Black Founder - by Stacy Spikes

About the Book

"Stacy Spikes knows what's it like to be an outsider. He certainly knew he didn't fit the mold of a successful future tech entrepreneur. But he marshaled his resilience and ultimately set out to shatter that mold--along with the glass ceiling that came with it. Finding his footing in the tech world was an education in the complexities of being an outsider--but as Stacy came to see, rather than a hindrance, it afforded him a unique position of power. Beginning as a film studio gopher, Spikes quickly rose through the industry ranks, being named one of the Hollywood Reporter's 30 Under 30. Still, he was an outsider looking in. So he set out to make his own dreams a reality. Defying expectations, Spikes effectively disrupted the status quo and reinvented himself from junior executive to CEO Tech Founder. What ensued was an escalating adventure with bigger stages, bigger risks, and a roller-coaster ride of exhilarating ascent--unpredictable collapse--and a story book return. Now Spikes shares his challenges, pitfalls, and keys to personal and professional fulfillment. He shows how the seemingly impossible can be overcome by having faith in oneself and creating from a place of confidence. Taking readers inside the battles of the boardroom and beyond, Black Founder is a business memoir that will inspire every outsider who has a dream"--Amazon.

Book Synopsis

At the intersection of power, technology, and race, Stacy Spikes, award-winning entrepreneur and founder of MoviePass, reveals the tools he's used to persevere in the face of adversity, defy stereotypes, and shatter glass ceilings. BLACK FOUNDER is both an empowering memoir of a trailblazing business leader and an unflinching look at what it means to be Black and ambitious in the upper echelons of record labels, movie studios and tech startups - with practical steps on how to overcome prejudice and build your own success.

Stacy Spikes knows what's it like to be an outsider. He certainly knew he didn't fit the mold of a successful future tech entrepreneur. But he marshaled his resilience and ultimately set out to shatter that mold--along with the glass ceiling that came with it. Finding his footing in the tech world was an education in the complexities of being an outsider--but as Stacy came to see, rather than a hindrance, it afforded him a unique position of power.

Beginning as a film studio gopher, Spikes quickly rose through the industry ranks, being named one of the Hollywood Reporter's 30 Under 30. Still, he was an outsider looking in. So he set out to make his own dreams a reality. Defying expectations, Spikes effectively disrupted the status quo and reinvented himself from junior executive to CEO Tech Founder. What ensued was an escalating adventure with bigger stages, bigger risks, and a roller-coaster ride of exhilarating ascent--unpredictable collapse--and a story book return.

Now Spikes shares his challenges, pitfalls, and keys to personal and professional fulfillment. He shows how the seemingly impossible can be overcome by having faith in oneself and creating from a place of confidence. Taking readers inside the battles of the boardroom and beyond, Black Founder is a business memoir that will inspire every outsider who has a dream.

Review Quotes

Praise for Black Founder

Inc. Magazine Non-Obvious Book Award Winner

"Readers looking for a good business biography are in for a nice surprise when they read Black Founder...'Transparency' is what author Stacy Spikes learned early, and it's what he applies inside this book, which is refreshing. This isn't a book about a meteoric rise; Spikes instead writes about setbacks, both personal and professional, and times of struggle. Readers can imagine a parkour-like hustle that Spikes describes as he overcame seemingly-catastrophic events and still landed with both feet; such tales serve to instruct as much as does the actual instruction." --The Washington Informer

"A blend of memoir and how-to manual, the business leader shares his personal encounters navigating the movie world as he developed and launched his start-up, and he shares the tools needed to overcome prejudice and build your own success." --Ebony

"Spikes will invite the comparison [to Steve Jobs] again with his memoir, Black Founder." --TIME

"Stacy Spikes provides rare insight into the vulnerable journey of being a founder. His story is an inspiration to those often written off and a reminder to always believe in yourself." --Henri Pierre-Jacques, cofounder of Harlem Capital


"In these pages, Stacy guides you through his career that's filled with glory and hardships. An unflinching examination of what it really takes to be an entrepreneur in today's world." --Jason Guerrasio, award-winning journalist at Business Insider

"Stacy gives revealing insights into the business world and its challenges. He delivers a powerful yet vulnerable view of the entrepreneurial journey rarely seen, and that's guaranteed to inspire anyone with a dream." --Brenda Gilbert, Cofounder, BRON Media Group

"Spikes's story reminds us what's possible when inspiration meets determination. A must-read for anyone who strives to achieve excellence." --Smokey D. Fontaine, co-author of E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX

"[Spikes'] story is a testament to the belief that being an outsider can be a source of unique power, a fresh perspective, and a different way of thinking. Spikes defied all expectations, challenged the status quo, and created a path that was uniquely his." --The Amsterdam News

About the Author

Stacy Spikes is an award-winning entrepreneur, co-founder and co-chairman of MoviePass, founder of the Urbanworld Film Festival, and a former film marketing executive and producer. Named by USA Today as one of the 21 most influential Blacks in technology, Spikes is also the founder and CEO of PreShow Interactive, a branded content app that rewards gamers for watching long-form video content. In his senior executive roles at Motown Records, Sony Music Entertainment, and Miramax, he worked some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Boyz II Men, Stevie Wonder, Spike Lee, Queen Latifah, and Eddie Murphy. Spikes is originally from Houston, Texas and now lives New York City with his wife and daughter.