Visible Figures - Vol 33
SVP on Michelle Obama, Yinka Ogunbiyi raises $7M for HaloBraid, Tendai Moyo raises 4.5M for Ruka Hair, and Recho Omondi (The Cutting Room Floor) signs with Patreon.
Hey there! Hi. How are ya? I’m not sure why, but this year’s Juneteenth felt extraordinarily celebratory. 🎉 What’d you do last weekend?
I spent the day of resting (pretty sure that’s what my ancestors wanted 😏) and the following day electric sliding with HUNDREDS of people at the Blacksonian. The detail of David Ajaye’s architecture from the inside, after dark is magic.
Dark IS magic. ✨
Dark is not mute. She is not vacuous, vain, and derived like a listless moon shining only by virtue of a condescending sun. She speaks her own language. With a sensuous eloquence. The kind of eloquence that gives birth to seed and nurtures it away from haranguing light.
Meanwhile, a few blocks away…
and let’s not forget…
[Michelle’s] journey is as improbable as mine… she occupied [the White House] with as much warmth and class and dignity and beauty as anybody could.
Barack Obama (Today Show, 6/19/2026)
Here’s My Take:
What gives me solace is knowing that so much of the vitriol towards Michelle Obama is on record for the world to see and hear, forever. #receipts
IMHO, Michelle Obama is (while not Eleanor Roosevelt-level progressive) a paragon of American virtue, value, and valor. Despite the pressure to run for president, I love the Higher Ground strategy. It’s giving Creator Economy Claire Huxtable. 👸🏽 History will show Michelle to be a source of great value to the ‘American Dream’ brand during and long after her “25 summers left” (watch Michelle Obama w/Rachel Martin on Wild Card by NPR).
Narrative work is long, very intentional, and thoughtful work. If you appreciate the work, you know what to do. ‘preciate you! -SVP 💜
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What I’m Reading: The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging by Charles Vogl
The biggest challenge all communities face r/n is loyalty and engagement. Especially given the ‘attention olympics’ and spike in niche on- and offline communities. Vogl’s book provided me some valuable tips and reminders of the hard, hidden, and humbling labor required to build and manage meaningful communities in the age of our overconnected loneliness.
What I’m Streaming: Ted Danson on Comedy with a Conscience on Who’s With Me? with W. Kamau Bell
In 1993, Ted Danson, a beloved comedian from the classic TV show Cheers acted out an overtly racist skit during the Friars Club Roast of Whoopi Goldberg that will not age well. Instead of calling him out, Heather McGhee (The Sum of Us), one of my fave living intellectuals, called Ted in for an earnest conversation that had a major impact on his perspective and apology. This is a Maji-class on redemption after blunder.
Love Always Wins,
Maji Moment 👑
The ‘Maji’ are citizens of the mythical African kingdom of Orïsha in Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone who are born with the ability to summon magical powers.
Barbados PM Mia Amor Mottley spoke at the Juneteenth commemoration in Accra, Ghana last week. LFG.
👀 Figures You Should Know:
Yinka Ogunbiyi raises $7M for HaloBraid (TechCrunch)
Alexis Ohanian invested in HaloBraid AND attended the UFC Freedom 250 event referenced above 👀. Two things can be true at once. I first learned of Yinka while hobnobbing at the Harvard Club of Boston. A fellow WHOI board member spoke so highly of her I DM’d her that night! I know firsthand how vitally social the hair braiding experience is AND how brilliant a hardware solution can be. HaloBraid’s success hinges on how well it harnesses the power of culture in product development and distribution. Good thing Yinka, a triple Harvard degree holder, former track star, and culinary artist (see Food, Fire, and Soul) can do many things at once. 😏
Tendai Moyo raises 4.5M for Ruka Hair (LinkedIn)
Hair is BIG business, ya’ll but those profits rarely circulate back to the women who consume the most and don’t get me started on the health safety. Tendai, the London-based CEO and co-founder of Ruka Hair, has employed a biotech strategy to hair extensions with collagen fibers that mimic natural hair while reducing carcinogens commonly found in petroleum-based synthetic hair. The company has recently raised $4.5M co-led by Freedom Trail Capital & Henkel Ventures.
I’m pleased with my natural 6 inches 😌, but when and if I extend best believe it will be Ruka!
Recho Omondi of The Cutting Room Floor signs with Patreon (Fast Company)
I first learned of The Cutting Room Floor via clips from the Law Roach interview (Patreon).🔥Founded in 2018, Recho’s podcast elevated to an independent media company and rose to the top 1% of Patreon by 2021. The recently signed 3-year exclusive deal with Patreon sends a very important signal to the market. Independent media is 🚀and Recho’s got that sauce!
Save-the-(NEW!) Date 📆
The Cook Out 🔥 on Martha’s Vineyard | Thursday, August 11th @ 6PM
The Cook Out by VFMH will be set against the vibrant backdrop of Martha’s Vineyard this August. The Cook Out marks the beginning of a new cultural tradition—one rooted in sustainability, wellness, artistry, and authentic community engagement. Bringing together visionary creatives and thought leaders, the event will serve as a living expression of VFMH’s mission to amplify voices and experiences that nourish both culture and consciousness. This will be a FREE event for, paid members, confirmed and invited guests only.
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