Back in-person, PISLA hosts conference for Black & Brown founders and tech-talent October 20th, 2022 — 9am to 4pm
Los Angeles, CA – September 12, 2022 – Plug In South LA will be hosting its 5th annual tech conference, Urban Tech Connect (UTC) at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles on October 20th.
UTC is a game-changing conference platform that nurtures diverse ideation, innovation, and entrepreneurial grit in and beyond South LA. This conference provides attendees, primarily founders and professionals from underrepresented communities, the opportunity to plug in to the greater tech ecosystem and network with fellow founders, investors, industry leaders, and tech influencers.
After two years of virtual gathering, UTC returns in-person with this year’s theme: ‘Metamorphosis’, where conference leaders will focus on the continuous evolution of the technology industry and urge individuals and businesses from the Black and Brown community to consider the question: “what is my capacity for big, meaningful change?” Attendees will learn to constantly disrupt and adapt their own offerings to ensure success amidst an industry that never ceases to evolve rapidly. A stacked attendee list of VCs, industry leaders, and sponsors will be present and eager to discover new talent, offer support, and provide insight on the state of the tech industry and where it’s headed.
Leaders will speak on a variety of current trends from Web 3.0 to sustainability and health technology. Among confirmed speakers will be Jesse Draper, Founding Partner of Halogen Ventures, Natalie King, CEO of Dunamis Energy, and Crystal Adesanya, Founder of Kiira Health. Big sponsors join the roster as PocketCFO, Verizon, and SNAP support the mission!
UTC Metamorphosis features collaborative sessions across three (3) tracks focused on founders, investors, and tech professionals.
- Registration: utc.pluginsouthla.com
- Ticket Pricing: $50-$99
- Sponsorship Levels: Starting at $1,000. Get in touch with info@pluginsouthla.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
“We are extremely excited to be back in-person after the pandemic changed the world as well as the tech industry. This year, our community comes together to navigate forward, empower our diverse pool of talented founders and entrepreneurs, and hear new and vital insights from a variety of industry leaders and executives.” — Derek Smith, Founder of Plug In South LA.
UTC: Metamorphosis — Student Bridge Program
Thursday October 19th, 10am-2pm
While active founders, entrepreneurs, and tech professionals are the key focus for the UTC conference on October 20th, students are also a critical component of Plug In’s overall mission. On October 19th, the day before the conference, Plug In is hosting the UTC Student Bridge Program in partnership with Pledge LA and SNAP Inc. This half-day program of interactive workshops and networking is specifically designed for students who are interested in entrepreneurship and/or eager to enter the tech workforce. 200 Black and Brown high school and undergraduate college students will gain insights and resources on how best to make an impact and find their place in the industry. Students, administrators, and school officials can register here.
About Plug In South LA
Plug In South LA brings together entrepreneurs, founders, VCs, innovators, and emerging talent for networking and conversations focused on creating a community and hub for innovation in South LA. From conferences and tech demos to workshops and intimate salons, Plug In offers members innovative and disruptive programming aimed at nurturing entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity in the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders in tech. Beyond UTC, Plug In runs an equity-free Tech Accelerator that equips a small cohort of founders with the tools they need to build and scale their businesses through mentorship immersive programs such as Power Huddle sessions, which provide underrepresented founders at any stage the opportunity to present their business ideas, challenges, and opportunities to a network of mentors, advisors, industry experts, investors, and more.
To learn more, please contact Plug In South LA at info@pluginsouthla.com or visit utc.pluginsouthla.com.