AFROTECH in Austin
For the first time since launching in 2016, AFROTECH moved its Black tech conference to Austin in 2022 — and their 25,000 attendees loved it. In fact, the conference was so successful that AFROTECH booked again in 2023.
Destination: Austin
Recognized as a thriving tech hub and incubator, Austin was a logical place to host the influx of 25,000 AFROTECH innovators looking to learn and make industry connections. The five-day November event, billed as The Place for All Things Black in Tech and Web3, followed two virtual-only years due to the pandemic. Austin’s reputation for enthusiastically welcoming diverse groups, combined with its ability to host large-scale events, figured into the decision to move AFROTECH to the city.
The Visit Austin team helped event organizer Blavity Inc. and its CEO, Morgan DeBaun, ensure that plans went smoothly for the country’s largest Black tech conference. AFROTECH secured the Austin Convention Center and adjacent Hilton Austin as hubs for the event, in addition to promoting other downtown hotels for attendees to take advantage of. Local Black-owned businesses and venues also offered their hospitality.
In recognition of Austin’s deep music roots, AFROTECH featured a music component for the very first time. Mélat, DJ Kay Cali and other Austin musicians joined the roster of top-notch talent that included Bas, Bia and Wale. Venues such as Empire Control Room & Garage, 3TEN at ACL Live at The Moody Theater and Stubb’s Bar-B-Q rolled out the welcome mats for AFROTECH attendees and gave them a taste of Austin's iconic live music scene.
Exciting Activations and Conference Tracks
Attendees flocked to the expo hall, main stage, tech talks and Learning Labs. High-level Black CEOs, best-selling authors, music company icons and cultural champions inspired audiences. Attendees listened intently as presenters such as Amazon Development Executive Larissa Bell spoke about her entertainment programming achievements. Big-name speakers, including entrepreneur Mark Cuban and NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace, commanded audiences looking for insight into business and inclusion. They joined more than 130 representatives from Dell, Apple, Verizon and other top-tier companies who gave inspirational talks about emerging technology and careers.
Images courtesy AFROTECH.