Founder of The Digital Footprint Raymond Smith
Tomorrow, May 17, Raymond Smith, founder of the Black-owned creative agency The Digital Footprint, partnered with Capital One, is bringing back their powerful financial literacy tour, Cap Talk. During this national tour, attendees can expect to deep dive into topics such as budgeting and credit building, wealth planning, and business funding. After successfully launching last year in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and Washington, DC. Cap Talk is adding Houston to its 2025 lineup. Validating the demand for this type of programming in the Black creators’ community.
Stephanie Tharpe: Cap Talk has now touched major creative cities across the U.S., and you’re expanding to Houston in this year. Based on your stops so far, what have you observed about the financial gaps or recurring questions that creatives across different cities face, and how are you tailoring the experience city-by-city?
Raymond Smith: I’ve noticed that people are asking things that they don’t normally feel safe asking their peers or mentors for some reason, and a lot of things that we think are common or obvious are absolutely not. Which is why we make it a safe space for all levels of knowledge. Most people are afraid to look dumb or not an “expert” (especially in this era where everyone seems to have it all figured out). As a matter of fact, at the beginning of each cap talk, I play a game called “cap or no cap,” and I ask the audience a few questions to see what everyone thinks, and these are usually funny icebreaker questions. But it’s so interesting seeing how many different answers there are for something you think everyone would be on the same page about.
In each city, I’m using examples from leaders that they know or relate to…Things that would hit home. For example, in LA, it was more content creators that attended, so I made sure to tailor the questions around navigating the back end when dealing with yourself as a business, like your taxes, dealing with brands, what can you write off, etc.
Why It Matters
Turning your passions into profits is no easy feat. Only 1% of Black entrepreneurs have obtained business loans or VC funding for their ideas. Cap Talk is curating an environment where attendees are free to ask questions, demystify, and get raw and real about money. Not only will this be an environment for learning, but it’s wrapped up in good vibes, music, conversation, and community.
Stephanie Tharpe: Cap Talk disrupts the traditional financial literacy model by integrating cultural relevance into its programming. What elements did you and your team prioritize to ensure the tour resonates authentically with Black creatives, rather than feeling like a corporate initiative with surface-level inclusion?
Raymond Smith: Good question, there are a few ways. To start, I wanted every single touch point to make sense. From the marketing/tone, the curated panelist, the vendors, the questions, and intentionally involving people from the community from all walks of life that we see/relate to.
I made it so that it’s educational at first and then a social mixer after to give it that balance and excitement. You might see someone getting help from a small business financial coach in the beginning and then hitting the electric slide at the end lol I wanted people to learn + get resources first, but also have fun and get rewarded for taking that step to learn more about something that can impact their life.
I’m intentional about how it’s marketed so that it’s a mix of people in need but also folks from the creative community, so the crowd is authentic, unique, and full of future pioneers and thought leaders. I also make sure to tap into the tastemakers and culture leaders in each city to give flowers + pay respect, but to keep things authentic.
The Vision Behind the Movement
Raymond isn’t new to building brand, platforms and creating community. He has been on a mission to ensure Black entrepreneurs gain access to the financial knowledge they have been systematically barred from while authentically tailoring the information. A survey by the Firm of the Future Team shows that “Black entrepreneurs with high financial literacy confidence were more likely to report improved financial security and business innovation.” Affirming that Ray’s mission is not in vain.
Stephanie Tharpe: In building Cap Talk, how did your journey—as a creative, a founder, and a Black entrepreneur—influence how you approached financial education, particularly in choosing which myths to bust and what access points to create for participants?
Raymond Smith: Financial literacy wasn’t common where I’m from, and it’s sort of taboo to talk about it, so you were never sure if you were doing things right or wrong, you just sort of learned through experience and rolled the dice. My journey as an entrepreneur was full of mistakes and lessons, but I’m aware that some ppl don’t have the luxury or time to mess up, and if I can pass on some of that knowledge to help someone else advance or just make it through a tough time, then that’s a win. So I approach financial literacy from a standpoint as if I’m in a friend group chat with someone and where they feel safe enough to ask anything without being judged. Those are usually the types of questions I choose to highlight since most people are thinking but are too scared to ask certain questions.
Longevity and Authenticity
Heading into the Cap Talk 2025, one thing is certain. Raymond is focused on turning this tour into a long-term solution, not just a quick fix. With a partner like Capital One, Cap Talk has the potential to provide more resources for creatives who may not be able to attend an event in their scheduled cities.
Stephanie Tharpe: Your partnership with Capital One is significant, not just because of scale, but because of trust. How do you balance working with a substantial financial institution while maintaining the grassroots, culturally rooted energy that makes Cap Talk feel like a space created by and for the culture?
Raymond Smith: To be honest, this is one of the things I take the most pride in. Being able to translate the corporate tone of financial literacy and breaking it down in a way that anyone can understand or relate to. And always making sure to keep that raw energy integrated in the decision-making with everything that I do.
For example, in one of the cities on the panel, I had an accountant, but also included someone who owns and promotes a nightclub. Two different worlds, but it was easier for the audience to understand and vibe. Especially seeing the dichotomy between some of the talent’s respective industries. Another thing that helps build trust and keeps it feeling authentic is just being transparent with my journey and my failures. This ain’t no highlight reel, this is real life, and I try my best to be super vulnerable during the event to let people know it’s not always pretty, and we are all here to learn and get better. The goal is to always put the people first, you touch the people, you win, and no matter how corporate a company is, I always emphasize this part right here because it’s bigger than us.
Raymond partnering with Capital One is Black history in real time! Grassroots efforts from companies like The Digital FootPrint, coupled with major corporations, are exactly the type of collaborations needed to make a more equitable and thriving economy. I’m not just for Black creatives and entrepreneurs, but for America as a whole. Join the movement and attend Cap Talk in a city near you! Instagram: @rayandnite
Tour Dates:
La – May 17th
New York – July 5th
Houston – August 9th
Washington, DC – Nov 29th
Miami – Dec 7th
