a teen, worked with everyone from Kanye to Instagram, now building the future of Web3 and fashion. The move: Master emerging tech early, then create the applications.
Day 11 – Stephanie Lampkin (Blendoor)
Money Move: Built tech that removes bias from hiring. Found a way to make DEI measurable and profitable. B2B solutions to social problems can scale fast.
Day 12 – Mandela Schumacher-Hodge Dixon (Founder Gym)
Money Move: Recognized that coaching and community could accelerate startup success. Built a subscription model around founder education. Knowledge-based businesses scale beautifully.
Day 13 – Rodney Williams (LISNR/SoLo Funds)
Money Move: Multiple exits as a serial entrepreneur. His latest venture, SoLo Funds, is democratizing lending. The pattern? Identify broken systems, build better alternatives.
Day 14 – Maya Penn (Maya's Ideas)
Money Move: Started her eco-friendly fashion brand at 8 years old, became the youngest woman to receive funding from her pitch. Started early, stayed consistent, built something meaningful.
Week 3: The Innovators (Days 15-21)
Day 15 – Raven Thomas (The Cru)
Money Move: Built a lounge and wine bar that became a cultural hub. Real estate + hospitality + community = sustainable wealth. Location matters, but so does the experience you create.
Day 16 – Frederick Hutson (Pigeonly)
Money Move: Used his own experience with the justice system to build tech connecting incarcerated people with loved ones. Turned pain into purpose and profits. Underserved markets need solutions too.
Day 17 – Kimberly Bryant (Black Girls Code)
Money Move: Trained thousands of young women in tech, creating a pipeline of future innovators. Built a nonprofit that attracts major corporate sponsorships. Impact investing works both ways.
Day 18 – Tiffany Dufu (The Cru/Author)
Money Move: Leveraged her platform to launch multiple revenue streams, speaking, consulting, books, and membership models. One platform, multiple income sources.
Day 19 – Everette Taylor (Kickstarter)
Money Move: Rose from CMO of various startups to CEO of Kickstarter through consistent excellence in growth marketing. Become irreplaceable at what you do.
Day 20 – Arian Simone (Fearless Fund)
Money Move: Raising millions to invest specifically in women of color-led businesses. Created a fund that addresses a real gap while generating returns. Targeted investing can be smart investing.
Day 21 – Jesse Itzler (Partner with multiple Black entrepreneurs)
Money Move: While not Black himself, consistently partners with and invests in Black-owned businesses. Lesson for allies: put your money where your mouth is. Support means investment.
Week 4: The Movement Makers (Days 22-28)
Day 22 – Keiana Cavé (Digital Narratives Lab)
Money Move: Uses data and storytelling to shift narratives about Black communities. Turned research into consulting revenue while creating social impact.
Day 23 – Brandon Andrews (The Martin Agency/Various Creative Roles)
Money Move: Using creative direction to shift how brands connect with diverse audiences. Your perspective is valuable, charge accordingly.
Day 24 – Courtney Adeleye (The Mane Choice)
Money Move: Built an eight-figure hair care empire from her garage. Started with $500, listened to customer feedback obsessively, scaled through retail partnerships.
Day 25 – Charles King (Macro Media)
Money Move: Creating authentic content that centers Black stories while generating mainstream success. Proved that "Black content" isn't niche, it's universal with the right execution.
Day 26 – Rashad Bilal & Troy Millings (Earn Your Leisure)
Money Move: Built a media empire teaching financial literacy. Free content builds audience, premium offerings generate revenue. Education + entertainment = edutainment profits.
Day 27 – Kendra Scott (Partner in various Black-owned initiatives)
Money Move: While building her own empire, consistently collaborates with and amplifies Black designers and creators. Rising tides lift all boats, especially when you're intentional about it.
Day 28 – You (Yes, Really)
Money Move: The most important money move is the one you haven't made yet. Every purchase is a vote. Every investment is a statement. Every time you #BuyBlack at blackwallstreets.store, you're participating in wealth building for the entire community.
Your Move
These 28 trailblazers prove that economic power isn't about waiting for permission: it's about creating your own opportunities and bringing others along. Whether you're an entrepreneur, an investor, or someone who just wants to make smarter choices with your dollars, the blueprint is clear: build authentically, solve real problems, and support the ecosystem.
When you shop at blackwallstreets.store, you're not just buying products: you're investing in a movement. You're keeping dollars in our communities. You're proving that Black excellence isn't seasonal; it's year-round.
So what's your modern money move going to be? Drop a comment and let us know, or better yet: start shopping and start building. The future of Black wealth is being written right now, and you're holding the pen.
#BuyBlack #BlackWallStreets #BuildWealth
