An Interview with: Derrick Maultsby, Jr. on Black Tech Week

There’s so much going on in the Midwest this summer. The following interview about Black Tech Week - held last week in Cincinnati - was conducted on a rooftop during Tech Chicago Week this week. Exciting times. 

Ted Velie (Co-Founder at Start Midwest): First off, can you tell us who you are and what you do?

Derrick Maultsby, Jr. (Managing Associate Attorney at Frost Brown Todd): Sure. I’m a Managing Associate Attorney at Frost Brown Todd. I work in our venture practice group, where we support startups and early-stage companies.

Ted: And what’s your connection to Black Tech Week?

Derrick: For the last four years, Frost Brown Todd has been a partner with Lightship Capital to help produce Black Tech Week. We’re one of the main sponsors, and we’ve built a really strong relationship with the Lightship team, who produces the event.

Ted: Can you tell us more about Lightship and the work they do?

Derrick: Absolutely. Lightship is a multifaceted team focused on supporting underrepresented founders. They do this through early-stage capital investment and through the Lightship Foundation, which focuses heavily on founder education and expanding access to resources. One of their key programs is the Lightship Bootcamp, which travels around the Midwest - and places like Tulsa, Oklahoma - offering early-stage and idea-stage founders access to legal, accounting, and operational support. I’m proud to be a coach for that program.

Ted: Why Black Tech Week? You’ve been involved for years. What keeps bringing you back?

Derrick: Three main reasons.

First, the Lightship team is doing amazing work. It’s a privilege for us to be in the trenches with them, whether that’s through the bootcamp or the big event that is Black Tech Week. We get to interact directly with underrepresented founders and show them there are folks who see them, support them, and want to help them succeed.

Second, the move from Miami to Cincinnati was powerful. When Lightship bought Black Tech Week and relocated it, they made it a Midwestern cornerstone. Now it brings not just Midwest founders together, but also national and international founders to Cincinnati. It’s a statement - showing that you can build something special in the Midwest, particularly in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The cost of living, the community, the lifestyle - all of it makes it a compelling place to build.

And third, the people. The founders and funders who show up to Black Tech Week are incredible. You’ve got gritty underrepresented founders - from folks with just an idea to people who’ve already built impressive companies. You meet intentional VCs, emerging fund managers, and great ecosystem partners. Honestly, I think that’s where you and I met, Ted. I’ve made some of my closest collaborators and friends through Black Tech Week. As long as they’re hosting it, I’ll be there.

Ted: Let’s talk about this year. What were some of the highlights for you?

Derrick: Oh, there were a lot. Keke Palmer was the keynote speaker this year, and it was a packed house. She’s built an incredible brand and is such a powerful example of authenticity - especially for young Black women.

I also had the chance to get on stage and talk about due diligence in early and later-stage investing. I was joined by folks from the USA Angel Collective and Wellington Management. That kind of founder education is critical - helping founders understand the diligence process before they’re in it and potentially making avoidable mistakes. It’s important to hear not just from lawyers like me, but directly from VCs, so founders know these are real expectations - not just legal fine print.

Another highlight is always the VC matchmaking event. Lightship does a phenomenal job with it. It’s not random - investors are matched intentionally with companies that align with their thesis and are ready to raise. That’s a huge differentiator. Black Tech Week isn’t just a social event or speaker series - it’s a place where checks get written.

Ted: Coming out of the week, what’s something that had you feeling excited or energized?

Derrick: Honestly, it’s the same thing that gets me every year: seeing underrepresented founders - Black, Brown, LGBTQ+ - either already building in the Midwest or discovering that they can build here. That realization is electric.

And it’s not just the founders. It’s also the investors who are being intentional about putting capital into this region. It’s happening in Cincinnati, in Detroit, in Louisville, in Indianapolis. You walk away from Black Tech Week wanting to keep the momentum going for the next 365 days.

At Frost Brown Todd, we think about how we can continue to be a real partner - whether that’s with Lightship, Midwest House, the U.S. Angel Collective - whoever is doing the work. We want to help move the narrative forward, so that when I show up to Black Tech Week next July and it’s 90 degrees and I’m sweating through my blazer, I’m also hearing about the wins, the progress, and maybe even seeing people who moved to the Midwest because of what they experienced the year before.