The Largest Black Technology Conference: AfroTech Kicks Off Sunday in Austin

The largest black technology conference, AfroTech Conference, kicks off Sunday at the Austin Convention Center.

It marks a return to in-person events after two years of the AfroTech Conference held virtually due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The conference features fireside chats with technology leaders and music performances.

“We are continuing to tackle the diversity gap in Big Tech and AfroTech Conference serves as the destination for those fueling more inclusivity in the industry. As we return in person, our mission remains the same: to further build the Black Silicon Valley by helping fast-growing businesses effectively hire Black professionals and close the wealth gap,” Morgan DeBaun, CEO and Founder of Blavity, which puts on the conference, said in a news statement. “We are thrilled to announce our largest lineup of diverse industry speakers and brand partners looking to engage in meaningful discussions about tech disruption and Black innovation. I am excited for the ideas, funding, and career advancement that will come out of this experience and can’t wait to enhance the celebration with our first-ever music festival of Afro-Latinx and Black artists.” 

More than 100 speakers will participate in this year’s AfroTech Conference, which will cover such timely topics as: Securing the Bag: Navigating Tech from Cradle to Career; Climbing to the Top of the Tech Ladder for Engineers and Managers; Web3, Crypto and the Black Economy: Unlocking Inclusive Access with a New Wave of Commerce; Inclusive Product Design: What It Is and Why It Matters, and more. 

The 2022 conference takes place from Nov. 13^th to Nov. 17^th at the Austin Convention Center.

On Sunday, AfroTech’s official welcome and kickoff take place at 3:30 p.m. with DeBaun and Will Lucas in a fireside chat with a performance by Zaytoven.

Other highlights include:

• NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace will speak in partnership with DoorDash to discuss strategies to thrive while being the First, being the Only, and being Different in your industry, company, or boardroom. 
• Rapper and businessman Chamillionaire will take the stage with Silicon Valley Bank to share his journey from rap star to successful founder and investor. He will discuss his entrepreneurial ventures, investment philosophy, and how he’s working to make the tech ecosystem more inclusive and accessible to the Black community. 
• Mark Cuban, Governor of the Dallas Mavericks professional basketball team of the National Basketball Association, Co-Founder of Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, and Investor on ABC’s Shark Tank, Haywood L. Perry III and Ansley Carlisle of Mark Cuban Companies will share insights from their journeys to entrepreneurship and how they support emerging founders and investors today. 
• Creative director, activist, and fashion designer Aurora James will be joined on stage by Blavity CEO and Founder Morgan DeBaun to discuss how to hold corporations accountable. 

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