For decades, Black innovators have been silently shaping the digital world 🌐 Today, what once went unnoticed is being highlighted by storytellers and community builders across the US. Join Rep Matters behind the scenes at Afrotech , the world’s biggest Black tech conference, as we uncover their playbook for building a diverse tech ecosystem. --------------------------------- Shownotes: [1:30 - 4:00] We learn about Afrotech, why it was created and why it is important to celebrate black people in tech. [4:50 - 6:20] We learn why it’s important to own the narrative of black people in technology and what is the lasting impact. Aaron, through his own experiences, explains the importance of the stories and how they impact the power a community has. [6:20 - 9:30] Brian speaks about BLCK VC, how he started it and why it was important to establish a community for Black investors in venture capital. He further discusses the importance of people of color being in investment decision-making rooms. [9:50 - 12:00] Aaron Samuels discusses the idea behind Blavity, and why it’s important to have a leading media publication for black millennials. [12:00 - 16:30] Aaron discusses his experience in the John B. Erving scholarship program at Washington University in St. Louis and how it inspired the concept of ‘black gravity’. [17:00 - 19:00] We learn about Collide Capital, how Brian and Aaron met and how they provide an onramp to downstream capital to founders. [19:20 - 21:00] We speak to Canadian founders about their experience at Afrotech and how it uplifts them. [21:00 - 25:30] Aaron addresses the idea of building more bridges between black people in tech in Canada and the United States. We discuss the differences between the needs of the venture capital ecosystems between the two countries.

Thank you to everyone who made 2023 such an amazing year for the Rep Matters Breakfast Club!! Hosted by Maison Notman Powered by Real Ventures Breakfast by Sunday Lunch Huge thanks to our partners CDPQ // Futurpreneur !! And also to all our guests! Byron & Dexter from Goodeeworld.com, Daniel Drouet & John Stokes from Realventures.com, Ash & Miro from sixcinquieme.com, Rama Sow from the-study.studio, Jocelyne & Erin from newroom.group, Therence Bois from valencelabs.com, Joanna & Harry from neverwasaverage.com, Mona-Lisa from futurpreneur.ca/fr/besp/ , Raphael from Pannaventures.com, John & Phil from Rep Matters, et Frank Baylis from baylismedtech.com ———————— Merci à tous ceux qui ont fait de 2023 une année exceptionnelle pour le Club Déjeuner Rep Matters !! Organisé par Maison Notman Propulsé par Real Ventures Déjeuner par Sunday Lunch Un énorme merci à nos partenaires la CDPQ // Futurpreneur !! Et aussi à tous nos invités Byron & Dexter de Goodeeworld.com, Daniel Drouet & John Stokes de Realventures.com, Ash & Miro de sixcinquieme.com, Rama Sow de the-study.studio, Jocelyne & Erin de newroom.group, Therence Bois de valencelabs.com, Joanna & Harry de neverwasaverage.com, Mona-Lisa de futurpreneur.ca/fr/besp/ , Raphael de Pannaventures.com, John & Phil de Rep Matters, et Frank Baylis de baylismedtech.com #repmatters #riseandraise #blackintech #blackvc

The first Rep Matters cocktail was a HUGE success‼️ We were able to bring together more than 140 people with only 48h notice 😲 Thank you for coming together to celebrate the FIRST $100k Black Entrepreneurship Prize at Startupfest (shoutout to our winner OhhFoods!) We couldn’t have done it without our amazing partners BKR Capital, The DMZ's Black Innovation Programs, Torys LLP, and Futurpreneur. We’d also like to share a big thank you to Gallea and the amazing artists on their platform for helping us bring this to life. Thank you to our prize partners FACE Coalition, Groupe 3737, and Startupfest. And obviously thank you to our investor judges - the prize couldn't exist without you! As usual, shoutout to Real Ventures for powering us to do what we do. Make sure to check us out on our website https://realventures.com/rep-matters Comment below if you would like to be added to our mailing list 👇🏽 tons of great content coming soon!! 👀 #repmatters #blacktech #blackstartups #blackvc

(Description en français plus bas, et sous-titres français disponible pour video) Welcome to the FIRST EVER Rep Matters Breakfast Club. Rep Matters is where Black tech founders come for inspiration, connection, and support along their entrepreneurial journey. Hosted by Notman House in Montreal and powered by Real Ventures, this monthly event brings together Black founders, investors and allies with one common goal: to showcase and support Black founders. Join the Rep Matters Breakfast Club community every first Wednesday of the month at 8:30am!! Our next event is December 7th 2022 - sign up here: https://linktr.ee/repmatters --------------------------- Bienvenue au tout premier Club Déjeuners Rep Matters. Rep Matters est l'endroit où les fondateurs noir.e.s viennent chercher inspiration, connexion et soutien tout au long de leur parcours entrepreneurial. Organisé par la Maison Notman à Montréal et propulsé par Real Ventures, cet événement mensuel rassemble des fondateurs noirs, des investisseurs et des alliés avec un objectif commun : mettre en valeur et soutenir les fondateurs noirs. Rejoignez la communauté du Club des petits déjeuners Rep Matters tous les premiers mercredis du mois à 8h30 ! Notre prochain événement est le 7 décembre 2022 - inscrivez-vous ici : https://linktr.ee/repmatters

Welcome to Rep Matters, where we bring a diverse perspective to tech and venture capital.