Malik Mbaye, a former Product Manager at Meta, built an AI agent to identify viral products with untapped potential. "The algorithm kept surfacing this product," Mbaye explains. "It was a tension-based exercise device that looked almost like a toy, yet the engagement metrics were off the charts." Mbaye partnered with Hadji Sall, a digital marketing expert and fellow Senegalese entrepreneur. They ordered the device. And within minutes, they knew they had something. "The product worked, but more importantly, it had the DNA of virality," Hadji observed.
Their research revealed that the product belonged to a creator with a substantial following and strong content, but sales were low despite having all the supposed ingredients for success. "This represented the classic challenge facing the creator economy," Mbaye noted. "Great product, massive audience, viral content but no systematic way to convert attention into revenue."
Four Pillars of AI-Powered Growth
Rather than replacing human creativity, Black Lotus utilized a "Hybrid-AI" framework that amplified human expertise through automation. This wasn't just about producing videos; it was about redesigning the content production workflow using scalable AI systems. The AI framework was built on four core pillars:
1. AI-Powered Market Research:
Before a single video was created, Black Lotus deployed machine-learning agents to analyze thousands of successful marketing campaigns, extracting winning frameworks, hooks, and storytelling patterns. This data-first approach eliminated the guesswork that usually slows creative development.
2. AI Avatars and User-Generated Content (UGC):
The team solved the "uncanny valley" problem of AI content by grounding it in real customer stories. They used AI avatar systems to scale genuine testimonials—enhancing raw footage with professional narration, custom B-roll, and polished overlays. This allowed them to create high-quality, authentic social proof.
3. AI-Powered Content Experimentation:
The system generated dozens of content variations simultaneously, testing different hooks, angles, and formats to identify winning combinations with precision.
4. AI Sales Agent & Influencer Marketing:
Using custom AI sales agents, Black Lotus secured partnerships with major influencers. AI-powered prospecting systems identified and engaged creators at scale, locking in partnerships with influencers commanding over 20 million combined followers. This led to a Black Friday campaign featuring George Bamfo Jr, Robert Wilmote (NDO Champ), and Ashton Hall, generating over $70,000 during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
One Video, 1 Million Views, $800,000 in 30 Days: How AI Reverse-Engineered Viral Marketing Psychology
Results came quickly. The first campaign generated $128,000 in 30 days. But the breakthrough came when Black Lotus applied Al analysis to create what they call "controversial angle development." They developed a video that generated over 1 million views with a 50% retention rate. That single Al-designed video drove $800,000 in revenue in one month.
However, the impact extended beyond metrics. The viral marketing campaign created a new category within tension-based exercise devices, with competitors emerging globally from Dubai to China. The viral reach turned the product into a household name, serving over 100,000 customers—from professional athletes to senior citizens. All thanks to two Senegalese-American entrepreneurs and the strategic use of AI.
"The product became the official exercise device of a wheelchair basketball team in Spain and has even helped veterans undergoing physical therapy," Mbaye says. "We used Silicon Valley expertise to grow a product that genuinely helps people."
Black Lotus has successfully applied the methodology across multiple market segments, proving broad commercial viability. Many other agencies and consultants have deployed these systems and frameworks used them to grow their business and deliver for their clients. Like Vincent Kamlanje, an Atlanta-based creative director who has secured partnerships with million-dollar corporations, leading entrepreneurs, and award-winning actors like Desi Banks; and Ibrahim Ndiaye the founder of the fastest-growing media agency in Dakar, Senegal.
The system positions Black Lotus at the intersection of the creator economy and practical AI implementation, exactly where the market needs proven expertise as businesses struggle with traditional marketing approaches.
"We weren't choosing between AI and human creativity," Malik concludes. "We were using AI to amplify human ingenuity at scale."
About Black Lotus Ventures
Black Lotus Ventures is a venture studio that incubates and scales early-stage startups through strategic advisory, staffing, and consulting. Founded by former Meta Product Manager, Malik Mbaye, the company combines Silicon Valley technical expertise with proven digital marketing execution to deploy systematic AI solutions that create measurable outcomes. The firm has helped clients generate over $10 million in revenue and raise more than $50 million in venture capital from firms such as Techstars and Andreessen Horowitz. With a mission to democratize entrepreneurship and close the funding gap for minority founders, Black Lotus provides end-to-end support in software development, design, AI automation, and go-to-market strategy.
Malik Mbaye
Black Lotus Ventures
[email protected]
https://blacklotusventures.co/
SOURCE Black Lotus Ventures
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