UrbanGeekz 50 2024: AI & Machine Learning

Candace Mitchell: Co-founder and CEO, Myavana

Candace Mitchell is a visionary entrepreneur transforming the hair care industry through science and technology. She found success as the founder and CEO of Myavana, a beauty technology company that uses artificial intelligence to recommend the perfect products for women’s hair.

The company’s sophisticated technology analyzes hair variables like type, texture, and condition to develop a personalized haircare plan supporting healthy hair growth. Users can take a photo of their hair, receive an instant analysis of their hair type along with recommended products, consult with an expert, and receive healthy hair guidance. 

Alongside her entrepreneurial pursuits, Mitchell leads the program development for Ascend Atlanta, a small business support ecosystem for minority-led companies. He leads Ascend National in access to markets and alumni engagement.

Mitchell has been recognized for her work on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, WWD’s Top 50 Beauty Innovators, BET Honors STEM Award, Sephora Accelerate Fellow, and featured nationally on CNN’s Small Business Success segment, Marie Claire Magazine’s Next Big Thing in Beauty, ESSENCE Festival, Inc. Magazine, Black Enterprise, Business Insider, and many more. She was also initiated into the ANAK Society, the highest honor at Georgia Tech, and recently named on their inaugural Top 40 Alumni list.

Mutale Nkonde: CEO, AI for the People

Mutale Nkonde is currently pursuing a PhD in the Department of Digital Humanities at Cambridge University.
In March 2020, Nkonde started AI for the People (AFP), a public-sector Responsible AI Team that focuses on product policy. It is built around the policy advocacy work Nkonde has been doing in Congress since 2017, when she was a fellow at Data and Society and later at the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard.

In 2019, Nkonde’s efforts led to her becoming the lead advocate for the introduction of the Algorithmic Accountability Act (AAA). In 2023, Nkonde took part in one of Senator Schumer’s AI Insight Panels and spoke on panels at the Congress Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference (CBC). Then, in 2024, she participated in a series of White House Roundtables on AI. In 2025, AI for the People became shareholder activists, using their proxy votes to encourage the world’s largest AI developers to adopt responsible approaches to the design, deployment, and governance of AI products.

Nkonde has a BSc. (Hons) in Sociology from Leeds Metropolitan University and a Master’s Degree in American Studies from Columbia University. And has held fellowships at Notre Dame and Stanford and is currently a visiting policy fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute.

Guy Assad: CEO and Co-founder, Clerkie

Guy Assad is the CEO and Co-Founder of Clerkie, a fintech company dedicated to addressing the broken debt system in the United States. Clerkie’s mission is to democratize financial wellness for everyday Americans through automation. The consumer debt market, plagued by predatory collection practices and overwhelming debt, burdens millions of American families. Clerkie aims to provide better tools for borrowers to manage and reduce their debt responsibly. Guy Assad’s personal experiences, including dealing with his father’s medical bills and credit card debts, drive his commitment to solving these issues. 

Under Guy’s leadership, Clerkie recently raised a $33 million Series A funding round, led by Left Lane Capital, with contributions from Wellington Management Company and many others. Notable fintech visionaries David Velez, founder of Nubank, and Tom Proulx, founder of Intuit, also participated in the funding round, bringing Clerkie’s total funding to $41 million. These funds were to help expand the engineering team and scale Clerkie’s debt workout solutions to support more partners and borrowers.

Guy holds an MBA from Stanford University and a background in finance, having worked as a Manager at McKinsey. With over 15 years of experience in deep tech, investing, and consulting, Guy is passionate about democratizing finance. His dedication stems from witnessing financial stress within his family and community, fueling his resolve to create impactful financial solutions.

Elise Smith: Co-founder and CEO, Praxis Labs

Elise Smith is the Co-Founder and CEO of Praxis Labs, a company dedicated to scaling access and opportunity to drive equitable outcomes for all. Inspired by her lived experiences and those of her family, Elise leverages her background in tech innovation to make workplaces more inclusive and effective. With experience at IBM Watson, where she contributed to the development of AI education products, and at New Schools Venture Fund, focusing on DEI and leadership skills training, Elise brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. She has successfully raised over $23 million in venture capital, placing her among the top 20 most-funded Black women in the U.S.

Praxis Labs offers scalable immersive learning solutions that help companies improve culture, foster equity and inclusion, and enhance employee engagement and retention. Under Elise’s leadership, Praxis Labs partners with leading organizations to implement interactive simulations and training programs that build core human skills.

Elise also holds a B.A. in Geography and Social Inequity from Dartmouth College and an MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University. Currently based in Los Angeles, she draws inspiration from the city’s vibrant energy and enjoys running, hiking, and playing tennis with friends and family. Her journey from IBM Watson to founding Praxis Labs is a testament to her passion, vision, and commitment to creating positive change in the workplace. Elise, alongside her Co-Founder and CPO Heather Shen, was honored in Inc.’s seventh annual Female Founders list, highlighting their impact and leadership in the industry.