Panelists includes Rodney Williams, founder of the Cincinnati-based Bluetooth-disrupting sound technology company Lisnr; Dawn Dickenson, whose Miami company Flat Out of Heels makes rollable ballet flats that can be purchased online or from a vending machine; and Jason Caston, founder of digital strategy company Caston Digital, based in Frisco, Texas.
Stovall said the panelists have also been asked to address “pattern matching,” an unconscious bias that can cause investors to identify and support entrepreneurs who share similar traits to established entrepreneurs—traits such as gender, race, or educational background—to the detriment of anyone who doesn’t share those traits. Because aspiring black entrepreneurs may not fit those established patterns, they may face unforeseen obstacles, Stovall said.
BlackInTech: The Founder’s Series takes place Wednesday, October 7, from 6 to 9 PM at the 1871 Auditorium, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza. General admission passes are sold out. “TechMoguls” pay $20, which includes admission, priority seating, and a private meet-and-greet with the panelists. The event will also be streamed via Periscope.
