Black Enterprise TechCon

Black Enterprise TechCon
Name	Black Enterprise TechCon
Status	Active
Genre	Technology conference
Country	United States
First	2016
Organizer	Black Enterprise

Black Enterprise TechCon Black Enterprise TechCon is an annual technology conference and trade show produced by Black Enterprise that focuses on technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development for African American professionals and entrepreneurs. Launched to amplify Black leadership in Silicon Valley, New York City, Atlanta, and other innovation hubs, the event assembles corporate leaders, startup founders, investors, policymakers, and academic researchers. TechCon features keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops, pitch competitions, and an expo floor highlighting products and services from established firms and emerging startups.

Overview

TechCon functions as a convening platform connecting stakeholders from Microsoft, Google, Apple Inc., Amazon (company), Facebook, Intel Corporation, IBM, NVIDIA Corporation, Salesforce, Oracle Corporation, Twitter, Uber Technologies, Lyft, Inc., PayPal, Stripe (company), Accenture, Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, EY, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Kleiner Perkins, Benchmark (venture capital firm), Bessemer Venture Partners, NEA (company). The conference emphasizes connections among historically Black colleges and universities such as Howard University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, and research institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Harvard University, Columbia University, and University of California, Berkeley. TechCon programming spans topics relevant to leaders from National Urban League, NAACP, United Negro College Fund, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Urban League affiliates, and civic stakeholders including representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration and various municipal economic development offices.

History

Black Enterprise, founded by Earl Graves Sr., originated in the early 1970s as a business magazine and expanded into events and programs under leadership including Earl Graves Jr. and editors who partnered with institutions and corporations. TechCon began as a response to growing discourse about diversity and inclusion within Silicon Valley and the technology sector after high-profile initiatives from Intel Corporation, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and major investor groups. The conference evolved alongside movements and reports from organizations such as AnitaB.org, Project Include, National Society of Black Engineers, Black Girls Code, and collaborations with accelerator programs like Techstars, Y Combinator, 500 Startups, StartX, and incubators affiliated with AMC Networks and BET Networks. Over successive years TechCon expanded programming, international outreach, and partnerships with corporations and philanthropic foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and Open Society Foundations.

Conference Programming

Programming at TechCon includes keynote addresses, panel sessions, hands-on workshops, and pitch competitions drawing judges and mentors from Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Union Square Ventures, Village Global, First Round Capital, and corporate venture arms like GV (company), Microsoft Ventures, Google Ventures, Intel Capital, Salesforce Ventures, Goldman Sachs Investment Banking. Tracks cover product development from teams at GitHub, Atlassian, Docker, Inc., Red Hat, and dev tools from Stack Overflow contributors, along with artificial intelligence and machine learning sessions featuring researchers from OpenAI, DeepMind, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Toronto, California Institute of Technology, and startups from AI2. Panels address fintech innovation involving Visa Inc., Mastercard, Square (company), Chime (company), Robinhood Markets, and blockchain conversations featuring Coinbase, Binance, and academic voices from MIT Media Lab. Career development segments partner with employers including Ernst & Young, Deloitte, Accenture, PwC, KPMG, and recruitment platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed.

Notable Speakers and Attendees

Past keynote speakers and attendees have included executives and founders from Twitter, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Apple Inc., Intel Corporation, IBM, Salesforce, Accenture, and financial leaders from Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley. Influential entrepreneurs and technologists such as founders associated with Black Girls Code, Operation HOPE, Blavity, The Root, and media figures from BET Networks, Essence (magazine), and TheGrio have participated. Academic contributors have represented Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, and Princeton University. Political figures, municipal leaders, and agency officials from the U.S. Small Business Administration and city economic development offices have also addressed attendees.

Impact and Industry Significance

TechCon has been cited in discussions about diversification of leadership within Silicon Valley firms and broader investment ecosystems, influencing corporate diversity initiatives at Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple Inc., and Intel Corporation. The event has supported startup funding outcomes involving venture firms like Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Kleiner Perkins, Benchmark (venture capital firm), Union Square Ventures, and corporate investors such as GV (company) and Intel Capital. TechCon’s emphasis on pipeline development bolsters recruitment efforts targeting alumni of Howard University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Hampton University, and aligns with workforce programs run by National Society of Black Engineers and Black Girls Code. The conference contributes to media coverage across outlets including Forbes, Bloomberg L.P., The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, NPR, Wired (magazine), and TechCrunch.

Partnerships and Sponsors

Sponsors and partners have included technology companies and financial institutions such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon (company), Apple Inc., Intel Corporation, IBM, NVIDIA Corporation, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, PayPal, Visa Inc., Mastercard, Salesforce, Accenture, Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, venture firms like Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, and philanthropic partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ford Foundation. Academic partnerships have linked TechCon with Howard University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, Stanford University, and MIT for research showcases and talent pipelines.

Attendance and Demographics

Attendees typically include founders, engineers, product managers, investors, corporate diversity officers, students from Howard University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, Hampton University, and professionals from firms including Microsoft, Google, Amazon (company), Apple Inc., Intel Corporation, IBM, Salesforce, Accenture, Deloitte, and investment firms such as Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Sequoia Capital, and Andreessen Horowitz. The conference reports a mix of early-stage entrepreneurs, C-suite executives, venture capital partners, academic researchers, and nonprofit leaders from organizations like National Society of Black Engineers, Black Girls Code, United Negro College Fund, and Urban League affiliates.

Category:Technology conferences Category:African-American events