FOCUS100 Conference Brings Black Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders in Tech Together for Weekend of Mentorship

focus100 conference 2012

focus100 logo

Black women entrepreneurs will meet and learn from top innovators in tech at FOCUS100, the self-proclaimed “most diverse tech conference on the planet.” Held at Ogilvy Headquarters in New York from October 4 to October 6, the Google-sponsored conference brings together thought leaders, innovators, investors and tech startups founded or co-founded by black women for three days of networking and mentorship in an industry dominated by white males. An impressive 25% of attendees will be black female coders, according to VentureBeat.

The conference is hosted by digitalundivided, a community outreach organization that works to increase the active participation of urban communities, especially women, in the digital space. While attending FOCUS100, black female entrepreneurs will meet with members of Facebook, Google, American Express and Microsoft as well as top investors from Andreesen Horowitz, Comcast Ventures, Box Group, Gen Y Capital and Techstars. The conference is sure to provide valuable business opportunities for attendees, considering that 20% of the tech companies founded or cofounded by black women that attended least year’s conference have since taken at least one funding round, according to VentureBeat.

focus100 conference 2012

This year’s speakers, 80% of whom are women and/or people of color, are stacked. This year’s featured speakers include hip hop pioneer MC Hammer, TaskRabbit COO Stacy Brown-Philpot, Intel Capital Vice President Lisa M. Lambert, Pathbrite Founder & CEO Heather Hiles, and FCC chairperson Mignon L. Clyburn.

The conference kicks off with a full day “Startup Bootcamp” where companies with at least one black female founder and a minimal viable product will meet with experts from top tech companies to whip their pitch decks into shape.

digitalundivided hackathonFor the first time, digitalundivided will host Global Mobile Hack, an overnight hackathon that will take place during FOCUS100. The hackathon focuses on teams developing applications that “improve the lives of urban communities around the globe,” according to FOCUS100’s website. All developers and designers are welcome to apply to attend and build apps using the APIs from companies like Google, Etsy, Pearson and more.

Learn more about the FOCUS100 conference here.

Image via digitalundivided

Lauren Mobertz

By Lauren Mobertz

Lauren is the former managing editor for DashBurst. One part geek, one part urban nomad, she is constantly scouting for the latest tech and world news. In the evenings you'll find Lauren running in strange places or attempting to dance salsa.

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