AfroTech is more than a conference—it’s a movement. In this episode of The Journey, Morgan DeBaun pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to scale one of the largest Black tech communities in the world.

From its humble beginnings in a San Francisco mall to hosting 20,000+ attendees in Houston, AfroTech has grown into a global ecosystem of technologists, founders, small business owners, and creators. Morgan shares the highs and lows of expansion, how the team chooses host cities, and the new initiatives shaping the future of AfroTech.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, event organizer, or just curious about what it takes to run a world-class experience, this candid behind-the-scenes look will inspire and inform.

In this episode:

- Why AfroTech moved from San Francisco to Texas

- How city infrastructure and community partnerships shape the conference

- What’s new in 2025: Health Stack, small business marketplace, creator track, and hardware demos

- The role of AI, equity, and community in shaping the future of tech

- How AfroTech keeps attendee experience at the center, no matter the scale

👀 AfroTech isn’t just an event—it’s a blueprint for building community, ownership, and innovation at scale.