Nonprofit Black Tech Saturdays announced a new event curated specifically for women founders.
Scheduled for this Saturday at Newlab, Michigan Central, the event, titled “The BTS Women’s Founder Takeover,” is a gathering dedicated to highlighting women-owned companies in tech and business. The takeover will set the stage for women to have an open conversation about owning, leading, networking and community.
Members that will speak at the event include the leaders of the Knight Foundation, LaTrice McClendon, Geralyn Gaines and Alexa Turnage. The Uprising Network founder Jennifer Onwenu and Gaines are scheduled to host the event.
Other speakers include Girls Who Code manager Rola Emanuel, Jamjomar III’s Joni Davis, BasBlue CEO Ellen Gilchrist, One Detroit Credit Union Executive Leader Portia Powell and The Cyber Boss founder Dr. Jeree Spicer. Sip N Read’s Tamela Todd, DTE Energy’s Evette Hollins, Gilbert Family Foundation’s Brandi Brown and 2050 Partners’ Tatiana Grant will also take part in the event.
Conversations include discussions about the future of tech, how to gain opportunities, leadership journeys and how to gain financial support.
“This experience creates space for real conversations around ownership, resilience, strategy, and community-rooted in connection and shared learning,” said a statement on the nonprofit’s website. “Expect honest insights, powerful storytelling, and meaningful relationships with women who are building now and building for what’s next.”
Founded in 2023 by Alexa and Johnnie Turnage, Black Tech Saturdays is dedicated to helping founders from underserved communities prosper in tech spaces. Located in Detroit, the nonprofit specifically focuses on closing the racial wealth gap.
In the U.S., the racial wealth gap continues to widen. Per the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, while white households make over $280,000 annually, Black households make just $44,100 on average.
To address this, Black Tech Saturdays provides support through training, workshops, networking events, mentoring, community outreach and other initiatives.
Most recently, they celebrated Black History Month through a keynote event featuring CEO of The Brinker Group, Larry Brinker Jr. At the event, Brinker shared what “belonging looks like in action.”
Black Tech Saturdays also announced a new cohort late last month. Upcoming opportunities include the “BTS x Michigan Central Cohort” and the “BTS Leadership Development Cohort.” While the Michigan Central Cohort is designed to connect members with Michigan Central businesses, the BTS Leadership Development Cohort is a one-day program that advocates for learning leadership tools, polishing decision-making and creating space for reflections.
The deadline for the applications is March 30.
