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It is safe to assume that you must live under a rock if you haven’t heard about AFROTECH Conference ’23. AFROTECH Conference isn’t holding back on anything with this year’s conference. As always, the event will be power-packed with information and opportunities to allow each ticket holder to grow and develop beyond their imagination. This year’s speaker lineup is out of this world too, with industry experts and influencers such as Grammarly’s Chris Locklin, Google’s Adrienne Lofton, venture capitalist Ashley DeWalt, and Sylvia Obell of “The Scottie & Sylvia Show.” This fire speakers’ list is guaranteed to leave people inspired with gems and tools to take their careers and business ideas to the next level. But don’t get it twisted. AFROTECH Conference isn’t just about work. The conference is curated in a way that amplifies the “work hard, play hard” motto in all of the best ways. AFROTECH Music is bringing social vibes with performances from major artists including Rick Ross and...
The countdown to AfroTech Conference (ATC) is on, and we want to make sure everyone is included. Coined as the Black Tech family reunion, ATC is scheduled to go down between Nov. 1-5, 2023, in Austin, TX, and you need to be there. We are in the midst of a Hot Girl and City Boy Summer, so dates in November may not be top of mind. However, this is the ideal time to log into your favorite booking apps and secure your flight and hotel at reasonable prices. As you gather your coins for travel, please save room for the AfroTech ticket. This year’s conference offers a variety of ticket options based on price, exclusive access, and career levels. While the value of the ticket matches the upcoming experience, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to foot the bill. With that said, it may be possible to get your company to sponsor your AfroTech Conference experience. This unique gathering promises to offer tools and actionable skills to support your journey around technology, business, Web3,...
In 2016, Solange released her critically acclaimed album, “A Seat at the Table.” The album spoke to the Black experience and some of how the community navigates culture. One of the songs from this album that fully embraces the concept of the challenges, range, and beauty of the Black experience is “F.U.B.U.” In it, she opens by declaring, “…Made this song to make it all y’all’s turn. For us, this sh-t is for us.” In just a few short months, the Solange-inspired calling card will have undeniable evidence as members of the tech and business communities gather in Austin, TX, for AfroTech Conference. On Nov. 13-17, 2022, conference attendees will participate in panel discussions and keynote addresses, network with industry experts, and engage in various entertainment experiences guaranteed to keep the vibes high. While the conference is open to everyone, there is no doubt that AfroTech is a F.U.B.U (for us, by us) situation. So, check out these tips to help maximize your experience at...
The annual AfroTech Conference is officially coming back in person, and it’s going to be even bigger than ever! While being widely known as the largest event for Black techies to network and build community, for the first time ever, there will be an inaugural music experience at the AfroTech Conference 2022, and tickets are now live. Hosted in Austin, TX — the “live music capital of the world” — it’s only right to bring some of today’s hottest Black artists center stage during the nation’s largest multicultural tech gathering. The lineup features Bia, Zaytoven, Bas, DJ Moma, Mélat, and more. Attendees will also have the chance to party with Broccoli City — the host of one of Washington, D.C.’s biggest music events — and RNB House Party — the traveling unique party experience that delivers nostalgic vibes — following the music festival. What’s more, the after-party is expected to host over 10,000 attendees from across the world. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AfroTech...
Shaquille O’Neal is always raising the bar! As AfroTech previously reported, the basketball legend and serial entrepreneur became a co-owner of Big Chicken in 2018 before introducing the restaurant chain to Las Vegas and California. Now, it appears Shaq is still on the move! Houston Chronicle reports Big Chicken will be opening 50 locations throughout Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. The first restaurants are expected to open at an undisclosed date later this year and it appears Houstonians and Austinites will have first dibs. “Big Chicken is exactly the kind of brand that succeeds in Texas: pioneering and bold, yet rooted in delicious tradition. Our restaurant industry’s rich diversity is our greatest strength, and we’re absolutely thrilled that Shaquille O’Neal and the Big Chicken team are joining us,” said Emily Williams Knight, president and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association, according to the Houston Chronicle. “Welcome back home to Texas, Shaq.” Big Chicken’s...
A recent study published by NBC News revealed that North Carolina is the best state to start a business in. But which state is the worst? LendingTree provided their research to NBC News, and their studies concluded that three of North Carolina’s top cities — Raleigh, Charlotte, and Durham — offer the best places for small businesses to get started. Raleigh takes the top spot, while Charlotte is at No. 3, and Durham is at No. 4. “54.8% of Raleigh’s population is in their prime working years between ages 25 and 54, ninth-highest among the 100 metros,” reports the study. Austin, TX, meanwhile, takes the No. 2 spot. In fact, according to the study, the South holds five of the 10 top ten spots in the United States to open a small business. Aside from North Carolina, states like Idaho (with Boise, ID, coming in at No. 5) and Tennessee (with Nashville coming in at No. 9) also made the top of the list. But, which states are the worst states to open a new business in? At the top of the list...
Rent prices have increased by two percent to four percent nationwide each year since 2011, according to CoreLogic. While gains in federal and state minimum wage rules have somewhat mitigated the bite for lower-wage earners in certain areas, it’s often not enough to compete with the rising cost of housing. Meanwhile, the population of renters has increased, forcing renters to compete for a finite supply of rental housing, which is already pricing out some people. Using data from the Joint Center of Housing Studies and the Economic Policy Institute, MagnifyMoney identified 16 cities where the median rent claims all of a minimum wage worker’s take-home pay, and then some. Let’s take a look at big cities that are more affordable and ones where the rent is too darn high. Key findings Austin, Texas, is the least affordable major U.S. city for minimum-wage workers. Austin’s median rent is equal to 143 percent of take-home pay at the minimum wage. The median rent in Austin is $1,220 per...
Intel Capital, GV (formerly Google Ventures), Atlantic Bridge Ventures, and Redline Capital have united to help SambaNova finish its $150 million Series B funding round. Intel Capital, which focuses its investments on companies using artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and autonomous technology, led the funding. “It’s an exciting time to be able to partner with industry powerhouses in semiconductors and AI software to help revolutionize the AI market,” said co-founder and CEO Rodrigo Liang. SambaNova Systems wants AI to be used across industries. The company currently helps clients build out AI uses through its hardware and software platform. It has already begun surfacing in the automobile industry and the human resources sector. SambaNova Systems was founded in 2017 in Palo Alto, California by Kunle Olukotun, Liang and Christopher Ré. Olukotun and Ré are also professors at Stanford University. Kunle leads the Stanford Hydra Chip Multiprocessor project while balancing life as...
The dust has nearly settled after Amazon announced it would no longer move half of its second headquarters to New York. Now, the company plans to expand its Austin Tech Hub and employ 800 more people. “ With a strong pool of technical talent in Austin and a dynamic quality of life, we are excited to continue to expand and create more opportunity in this vibrant city,” Terry Leeper, General Manager of Amazon’s Austin Tech Hub, said in a press release. Amazon’s presence in Texas has brought more than 22,000 jobs to the state, and the company is looking to spread its impact. The tech hub expansion will create hundreds of software and hardware engineering, research science, and cloud computing positions. Austin has steadily made its mark as one of the growing tech cities in the United States and one of the top tech hubs in the South. The annual South By Southwest conference and Apple’s plans to build a $1 billion Austin campus have been major players in the shift. Smaller companies are...