Rodney Sampson is heralded as the leading inclusive innovation, entrepreneurship and investment ecosystem builder in the world, particularly given his mission to ensure that everyone, everywhere, particularly socially disadvantaged communities, have equitable access to the new multi-generational wealth creation opportunities afforded in the future of work and fourth industrial revolution as definitive paths to reducing poverty and the racial wealth gap everywhere.
Throughout his twenty year entrepreneurial career, Sampson has co-founded startup companies that have overcome the odds by collectively raising more than $20 million in angel and venture capital, created hundreds of new jobs and generated tens of millions in revenue before acquisition or going public.
At the beginning of the 21st century, Sampson co-founded, built and sold Multicast Media Technologies (Streamingfaith.com) and EFactor (EFCT). He was one of three Black co-founders during this era whose high growth technology startups raised over $1 million in angel and venture capital and were subsequently acquired for eight figures.
During this time, Sampson also built Intellectual Currency, a world class integrated go-to- market, publishing and advisory firm with clients ranging from major Hollywood film studios, cable networks, tech companies, global corporates, publishers, the United States government, African heads of state and leading Black church denominations.
Since 2007, Sampson has worked closely with high growth startups and seed stage venture funds as a selective advisor, investor and limited partner. His current investment and advisory portfolio include Cross Culture Ventures, Leadout Capital, TechSquare Capital, Digit, York Exponential, Plum.io, Patientory and Momentum Learning.
In 2013, Sampson co-founded Opportunity Hub (OHUB) as a follow up to the highly successful Kingonomics’ book release and large-scale conferences in Atlanta, GA and Washington, DC. OHUB scaled quickly to become the leading multi-campus technology hub, entrepreneurship center and coworking space featuring over 300 local events a year, a startup accelerator, coding school and early investing syndicate. Over fifteen thousand walked through OHUB doors each year.
From 2015-17, via a merger, Sampson was a Partner at TechSquare Labs, a tech hub, seed stage venture fund and creator of the $100,000 Atlanta Startup Battle. Today, TechSquare Labs' portfolio companies have raised follow on capital of nearly $400 million, are valued at over $2 billion, generate over $100 million in annual recurring revenue and employ over 1,500 people and growing. He remains the largest minority Limited Partner in the fund.
Today, as Executive Chairman & CEO of OHUB and OHUB Foundation, Sampson is focused on scaling OHUB as the leading tech, startup and venture ecosystem building platform designed intentionally to ensure authentic diversity, equity &; inclusion in the future of work, fourth industrial revolution and beyond as a path to shared prosperity and multi-generational wealth with no reliance on pre-existing multi generational wealth. This is driven by the organization’s early exposure, skills development, talent placement, entrepreneurship support and capital formation programs, products and platform. OHUB is a supplier, vendor and partner to over 50tech companies, major corporations, high growth startups, venture funds, municipalities, foundations, associations, colleges and universities and growing.
As the General Partner of 100 Black Angels and Allies Fund I, Sampson is creating a new generation of investors to advance venture funds, founders and ecosystem building companies committed to racial equity in the fourth industrial revolution. Key investments to date include MaC Ventures, SoloFunds, Rheaply, JTECH &; Goodr.
Sampson is also a Nonresident Senior Fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC; a Venture Partner at Draper Goren Holm; and Keohane Distinguished Visiting Professorship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University.
Sampson previously served as the 1st Head of Diversity at Mark Burnett Productions, executive producers of the hit ABC show, ABC’s Sharktank.
A strong believer in philanthropy and its role in social impact and advocacy, Sampson supports and serves on the boards of Black In AI, Artificial Intelligence for All (AI4All), Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC), International Bishops Conference, and GA Technology for All Policy Summit.
Sampson was educated at Tulane University, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Keller Graduate School of Management; and is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Sampson resides in Atlanta, GA with his wife and six children.