Black Women Talk Tech

August 12-13, 2021

2-Day Live Virtual Experience

Price increases in:

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

“If you are a Black woman founder or aspiring founder, this conference is a must-go.”

What Makes This Conference Different?

Blended IRL & Virtual Conference experiences

What Makes This Conference Different?

Live interactions with titans of industry

What Makes This Conference Different?

Dynamic roadmap to your goals and growth

What Makes This Conference Different?

Snag a Job To Fund Your Startup

Our 2021

mission

A conference built from

the perspective of Black women.

Roadmap to Billions is brought to you by Black Women Talk Tech. This is the only tech conference created by Black female founders for Black female founders and their supporters, showcasing the brilliance of Black women building scalable companies, while building deep connections, and creating real funding opportunities. Here, we’ll gain insight and learn valuable lessons from those that are paving the way to success.

Join us and over 2,500 investors, tech evangelists, and founders for an exclusive virtual gathering of Black female founders in the tech world.

Agenda &

Activations

It’s our 5th year and we’ve

pulled out all the stops.

Roadmap to Billions 2021 is designed for you, by women like you. Full of exciting, engaging, and enlightening experiences, you’ll leave the conference feeling powerful, motivated and ready to take the next steps on your journey.

4 CONTENT TRACKS

4 KEYNOTE SESSIONS

EXPERT SPEAKERS

5OK CASH PRIZES

TECH

AWARDS

MEETUPS & BREAKOUTS

RECRUITING

& MUCH MORE!

Leadership

Day 1

11:19 –

12:09 pm

TUNE-UPS (Workshop)

Building Your Boardroom

Location: Stage 2

Jovian Zayne, Shelly Archambeau, Kobi Wu Pasmore

In this workshop, we help you identify what you need in a co-pilot, who is best to compliment your skills, and how best to work together.

2:53 –

3:38 pm

DETOURS (Breakout)

The Art of Negotiating

Location: ‘Sessions’ area

You want the best customer, client or product deals? Learn the best strategies and tactical approaches to getting an offer that works.

DETOURS (Breakout)

Recruiting Roundtable (Entry-Mid Level)

Location: ‘Sessions’ area

Explore career opportunities in engineering and product development with Netflix & Happy Money!

DETOURS (Breakout)

Recruiting Roundtable (Senior-Level)

Location: ‘Sessions’ area

Explore exciting career opportunites in strategy, engineering and more with Visa!

3:53 –

4:38 pm

DETOURS (Breakout)

Optimal Productivity: Tips & Tricks

Location: ‘Sessions’ area

You’ve heard a lot about a tech stack, but what does your productivity stack look like? How can you reach the highest level of efficiency in the operation of your startup?

DETOURS (Breakout)

Recruitment

Location: ‘Sessions’ area

DETOURS (Breakout)

Real Talk with Investors

Location: ‘Sessions’ area

DETOURS (Breakout)

Special Session by Sephora

Location: ‘Sessions’ area

A Special Session to be hosted by Sephora.

DETOURS (Breakout)

Recruiting Roundtable (Entry-Mid Level)

Location: ‘Sessions’ area

Explore career opportunities in engineering and product development with Visa and Netflix!

DETOURS (Breakout)

Recruiting Roundtable (Senior- Level)

Location: ‘Sessions’ area

Explore exciting career opportunities in strategy, engineering and more!

Leadership

Day 2

10:12 –

10:57 am

PIT STOP (Keynote)

What Is Your Why?

Location: Main Stage

We all need a support system and like-minded individuals to join us on our quest to accomplish our goals. In this keynote, we showcase the steps and lessons used in better communicating your WHY and mission – with the hopes of building community and trust.

4:14 –

5:04 pm

TUNE-UPS (Workshop)

Growth Hacking Strategies That Expand Your Customer Base

Location: Stage 2

Peyton Dix, Khadijah Adams, Antonia Baker

We detail the keys to success through a conversational workshop that helps us expand our customer base and build communities around our goals and missions.

Product & Technology

Day 1

2:01 –

2:46 pm

PIT STOP (Keynote)

The Path of The Unicorns

Location: Main Stage

Dr. Toyin Ajayi, Dave Salvant, Songe LaRon, Terrance Gaines

We detail how a product engineer or tech founder figured out the keys to customer-driven growth – whether from kick starting growth by empowering new customers to share, to creating product viral loops that amplify and optimize these customer-led funnels.

2:53 –

3:38 pm

DETOURS (Breakout)

Special Session by Microsoft

Location: ‘Sessions’ Area

A Special Presentation By Microsoft. Details Coming Soon.

3:53 –

4:38 pm

DETOURS (Breakout)

Special Session by AWS

Location: ‘Sessions’ Area

A Special Session to be hosted by Amazon Web Services.

DETOURS (Breakout)

Special Roundtable by Mastercard

Location: ‘Sessions’ Area

A Special Roundtable to be hosted by Mastercard.

DETOURS (Breakout)

Special Session by Microsoft

Location: ‘Sessions’ Area

The term “femtech” – short for female technology – is used to describe the rising trend of applications, devices, products and diagnostics catering to the needs of women’s health. Pitchbook estimates that in 2019 the global femtech market generated $820.6 million and could reach at least $3 billion by the end of 2030. Join us as we discuss with the lead black female company building in the space.

Product & Technology

Day 2

00:00

TUNE-UPS (Workshop)

A Special Presentation By Microsoft

Details Coming Soon.

4:14 –

5:04 pm

TUNE-UPS (Workshop)

Tech Stack 101

Location: Main Stage

Ayo Suber

We detail how to decipher what tools you should invest in when it comes to building the various elements of your tech stack; a crucial step to finding success as a tech-based, tech-focused and/or tech-reliant company.

Finance & Operations

Day 1

10:28 –

11:13 am

PIT STOP (Keynote)

The Power In Equity

Location: Main Stage

Mellody Hobson, Esosa Ighodaro

We highlight how a founder, tech giant and/or business professional has found their power in equity – the paths taken to become more financially stable, what lessons have been learned in regards to how we connect with money overall, and what resources are available to our community that help us find security and support within the financial landscape.

11:19 –

12:09 pm

TUNE-UPS (Workshop)

How to Raise?

Location: Main Stage

Charles Hudson

We’ll highlight key financial We’ll highlight key financial information, details and personal experiences that you NEED TO KNOW to seek out and establish funding for your business.

00:00

TUNE-UPS (Workshop)

Signs It’s Time To Scale: Strategies That Work

Samara Lynn, Paulla McCarthy, Shila Burney

We explore our internal decision-making skills and provide key resources by answering the questions: What finance and operations should be in place before broadening your business plan and/or product offerings? What do we need to know about ourselves to better expand and delegate to find the support needed in our mission?

2:53 –

3:38 pm

DETOURS (Breakout)

Your First Set of Legal Docs – Whaaaa????

Location: ‘Sessions’ Area

Your first term sheet. Your first cap table. Your first articles of incorporation. By Laws. Policies & Procedures. Do you really know what you’re doing? Maybe not, so dig into the details with the legal teams at Cooley, DWT & Lowenstein Sadler.

DETOURS (Breakout)

Special Session by AARP

Location: ‘Sessions’ Area

A Special Session to be hosted by AARP

DETOURS (Breakout)

The Investor Scorecard

Location: ‘Sessions’ Area

What makes an investor the ‘Amazing Investor’ founders gush over? How do you find them? How should you conduct your research, outreach and relationship building? Learn from an All-Star Black Women Founder panel of fundraising veterans.

DETOURS (Breakout)

Black Bitcoin Billionaires

Location: ‘Sessions’ Area

Everyone and their grandma is talking about Cryptocurrency. High risk, high reward, right? Possibly. Learn the real deal from the experts.

DETOURS (Breakout)

VC State of Mind

Location: ‘Sessions’ Area

Get access into the mind of a VC! What are they looking for in a startup? How can you get their attention? We detail the best tactics for closing a deal with the VC that’s right for you and your business.

Finance & Operations

Day 2

11:03 –

11:53 am

TUNE-UPS (Workshop)

Special Presentation by Paypal

Location: Main Stage

Jon Fortt, Peggy Alford

12:51 –

1:41 pm

TUNE-UPS (Workshop)

Finding + Keeping the Right Hires

Location: Stage 2

Charli Penn, Marla Blow, Netta Dobbins, Henry Bolden

We detail what every leader needs to know about finding and keeping support systems that align with their goals. While not all attendees work in HR, EVERY professional needs to know how to communicate within a team, and create a company culture that best suits their mission.

Culture & Marketing

Day 1

00:00

TUNE-UPS (Workshop)

Deep Tech: Racial Bias in Coding

Timnit Gebru, Alex Hanna

An education on the discrimination that’s currently driving how we interact and are seen within technological landscape and who and how we combat the dangers of big tech to create a more inclusive world.

2:53 –

3:38 pm

DETOURS (Breakout)

Building Community as a Marketing Strategy

Location: ‘Sessions’ Area

Customer acquisition works when you have customers O_O). Building a vibrant, engaged community with similar interests can be the key to seeding initial startup growth. Tall order? Not after learning inside tips from the geniuses behind Girl Trek!

00:00

DETOURS (Breakout)

Details Coming Soon.

Culture & Marketing

Day 2

11:03 –

11:53 pm

TUNE-UPS (Workshop)

The Keys to Storytelling

Location: Stage 2

Carolyn Pitt, Abiodun Johnson, Nii Addy, Nichole Jordan

We detail the do’s and don’t of using your own story along with your cultural and/or personal experiences in marketing and social strategies.

1:45 –

2:30 pm

PIT STOP (Keynote)

The New Disruption

Location: Main Stage

Regina Gwynn, Tanya Van Court

The media landscape has changed drastically, and we’ll highlight key leaders within the media, marketing, and/or entertainment industry who detail how they are disrupting old norms, creating more inclusive environments, and providing new perspectives for how to tell stories.

Entertainment

Day 1

9:45 –

10:00 am

Morning Inspiration

Location: Main Stage

Black Girl Magik

12:18 –

12:43 pm

Lunch Activity

Location: Main Stage

Alex Hill

12:28 –

12:43 pm

BWTT Awards

Location: Main Stage

The Advocate

12:43 –

12:58 pm

Live DJ

Location: Main Stage

DJ Olivia Dope

4:45 –

6:00 pm

Entertainment Night #1

Location: Main Stage

Entertainment

Day 2

9:45 –

10:00 am

Morning Inspiration

Location: Main Stage

Black Girl Magik

12:02 –

12:12 pm

Lunch Activity

Location: Main Stage

Alex Hill

12:12 –

12:32 pm

BWTT Awards

Location: Main Stage

The Tech Trailblazer

The Advocate

12:32 –

12:47 pm

Live DJ

Location: Main Stage

Featuring DJ Olivia Dope

3:06 –

4:12 pm

Pitch Competition

Location: Main Stage

Join us for our pitch competition, where the hottest startups compete for $50,000 in cash and prizes.

5:06 –

6:06 pm

Entertainment Night #2

Location: Main Stage

Speakers

Kandi Burruss

—

Mellody Hobson

Ariel Investments

A nationally recognized voice in financial literacy and an invaluable voice in boardrooms across America, Mellody, who began her career at Ariel Investments as an Intern, is now the firm's co- CEO and President. She is also chairman of the board of trustees of Ariel Investment Trust, the company's publicly traded mutual funds. In addition to Ariel, Hobson serves as the Chair of the Board of Starbucks Corporation, is a director at JPMorgan Chase, a past director of Estée Lauder Cos and DreamWorks Animation and is trustee for The Rockefeller Foundation.

Dr. Toyin Ajayi

Cityblock Health

Dr. Ajayi, board certiﬁed in family medicine, is Co-Founder and Chief Health Oﬃcer of Cityblock Health, the ﬁrst tech-driven provider for communities with complex health and social needs–bringing better care to neighborhoods where it’s needed most. Prior to Cityblock, Dr. Ajayi served as Chief Medical Oﬃcer of Commonwealth Care Alliance, a nationally renowned integrated health plan and care delivery system for individuals eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Dave Salvant + Songe LaRon

SQUIRE Technologies

Passionate and committed, President and Co-Founder Dave Salvant – alongside CEO and Co- Founder Songe LaRon, first conceptualized SQUIRE in 2014 as a business idea and the answer to a not so simple problem. Together, Songe and Dave have become a force to be reckoned with, by creating a robust and interactive software that has completely revamped the operations of the hair and beauty industry. Officially launched in 2015, SQUIRE is now a full-scale Y- combinator backed company that employs over 150 individuals and operates in over 40 major markets in the U.S. Canada, Australia and the UK.

Charles Hudson

Managing Partner & Founder, Precursor Venture

Charles Hudson is the Managing Partner and Founder of Precursor Ventures, an earlystage venture capital firm focused on investing in the first institutional round of investment for the most promising software and hardware companies. Prior to founding Precursor Ventures, Charles was a Partner at SoftTech VC. In this role, he focused on identifying investment opportunities in mobile infrastructure, mobile applications, and marketplaces. In addition to his investment activities, he supports SoftTech portfolio companies on business and corporate development matters. He was also the CoFounder and CEO of Bionic Panda Games, an Androidfocused mobile games startup based in San Francisco, CA.

Peggy Alford

EVP Global Sales, PayPal

As Executive Vice President, Global Sales, Peggy Alford leads all of PayPal’s Commercial, Customer Success and Go-to-Market teams worldwide. In this role, Peggy brings extensive experience leading high performing teams across product development, finance and growth strategy.

Peggy has thrived throughout her career by building and leading experienced and diverse teams. She fosters a culture of collaboration that allows teams to develop scalable and effective solutions.

Peggy has held numerous senior leadership roles at PayPal, including Senior Vice President, Core Markets; Senior Vice President of People Operations; Chief Operating Officer for Asia Pacific Region and Global Cross Border Trade; and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the Americas Region. In March 2019, Peggy returned to PayPal after two years as Chief Financial Officer and Head of Operations at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a philanthropic organization.

Prior to joining PayPal in 2011, Peggy worked at Rent.com, a national internet real estate listing service and former subsidiary of eBay Inc., where she served in positions of increasing responsibility, including President, General Manager and Chief Financial Officer.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) and Macerich (NYSE:MAC).

Driven by her passion to help others succeed, Peggy serves as an advocate for children, women, and minorities. Peggy was an honoree at the 2018 Culture Shifting Awards which recognizes leaders and pioneers of diversity.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Dayton and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Antonia Baker

Head of Conversation & Interests Marketing, Twitter

Antonia Baker is the Head of Conversation and Interests Marketing at Twitter, charged with articulating the value of Twitter products to a global audience. Antonia previously held various marketing leadership roles at ViacomCBS, Food Network, AMC Networks, and Thomson Reuters, building a diverse background in brand marketing, creative advertising, digital strategy, and brand partnerships. A first-generation Jamaican-American, she is passionate about mentorship, specifically committed to empowering the next generation of women of color to be fearless in the corporate world. Antonia holds a B.S. in Marketing from Manhattan College and currently resides in her beloved hometown of New York City.

Timnit Gebru

Computer Scientist

Timnit Gebru is founder of the Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research (DAIR) Institute. Prior to that she was a co-lead of the Ethical AI research team at Google Brain, from which she was fired for raising issues of workplace discrimination. She received her PhD from the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, and did a postdcast Microsoft Research, New York City in the FATE (Fairness Accountability Transparency and Ethics in AI) group, where she studied algorithmic bias and the ethical implications underlying projects aiming to gain insights from data. Timnit also co-founded Black in AI, a nonprofit that works to increase the presence, inclusion, visibility and health of Black people in the field of AI.

Kobi Wu Pasmore

Founder and CEO, VisuWall Technologies

Kobi Wu Pasmore is the founder and CEO of VisuWall Technologies, an ai-enabled platform that captures data from storefront windows to deliver traffic counts, consumer engagement, and biometric data in real time. A former music executive, Wu has over 20 years of marketing and advertising experience creating national and global consumer campaigns for brands like Spotify, Google, Yahoo!, Pepsi, Ciroc, RevoltTV, and more. Kobi has a B.A. Architecture from University of California at Berkeley, M.S. Construction Management from Georgia Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University. She lives in the Bronx, NY with her family and loves the beach, her Peloton and a good meal and laughter with friends.

Jovian Zayne

Founder & CEO, OnPurpose Movement

Jovian Zayne is an international speaker and certified leadership and professional development coach with years of experience in change management, global diversity and leadership development. She is the CEO and Founder of The OnPurpose Movement®, a firm committed to developing values- driven leaders through targeted coaching, public speaking and facilitated experiences. Her firm’s client list includes Google, Spotify, The New York Times, Facebook, Goldman Sachs, Columbia University, Harvard University, The Aspen Institute, Janelle Monáe’s Wondaland Records, and Teach For America to name a few.

In 2019 Jovian was named an Aspen Ideas Festival Scholar, and alongside notable individuals such as Tarana Burke, Serena Williams, and Lebron James, Jovian was named to the 2018 Root 100, an annual list of the most influential African Americans, ages 25 to 45.

Jovian is an IGNITE leadership fellow at NYU’s Wagner Graduate School and an “Its all about Business” fellow at the Wake Forest Graduate School of Business. She is also a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she was the first African-American woman to be elected President. Jovian and her family enjoy a bi-coastal lifestyle, often between Los Angeles, and New York City, though she claims Winston-Salem, North Carolina as home.

Netta Dobbins

CEO, Mimconnect

A values-driven entrepreneur, Netta’s work equips diverse professionals with the support they need to persevere as they, too, pursue their passions. A natural community builder, she co-founded Mimconnect and grew it into the most engaged digital community and trusted resource hub for multicultural professionals. Mimconnect is an external support network that empowers those in marginalized communities to bring their whole selves to work, and has been featured in Ebony, Popsugar, Afrotech, BET, and more. Netta is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated and holds a Bachelors of Science in Communications from Middle Tennessee State University. When she’s not building safe spaces for POC to connect and grow, you can find Netta reading a good book, being her authentic self at public speaking engagements, and enjoying oat milk matcha lattes.

Carolyn Pitt

Founder & CEO, Productions.com

Carolyn Pitt is Founder and CEO of Productions.com, the job marketplace for production professionals that connects studios, music labels, and corporate brands to vetted local production talent.

Carolyn participated in two small business roundtables at the behest of the Biden- Harris campaign, and was recently recognized as a recipient of Google’s inaugural Black Founder Fund. She was also named 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year by Envolve Global.

Carolyn is an Intellectual Property and Entertainment Attorney with significant experience in Management Consulting, Strategy, and Business Development. She previously practiced at Alston & Bird LLP and received her BS in Psychology from Vanderbilt University and her JD from American University’s Washington College of Law.