BLACK TECH WEEK TAKES BLACK TECH WEEK TAKES OVER CINCINNATI OVER CINCINNATI

Written By: Zion Henderson

With over 3,000 attendees, 100 speakers, and 50 workshops, Cincinnati was the center stage for the meeting of the minds of the most brilliant in Black tech.

Cincinnati resident and CEO of lightship foundation Candice Matthews-Bracken brought the conference from Miami to Cincinnati, with this being the second year, the conference is hosted here.

This year's keynote speaker was the multitalented Issa Rae, Rae, a writer, producer, entrepreneur, and founder of HOORAE shared her experiences and insights in a One-on-One panel as attendees filled the Cincinnati Music Hall.

“As a storyteller myself, there’s a section that starts with me and the stories I want to tell and the stories I want to get off my chest,” Rae said. Rae’s company has been instrumental in bringing stories of Black culture to the forefront. In the room full of tech entrepreneurs, she shared how she selects her projects and the criteria she looks for when deciding what stories to tell.

The One-on-One keynote conversation with Issa Rae encouraged Black tech innovators and entrepreneurs who seek to elevate in this industry by smartly pitching and tapping into financial resources available, from crowdfunding to investors.

“Her dedication to promoting diversity in the tech