AfroTech 2021 is almost here, and to get in the spirit, we’re spotlighting the next wave of tech innovators! For years, the conference has been home to fellow founders, entrepreneurs, and engineers looking to take a 360-degree approach to how our culture, innovation and tech truly run the world. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AfroTech (@afro.tech) Ahead of the experience, AfroTech sought out pitches from early-stage startups by allowing them to pitch their businesses in front of their community for a chance to win the AfroTech Cup. Ahead of the November event, The Young Founders Pitch Competition — hosted by Cash App and Square — was open to pre-seed and seed-stage companies taking up space in tech and open to founders between the ages of 18 and 30. Then there’s the second pitch competition, AfroTech World Cup, which didn’t require any stage funding, industry or age requirements that is sponsored by Lexus. Entries included everything from startups backed by science to...

As we approach ten months into the global pandemic and nationwide halt on social gatherings, most people have adapted to using online means of interaction. Attending online workshops and conferences can put individuals in spaces with people they possibly would not have had the opportunity to meet. Just as in-person networking required preparation (and a pep talk) before approaching someone you admire, there is a science to building connections online. Before the week ends, here are some tips for making more connections during AfroTech World. Do your research In AfroTech World, a person’s name and company is displayed above their avatar. Take a moment to search for them on LinkedIn. Doing this will help you find a common ground to approach them in conversation. Compliment the work they did on their latest project, comment on the sports team they’re wearing in their profile picture, commend them for a question or comment they made during the conference, etc. Also, visit the AfroTech...

AfroTech World is one of the largest multicultural tech conferences in the United States, and this year, it will be an even more immersive event as a digital multi-day experience. From Nov. 9 to Nov. 14, conference attendees will be transported to a sprawling virtual campus complete with over 40 lounges, offices, houses, shops, theaters, and halls. Various locations, engineers, venture capitalists, recruiters, technologists, and culture enthusiasts from all over the world will curate conversations on the tech industry’s current opportunities and challenges. In addition, these leaders will gather in this digital space for community-building and exchange of ideas with the brightest minds in Black tech. As an avatar, you can hit the beach for a dance party, meet up with fellow conference-goers, pitch to investors, and level up your career all from the comfort of your home. Though you may be a whiz at Zoom meetings by now, this is a different experience altogether. So for first-timers...