Increasing Access to Entrepreneurship + Tech

What does it take to launch entrepreneurs and technologists from disenfranchised and underrepresented communities? What unique challenges do these communities face? How do gender, culture, and economics affect founders' journeys?

Join us for a candid discussion on topics ranging from daily microaggressions and representation to access to financial and social capital and family support.

Madelena Mak is a designer and entrepreneur working in tech. She is currently the National Director at StartupBus, an international community that empowers the next generation of founders through the unique experience of a road trip and a startup competition combined. She has spoken at Facebook and Google to advocate for trans youth in tech, and she was also an award-winning mentor-in-residence at Startup Institute. She designed Trillian, an instant messenger that had reached the top of iPhone and Android app stores, as well as ZocDoc and FindDoc, both critically acclaimed doctor search engines serving the United States and Southern China respectively. Her work has been featured in Wired Magazine, CBS, Engadget, TechCrunch, technical.ly, and Brooklyn Paper. She has been awarded at TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon in 2013, NYC Big Apps in 2013, and AngelHack in 2014. She received a BArch and BFA at Rhode Island School of Design.

Stefan Dienstag, StartupBus NOLA 2017 participant is a born and raised New Yorker who has consulted in various fields ranging from fashion to mobile apps. He has spent the past few years working more in social impact, ecosystem building, and inclusivity most notably at Propeller, an impact accelerator in New Orleans. Stefan worked in the health sector and investments for underserved communities. He moved back to New York recently where he currently seeks to increase access to capital and give resources to companies seeking to do good in NOLA.

Alex de Aranzeta, M.A., J.D. is a public speaker, mediator and people strategist, committed to moving the needing in the civic and innovation communities for social good. She is the Founder and CEO of Accessity, a professional services company that solves beyond equal to train and advise organizations and startups on diversity, inclusion, equity and access strategies.  Previously, Alex worked at a leading civil rights enforcement agency, where she investigated, mediated and resolved 300+ of cases of harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct; led statewide learning and development reaching 200+ organizations; and built a model language access program. She’s also worked in higher ed, scaling diversity programming and leading Title IX investigations. Today, Alex leads Accessity and manages diversity compliance, serving 50,000 government employees. 

Jerelyn Rodriguez is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Knowledge House. As an alumna of the first KIPP schools, Jerelyn was raised with the belief that knowledge is power. This hunger for knowledge and the opportunity to leverage technology for social good inspired her to start The Knowledge House. Previously, she coordinated STEM after-school programming at Beyond Z and was the Bronx Field Director for Reshma Saujani's 2013 campaign for New York City Public Advocate. In 2011, Jerelyn joined Students for Education Reform (SFER) as the National Program Director, organizing and coaching college students in 35 states to advocate for education reform. Prior to SFER, Jerelyn worked in the public school system, teaching and designing student programs. Jerelyn has a degree in film studies from Columbia University. Jerelyn has recently spoken on panels at SXSWedu, the New York City Social Innovation Festival and NASA’s SpaceApps Challenge. She is on the leadership council for South Bronx Rising Together, a founding Datanaut at NASA, a fellow at Camelback Ventures, and the Entrepreneur in Residence at the BXL: Bronx Business Incubator.