Who ever thought the end of AFROTECH™ 2024 would evoke the feels of Boyz II Men’s classic “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday?” And now that AFROTECH™ has wrapped up, those lyrics hit differently as we say farewell to an unforgettable week.
Houston, TX, welcomed 37,500 industry leaders for four days of groundbreaking discussions and networking. The city was buzzing with Black excellence — from entrepreneurs and tech innovators to corporate powerhouses, all owning their futures and reveling in the experience.
Every day, attendees dived into immersive sessions that were as empowering as they were culturally on point. With a lineup of standout speakers — like Bun B, Tobe Nwigwe, will.i.am, Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins, Kendrick Sampson, Angelica Ross, and Rashad Robinson — AFROTECH™ made sure every moment was full of inspiration.
AFROTECH™ Conference also showcased groundbreaking initiatives and discussions aimed at driving innovation, equity, and community empowerment. Angel investor Hannah Bronfman shared plans to launch a fund supporting women and Black-owned startups, offering essential capital and resources to scale high-impact ventures.
Artist T.I. and Silicon Valley Bank’s Tosh Ernest shared strategies to empower Black entrepreneurs in the innovation economy, while NAACP CEO and President Derrick Johnson discussed NAACP Capital, a $200 million fund designed to support fund managers closing racial equity gaps. Colin Kaepernick emphasized the role of AI in revolutionizing the creator economy by fostering ownership and authenticity in storytelling.
In addition, major tech players Google and NVIDIA showcased cutting-edge AI advancements, including Google’s Gemini, a tool for planning and learning, and NVIDIA’s innovations in accelerated computing. All things happening on the ground underscored the company’s mission to inspire and equip entrepreneurs, creatives, and technologists with the tools and strategies to lead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
This year brought something new with the Health & Environment Equity and Women’s Summits, as well as the addition of new, specialized stages:
- Cybersecurity Stage
- AI Stage
- Data & Engineering Stage
- Founder’s Summit
- Creative & Design Summit
Each stage provided insights into the intersections between tech and other industries, showing there’s something for everyone, regardless of their background or expertise.
Beyond the impactful sessions and influential speakers, AFROTECH™ has mastered the art of connection, creating curated spaces where thousands can vibe and collaborate. And we plan to keep it coming!
AFROTECH™ 2025
This year’s event is now in the books, but the AFROTECH™ experience is far from over. Next year’s conference will be held Oct. 27-31 in Houston, TX, and promises to be even bigger.
For now, it’s time to start editing those reels, posting photos to IG, perfecting your TikTok clips, creating your LinkedIn recap, and reconnecting with all the amazing people you met. Don’t forget to tag us in your posts!
AFROTECH™ 2024 may have ended, but this is just “see you later.”
Be the first to secure your spot with early bird pricing. Buy your ticket now!