S1:E08 - Stephen & Jelani

In this episode, Stephen Green and Jelani Memory sit down together for the first time on mic to reflect on the journey of Pitch Black—from a $300 prize at a brewpub to a national movement that's given nearly $1M to Black founders.

They unpack what makes Pitch Black so different, the importance of celebrating Black excellence without centering competition, and how they’re taking the magic of Portland to cities across the U.S. They also share the inside scoop on Pitch Black Food, the wildly popular new event that swapped pitch decks for six-course meals—and sold out in hours.

00:00 — Meet the Co-Hosts

01:25 — How Pitch Black Began

04:06 — From $300 to Nearly $1M

07:17 — The Debut of Pitch Black Food

12:37 — Taking It National

15:00 — Equity ≠ Success

18:32 — Building Real Social Capital