Earlier this month, I had the fantastic opportunity to attend AfroTech, a hotspot of innovation and excellence, as the nation's largest Black tech conference held annually. I was elated to see what possibilities this brought for my startup, Article 26 -- the personal finance platform connecting mental and financial health and wealth. Although I went looking for career opportunities and connections, much like the other 20,000 attendees, I left with a perspective of a reality I had never seen before.
Stepping into the grand halls of AfroTech, the air buzzed with electricity. Currents of potential, hope, and passion flowed through the air, seamlessly connecting every attendee. Through all the booth jumping, event networking, and knowledge sharing from speakers, one must find a time to step back and truly take it all in. Being in the heart of downtown Austin in 80° weather made relaxation and reflection easy to find -- I will not say anything about comfort.
Aaron Samuels, Founder and Managing Partner of Collide Capital, alongside Helen Telahun, Founder of Article 26 (yours truly), at Collide Capital's AfroTech Celebration. A proud WashU alum, Aaron played a pivotal role in developing Blavity, the premier Black Media Network, and has been instrumental in the growth of several Black-focused brands and services, including AfroTech itself.
By taking a step back, I realized that not only was this the first conference, let alone a tech conference, that I had been to, but also my first time in a space quite like this one. Growing up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, I didn't have role models who looked like me, let alone a whole community doing what I set out to do surrounding me. It was my first time in a massive, predominantly black space, and I couldn't imagine a better space for such an essential first. Black CEOs, Black Founders, Black Brands, even a Black-owned diaper brands!!
On the outside, AfroTech is precisely what I stated: a central hub of black excellence in technology and innovation. Looking deeper, it is a true manifestation of what is coming. It is a grand mirror where aspirations are reflected, giving a perspective of how far our dreams, passions, and knowledge can go to those who wouldn't and don't have it otherwise, alongside leading innovators and visionaries of color.
What struck me the most was the unspoken yet overwhelming sense that we were not individual peaks racing toward the horizon but a mountain range building past Everest. As I shared my vision of Article 26 and Beri the Budgeter, our AI-powered mentor, nods of understanding, offers for connections, and advice instilled motivation to persevere. The energy of collaboration and dedication to one another's pursuits and betterment was impactful and empowering.
AfroTech has granted me a perspective I didn't realize I had been missing and one that everyone needs and deserves. It showed me that the unique spaces and positions I previously deemed intangible are not just dreams but destinations. It provided a place for those with otherwise scarce opportunities to share their voice, ideas, and vision. Beyond just a conference, AfroTech is a call to action, a match in the fire roaring to rise, reach, and realize that our destinations will go as far as we dare to dream.
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