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  • Comment: Definitely seems notable. However, the sourcing could be improved. Only a couple of them are about her specifically. Why aren't BNN Bloomberg, Yahoo!Finance, and Business Insider (okay, needs at least a $1 trial subscription to read) being utilized? Clarityfiend (talk) 21:11, 16 May 2021 (UTC)

Courtne Smith (born April 29, 1988) is a Canadian-American entrepreneur.

Early life & Education

Courtne Smith was born in Toronto, Ontario and is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States.[1] Smith attended University in Toronto, Ontario where she studied business[2].[3]

Her father, Robert Bruce Smith, was an African American athlete and entrepreneur who grew up in Huntsville, Texas. He became a professional football player in 1972, winning the Canadian Grey Cup Championship. He played for the Toronto Argonauts from 1976 to 1979 as defensive captain DT.[4] [5] Smith led a successful career in real estate becoming one of Canada’s top-selling agents and later established his own firm. He became an ordained chaplain and pastor in 1999. He passed away of pancreatic cancer in 2013 at the age of 63.[6]

Career

Smith began her career as a personal assistant to Grammy Award-winning musician Drake (Aubrey Drake Graham).[7] She worked in Drake’s management team[8] for over a decade handling his business endeavors and special projects.[9] Smith and Drake grew up together in Toronto, Ontario and were best friends since they were kids.[3] She dropped out of college when Drake offered her a job[10] and is the only female in Drake’s inner circle.[11][12]

In 2015, Smith co-founded Tharen[13], a hair extension brand with Filip Diarra.[10] Tharen was worn by Serena Williams and Taraji P. Henson.[3] In 2015, Shopify chose Tharen as an honorable business for the 2015 Shopify Ecommerce Design Awards.[14] Tharen was acquired in 2019.[15][16]

In 2018, Smith co-founded Suprize, a contest giveaway app with Filip Diarra.[7] Suprize combined pop culture, fashion, entertainment and gaming for users looking to win free prizes.[17] Suprize was favored by celebrities like Post Malone and Shawn Mendes.[15] Smith and Diarra kept their identities as the creators of the app a mystery, with users speculating the creator of the app to be Justin Bieber.[18]

In 2020, Smith and Diarra launched NewNew[19][20][21], a polling and decision-making platform.[9] She is the CEO of NewNew and one of fewer than 20 Black female founders in the history of tech to build an eight-figure, venture-backed company.[1] NewNew is funded by investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, Canaan Partners, Shrug Capital and Will Smith. Snap Inc. selected NewNew as one of nine companies for Snapchat’s inaugural Yellow Collabs program.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b Washington, Airen. "Former Drake Executive Discusses Her Transition To Tech And Entrepreneurship". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  2. ^ Gaviola, Anne (2021-02-02). "This tech 'outsider' CEO from Toronto went from Drake's inner circle to taking on Silicon Valley - BNN Bloomberg". BNN. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  3. ^ a b c Wong, Zara (2016-02-04). "How being Drake's personal assistant inspired a new business idea". Vogue Australia. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  4. ^ "Former CFL lineman and Grey Cup champion Bruce Smith dies at age 63". Toronto.com. 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  5. ^ "ARGOS MOURN LOSS OF BRUCE SMITH". Toronto Argonauts. 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  6. ^ "Former Argo Bruce Smith remembered". thestar.com. 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  7. ^ a b "In a startup reprise, Courtne Smith launches NewNew, a social network based on shared content". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  8. ^ Ifeanyi, K. C. (2020-12-15). "How polling app NewNew represents the new class of social media". Fast Company. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  9. ^ a b c Ifeanyi, K. C. (2020-12-15). "How polling app NewNew represents the new class of social media". Fast Company. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  10. ^ a b Stengel, Geri. "Smart VCs Recognize That Black Female Founders May Lead The Next Unicorns". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  11. ^ "Courtne Smith | SWEAT THE STYLE". Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  12. ^ "Here's A Who's-Who Of The Thank You Note On Drake's New Mixtape". The FADER. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  13. ^ Stengel, Geri. "Smart VCs Recognize That Black Female Founders May Lead The Next Unicorns". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  14. ^ "Announcing the Winners of the 2014-2015 Shopify Ecommerce Design Awards". Shopify. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  15. ^ a b "Weekend inspiration". brunchwork. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  16. ^ "Decision-Making App NewNew Selected for Snapchat's Yellow Collabs Partnership Program". The Plug. 2020-12-17. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  17. ^ "What Is Suprize, the App Offering Up a Chance to Win Prizes Like a Drake Scorpion Jacket and Tour Tickets?". Complex. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  18. ^ DeNinno, Nadine (2018-03-23). "The mysterious new app taking on HQ trivia". New York Post. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  19. ^ "The app that lets you pay to control another person's life". BBC News. 2021-05-16. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  20. ^ Lorenz, Taylor (2021-03-10). "For Creators, Everything Is for Sale". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  21. ^ "Monetizing the 'creator economy,' with NewNew". CNBC. 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2021-06-07.


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