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Tag: Tulsa Tech Week

  • Tulsa Tech Week: Rebuilding Black Wall Street

    Tulsa, Oklahoma, is gearing up for its second annual Tulsa Tech Week, a citywide festival dedicated to fostering innovation and rebuilding the historic legacy of Black Wall Street. Founded by Tariqua “Tai” Nehisi, this six-day event, running from September 22-27, aims to bring together a diverse community of tech enthusiasts, founders, engineers, students, and investors, all free of charge.

    A Vision for Rebuilding Through Technology

    Nehisi, originally from New York, felt drawn to Tulsa by the city’s concerted efforts to support Black and brown-focused tech companies and rebuild the Black Wall Street community through a technological lens. After participating in a business accelerator, her vision began to take shape, leading to the creation of Tulsa Tech Week.

    The event promises over 50 partners hosting a variety of sessions, panels, and networking opportunities. Organizers describe it as an accessible platform designed to connect key players in the tech ecosystem, offering tailored programming through “attendee paths” for founders, hackers, STEAM scholars, and investors. This focus on specific career paths allows for deeper industry knowledge and targeted networking.

    Community Engagement and Inclusivity

    Community engagement is a cornerstone of Tulsa Tech Week. Events like the “Walk & Talk” networking session at Gathering Place Park, hosted by Startup Grind Tulsa, will not only facilitate connections but also provide visibility for local vendors at an open market. The Oklahoma Small Business Exchange will host a State of Technology Roundtable, bringing together local and national voices to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses in the evolving tech landscape.

    The festival is intentionally framed as an inclusive space, designed to attract diverse communities and highlight underrepresented entrepreneurs. As Tulsa continues to grow as a hub for remote workers and startups, Tulsa Tech Week serves as a vibrant showcase of how technology and culture intersect in Oklahoma, aiming to expand and rebuild the city’s economic foundation.

    Are you planning to attend Tulsa Tech Week? What are you most excited about? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

  • Tulsa Tech Week Launches, Highlighting Black Innovation

    Brooklyn native and tech founder Tariqua ‘Tai’ Nehisi is bringing her passion for innovation to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Having launched Organizely, an AI-powered workplace platform, Nehisi moved to Tulsa in 2023 through the Tulsa Remote program, drawn by the city’s burgeoning tech scene and its commitment to rebuilding Black Wall Street through technology.

    From Brooklyn to Tulsa’s Tech Scene

    Nehisi’s journey to Tulsa began with the Tulsa Remote program, which offers a $10,000 grant to remote workers relocating to the city. She saw immense potential in Tulsa, not only for her business but also for contributing to the city’s efforts to support Black and brown-focused tech companies. “I came at a time when there was a really great concerted effort to support the rebuilding of Black Wall Street through a technical lens,” Nehisi told AFROTECH™.

    While Tulsa has received significant investment, including $51 million from the Biden Administration’s Tech Hubs Program and a matching $49 million from the local philanthropic community, Nehisi noticed a lack of a central hub to showcase this growth. This observation inspired her to create Tulsa Tech Week.

    Making Tech Accessible and Visible

    Set to launch on September 22, Tulsa Tech Week aims to make connecting with the city’s tech ecosystem more accessible. The week-long event will feature sessions on crucial topics like leveraging AI for alternative capital, inclusive design principles, startup legal and financial expectations, and fundraising strategies with Silicon Valley Bank.

    Nehisi emphasized the importance of exposure and representation for everyone, from children to elders, and from the tech-averse to the tech-savvy. “The people… need to have exposure. Representation is key… You need to discover. But you have to know that there is so much wealth here,” she stated.

    Highlighting Tulsa’s Black Experience and Tech Talent

    Tulsa Tech Week boasts over 50 partners, including Langston University, Oklahoma’s only HBCU. This collaboration will amplify healthcare majors and highlight the “voices of Black people in Tulsa from the collegiate perspective.” Nehisi is particularly keen on showcasing the unique Black experience in Tulsa, acknowledging the city’s history with all-Black towns and its significance for Black Americans in Oklahoma.

    “I am not the voice of it. I am a voice,” Nehisi clarified, aiming to amplify the collective identity of Black Americans in Tulsa. Tulsa Tech Week will run from September 22-27, with registration open on the event’s website.

    Are you excited about Tulsa Tech Week? What tech trends are you most looking forward to learning about? Share your thoughts in the comments below!