Black Tech Week Aims to Help Minority-owned Firm Find Funding
16BB AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO THE SUN SENTINEL FRIDAY , FEBRUARY 10 , 2017
By : Kallan Louis
BlackTech Week co-founder Felecia Hatcher at the 2016 conference
For the third consecu�ve year , black technology professionals and business entrepreneurs will convene in Miami for the BlackTech Week conference . However , this year ’ s event will be different than in the past . This �me around , the February event will only be a weekend . According to the event organizers , this is not due to a lack of funding or interest , to the contrary , it is because of the expanding interest in
Black Tech Week Aims to Help Minority-owned Firm Find Funding
tech opportuni�es for minori�es locally . “ How do we be�er address the needs in our community ? A big part of that is ongoing programming ,” said BlackTech Week co-founder Felecia Hatcher . “ By having more cataly�c events throughout the year , it allows us to do all of those things .”
BlackTech Week is a program of Code Fever , the Miami non-profit organiza�on on a mission to , among other things , close the technology educa�on gap by inspiring more underserved minority students to code , build and create technology enterprises within their communi�es . One of those ideas Hatcher and her team decided on was to create BlackTech Weekend , which will take place February 23-25 , with the majority of the ac�vi�es taking place at the Overtown Performing Arts Center . The tradi�onal
BlackTech Week will move to September .
“ BlackTech Weekend allows us to zero in on one focus area and bring people down for that weekend to focus on that ,” said Hatcher . One of the big things is access to funding .” So this year ’ s theme , will focus on how black tech professionals and startups can find resources and investors to support their businesses and ideas . The list of speakers slated for the weekend are black serial entrepreneurs and venture capital execu�ves who represent firms looking to do business with black startups .
For the second consecu�ve year , Miami ranked second in the Kauffman Founda- �on ’ s annual “ Index of Startup Ac�vity ,” a report measuring new business crea�on among 40 of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States . As more technology businesses pop up in south Florida , Hatcher believes the bigger issue is keeping black tech professionals in Miami . Another reason why the 2017 BlackTech Weekend ’ s theme of focusing on funding is �mely .
“ Most people don ’ t know FIU graduates the largest number of black engineers in the en�re state of Florida ,” Hatcher explained . “ What ’ s happening is that they are gradua�ng them but the jobs from companies are not necessarily there .”
South Florida ’ s black tech community seems to be consistently growing . According to Hatcher , nearly 3,000 people par�cipated in the first two BlackTech Week conferences . About 750 people are members of Black Tech Miami , a Meetup group that gathers monthly with members coming as far as Delray Beach , to share ideas , resources and as Hatcher stated , “ geek out .” BlackTech events are growing as well with plans to expand statewide and support black tech startups in new ecosystems . Eventually , Hatcher says her team also plans to take BlackTech Weekend to some other ci�es around the country .
“ There ’ s a lot going on in south Florida when it comes to suppor�ng startups and technology companies ,” Hatcher assured . We do a lot of work to holding these organiza�ons and companies to task to make sure they have be�er outreach to our community . We would love more organiza�ons to hold these organiza�ons to task to make sure they are doing programming in our 13 Targeted Urban Areas in Miami .”
FLORIDA LOTTERY CELEBRATES NEW MILESTONES
Recognizing $ 6 Billion in Sales and $ 30 Billion in Transfers to Education
The Florida Lottery announces its fifth consecutive record-breaking sales year with an estimated $ 6.06 billion in annual sales during fiscal year 2015-16 . In addition , the Lottery anticipates reaching $ 30 billion in transfers to education since 1988 .
Governor Rick Scott said , “ We are working each day to ensure that Florida ’ s students have the resources and opportunities they need to get a great education so they can succeed in their future careers . I applaud the Lottery for their commitment to investing in education and look forward to seeing Florida ’ s students become the leaders of tomorrow .”
“ The Florida Lottery ’ s mission is to maximize revenues for the enhancement of public education . We are extremely proud to be able to transfer $ 1.66 billion to education this year as a result of having reached $ 6 billion in sales . This represents a 10.9 % increase in transfers to education over the previous year , something all Florida students and teachers can celebrate ,” said Florida Lottery Secretary Tom Delacenserie . “ I want to thank our retail partners , loyal players and dedicated employees who work hard every day to ensure the Florida Lottery continues to be among the very best in the nation .”
Over the past 28 years , the Florida Lottery has firmly established itself as a dependable funding source for public education , contributing more than $ 1 billion annually for each of the past 13 consecutive fiscal years . The Lottery ’ s commitment to corporate outreach and its effective business model focuses on the development of new revenue streams , creating a win-win partnership with its retailers and vendors , and benefitting Florida ’ s overall economy . Lottery transfers to education represent approximately six percent of the state ’ s total education budget , and are appropriated by the Florida Legislature and administered by the Florida Department of Education . flalottery . com Must be 18 or older to play . Play responsibly . © 2016 Florida Lottery