My Experience at TechCrunch Disrupt.. Juggling being a Student Founder & Intern

This time last year, I'd snatch off my lanyard quickly when coming back from TechCrunch to my 8-5p after a longer-than-usual lunch or a late clock-in.

I had to navigate the spoken and unspoken rules of balancing multiple commitments—juggling an internship and building a company.. preparing for our RoadPitch? West Coast Tour. I made a choice to find time at TechCrunch to forge connections with inspiring individuals who could help me on my founder journey. Our Juneteenth West Coast tour would travel from Seattle to La Vegas, and we had to find resources to support our traveling founders at each stop, three of which were in the Bay Area.

Women in Tech Events

In the ever-evolving tech landscape, networking has been an invaluable aspect of my journey. I had the privilege of attending two remarkable events hosted by JetBlue Ventures and Elpha, where I met inspiring individuals who continue to shape the tech industry.

One of the standout moments was encountering Gwenyth Borden, the founder of Remynt. Little did I know that our paths would converge again as she would become one of the founders in our San Francisco pitch competition that June. Gwenyth is on a mission to revolutionize the fintech industry by empowering people to rebuild their credit – a truly noble endeavor.

However, it wasn't just Gwenyth who left a lasting impression. These events introduced me to countless other exceptional women founders. It was during one of these gatherings that I first encountered the term "FemTech." This eye-opening experience revealed a world of innovation where some women were pioneering fintech and cybersecurity solutions, while others were developing platforms to assist women in finding resources for fertility preservation or connecting with healthcare providers tailored to their specific needs.

One memorable encounter was with Stacy Cohen, whose work at TechCrunch involves curating high-impact events like the ones I attended. Stacy shared her passion for building communities that empower women in tech, and her insights were truly enlightening.

Startup Battlefield + African Startups & Investors

What caught my attention the most was the "African Pavilion" – a dedicated space where African startups showcased their innovations. Spending a significant amount of time in this vibrant corner of the expo hall was an enriching experience.

One thing I've learned from attending events like these is the importance of initiating conversations with fellow conference-goers. It's incredible how quickly connections can be forged in this collaborative environment, especially in the Bay Area where diversity and innovation thrive. Engaging in conversations with these brilliant minds provided me with valuable insights into the challenges these startups were tackling.

I couldn't help but share my own passion project, RoadPitch, during these interactions. RoadPitch focuses on empowering black tech founders by mobilizing and curating events to increase their access to capital. It was during one of these conversations that I had the privilege of meeting Kendall Ananyi, the founder of Tizeti. Kendall's wisdom and insights on scaling RoadPitch were invaluable, and our connection eventually led to him becoming a panelist in our Palo Alto fireside chat.

While I didn't make it to the Startup Battlefield event, I did have the chance to connect with several companies that were part of the competition. The innovation and talent on display were awe-inspiring, and it was a testament to the boundless potential of the tech industry.

One of the judges at the event, Kanyi Maqubela of Kindred Ventures, later joined our panel of judges for the RoadPitch SF pitch competition. It was a full-circle moment that reinforced the power of networking and the interconnectedness of the tech ecosystem.

Balancing Multiple Commitments and Taking Advantage of events like TechCrunch Disrupt

TechCrunch Disrupt was one of those events that I knew I needed to be part of. It was full of rooms with opportunities, just waiting for someone with a dream and drive to seize them. Countless other events followed, filled with investors, founders, and engineers—each a chance to connect and learn.

Since that pivotal TechCrunch Disrupt experience, my venture, RoadPitch, has engaged with 13 cities throughout the Northeast and West Coast, with plans for a Midwest tour on the horizon. Our mission? To support black tech founders and foster innovation where it's needed most.

Every opportunity I get to spread our work and network with like-minded individuals, I jump on it. I'm eternally grateful for the chance to attend TechCrunch Disrupt while juggling a full-time internship, all of which have helped me develop my engineering skillset and build my skillset as a leader.

About a month after the Disrupt conference, I shared what I was building at RoadPitch with my boss and the entire company during a lunch and learn presentation. To my delight, they fully supported my vision and some of them even began giving me intros for people in their network who they thought could support us.

I know many founders out there are balancing multiple commitments. Here's one example of how I made the most of my time in the Bay Area, chasing my dreams, and building something meaningful. ??

#BayArea #TechInnovation #Engineers #Entrepreneurship #StudentFounders