​Welcome!

​This Equitech Welcome to THE LIGHT HOUSE during the first weekend of SXSW is a place for mission-driven, under-estimated founders, funders, and allies to convene, make connections, and celebrate each other!

​Join friends and colleagues from Baltimore to Austin, London to The Bay Area, Oakland to Tulsa, and many places in between as we gather to share in like-minded fellowship, our best practices, potential partnerships, and link up our pipelines across the country, and the world.

​Sponsorships are available; email [email protected]. Space is limited to 150 guests. RSVPs are required.

​About Equitech

​Born in Baltimore, Equitech is a movement to build an inclusive tech city, unlocking economic potential and opportunity, and creating a culture of belonging in tech. Learn more at: upsurgebaltimore.com

​About our ✨2026 Host ✨ & *new* event location📍

​✨ Given significant alignment with THE LIGHT HOUSE, a project of Omidyar Network’s The Tech We Want, we are joining forces to co-create an Equitech Welcome kicking off this annual 2-day event convening leaders working out “how technology can balance people, purpose, and profit”.

​This co-creation further extends the impact, breadth and depth of numerous stakeholders -- from individual change-makers to global organizations – who are actively growing sustainable and inclusive tech, ventures, investments, and ecosystems through long-term mutually-beneficial collaborations.

​📍THE LIGHT HOUSE is located conveniently in the heart of downtown Austin and SXSW. Street parking is extremely limited; walking or ride-sharing is encouraged.

​👏🏽Big Ups to our fabulous Equitech sponsors!👏🏽

​Get to know these amazing orgs doing awesome work to support and advance founders, funders, and eco-systems with a foundation of equity.

• ​The AmFam Institute is a venture capital firm and partner of choice for exceptional entrepreneurs who are building scalable, sustainable businesses in a long-term effort to close equity gaps in the United States.

• ​At Athletes Innovate, we connect the dots for college athletes, empowering them to see how their on-the-field strengths can turn into game-changing business success.

• ​Camelback Ventures aims to create a more diverse social innovation ecosystem that leverages the genius of all people. We identify leaders with promising ideas, and empower them to enact change within their communities through our initiatives where we provide an intentional blend of coaching, capital, connections, community, and curriculum.

• ​​divinc is on a mission to generate social and economic equity through entrepreneurship.

• ​Ed Farm launched in partnership with Apple and Alabama Power Foundation in 2020, Ed Farm empowers educators, students, and adult learners to not only thrive in today’s digital age, but prepare for the advancements of tomorrow. Through tech-focused programming, leading-edge learning environments, and innovative tools, Ed Farm is on a mission to close the growing digital skills gap in communities across the southeast and beyond. Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Ed Farm is part of Propel Education alongside Propel Center.

• ​Forum One is a digital agency that partners exclusively with mission-driven organizations — nonprofits, foundations, universities, and government agencies — to amplify their impact by creating digital products and experiences that engage audiences, drive action, and deliver measurable outcomes.

• ​ImpactAlpha is the leading global publication covering the trillions of dollars in capital moving into impact investing and sustainable finance. The subscription-based media platform is a trusted source of news and data for professionals and institutions around the world.

• ​JUST invests in female and minority entrepreneurs to create more resilient communities. We have reimagined global microfinance for the United States by recruiting, training, and supporting entrepreneur leaders to self-organize their own small business support groups. JUST then provides a holistic program of capital, coaching, and community. In Central Texas, we made more than 6,000 loans totaling more than $10M with a 99% repayment rate. We are just getting started.

• ​Modern Tender is a boutique innovation agency that partners with impact tech founders and funders to build ventures, build markets and provide capital strategies for purpose and profit.

• ​TechBirmingham's mission is to strengthen and advocate for the technology ecosystem in Birmingham, Alabama. In doing so, they promote tech companies in the region, help recruit and retain tech talent and entrepreneurs, and provide the current and future workforce with technical education and professional development opportunities.

• ​Waking Giants is a Queer, woman-led company creating tools for the good fight. We do this through bespoke operational and culturally strategic offerings: capacity training, fundraising, communications, executive coaching, and event production.

​Stay tuned for more sponsors joining us leading up to the event. Click here to learn more about becoming a sponsor or email [email protected]. ✨