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FOUNDER

Lanny Smith is the Founder and CEO of Actively Black. A former professional NBA player, Lanny is also the founder of Active Faith Sports, a faith-based sports apparel brand founded in 2012, sold in over 70 countries, and worn by over 100 athletes in the NBA, NFL, and MLB.

Lanny Smith

Lanny Smith

Actively Black is a premium athleisure and sports apparel brand with a mission to re-invest into Black communities. Focused on improving the physical, mental, and financial health of the Black community, Actively Black innovates beyond apparel to meetups, running clubs, mobile apps, wellness conferences, and more.

COMPANY

MILESTONES

  • First two “Million Dollar Months” ($1M+ sales in single month) in November and December 2022 

  • First New York Fashion Week debut (September 2022)

  • Closed $7.5M Series A raise led by New Voices Fund with a post-money valuation of $32.5M (2022)

  • Closed $100K Series Seed raise led by Black Star Fund with a post-money valuation of $1.3M (2020)

  • Founded in 2020

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Signed NIL deals with North Carolina women’s top basketball player Deja Kelly and Jackson State University football stars Travis Hunter and brothers Shedeur & Shilo Sanders 

  • Partnership with Academy Award winning actress and Black Panther star Lupita Nyong'o as newest brand influencer

  • Outfitted the Nigerian Bobsled and Skeleton teams for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

  • Partnerships with Marvel/Black Panther, Black Entertainment Television (BET), Peloton, and Teleport Watches

  • 15+ Collections to date, including collaborations with Marvel's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with the legendary Olympian Dr. John Carlos 

  • As seen on Barack Obama, Steph Curry, Steve Harvey, and Daymond John

  • Board Members include Kwame Anku (Chairman & CEO, Black Star Fund) and Richelieu Dennis (Founder, New Voices Fund)

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