We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rohan/ Meagan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Rohan/, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
The most meaningful project that we’ve worked on is RoadPitch, a multi-city pitch tour for Black tech founders. Starting a pitch tour competition for Black tech founders to close capital for their startups is not just about providing a platform for these entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas and secure funding. It is about creating a space for underrepresented voices to be heard and empowering a community that has historically been overlooked and undervalued.
The lack of diversity in the tech industry is a well-documented issue, with Black founders receiving just a fraction of the funding that their white counterparts do. By creating a pitch tour competition specifically for Black tech founders, we are taking a step towards addressing this disparity and promoting inclusivity in the industry.
More than just the financial support, this competition offers an opportunity for Black tech founders to build networks, gain exposure, and develop their ideas further. By bringing together a community of like-minded individuals, we are creating a support system that can help to nurture and grow these startups to their full potential.
The impact of this pitch tour competition extends beyond just the individual startups and founders involved. It is about creating a culture of diversity and inclusion within the tech industry and encouraging a wider range of perspectives and experiences to be represented. By supporting Black tech founders, we are not only promoting innovation and entrepreneurship but also paving the way for a more equitable future.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
We are the cofounders of RoadPitch! The best way to describe it? It’s The Amazing Race meets Shark Tank! We curate pitch demos for Black tech founders across the globe to get in the same room as investors to pitch their business ventures. Our goal is to get founders funded by traveling to markets they may not be familiar with. A multi-city pitch tour for Black tech founders looking for funding could help solve several problems that are often faced by these entrepreneurs. Here are a few examples:
Access to Capital: One of the biggest challenges for Black tech founders is access to capital. Many Black founders struggle to secure funding due to systemic barriers such as bias and discrimination. A multi-city pitch tour could provide these entrepreneurs with a platform to showcase their ideas to potential investors and secure the funding they need to grow their businesses.
Exposure: Black tech founders often lack exposure to the right networks and communities that can help them gain visibility and support for their startups. By hosting a pitch tour in multiple cities, we can reach a wider audience and provide greater exposure for Black tech founders to connect with investors and other influential figures in the industry.
Feedback: Pitching to investors can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it’s also an opportunity for founders to receive valuable feedback and insights into their ideas. By hosting a multi-city pitch tour, Black tech founders can gain feedback from a diverse range of investors, each with their own unique perspectives and insights.
Community Building: Building a supportive community is crucial for any entrepreneur, but it can be particularly challenging for Black tech founders who may lack representation in the industry. A multi-city pitch tour can provide a platform for Black tech founders to connect with each other, share resources, and build a supportive community that can help them overcome common challenges and succeed.
Overall, a multi-city pitch tour for Black tech founders helps address systemic barriers to funding and create a more supportive and inclusive ecosystem for Black entrepreneurs in the tech industry.
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
We actually met each other about a year ago while working for another company that organized hackathons. We shared a passion for entrepreneurship and wanted to create something of our own. We decided to start our own business, focusing on creating unique experiences that bring together technology, innovation, and community building. Taking the skills we had acquired from organizing hackathons and applying them to create events that were fun, engaging, and impactful. After the hackathon was over we came up with an idea to curate tours for Black tech founders traveling through different cities in the US. The event would bring together tech enthusiasts from different cities and allow them to witness the Black tech innovation from around the country but also in their own backyard.
The first tour on the Northeast [BOS, NY, PHL, BAL, DC] was a hit, we received feedback from the participants stating they loved the experience of travelling through different cities and meeting other tech founders and ecosystem builders. As we gained traction and visibility the business grew, and we decided to continue to create innovative experiences that bring together technology, community, and creativity for Black tech ecosystems. We’re becoming known for our ability to think outside the box and create events that left a lasting impression on participants.
Our journey started with a hackathon on wheels, but our entrepreneurial spirit and passion for innovation led us to create a business that is making a real impact in the tech industry. We will continue to inspire others with our unique approach and dedication to creating meaningful experiences that bring people together.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Before getting into the tech startup space we wish we knew about all the resources available for underrepresented tech founders. There are a variety of resources available for Black tech founders in the US that can help support their startups and facilitate their success. Here are a few examples:
Accelerator and Incubator Programs: There are many accelerator and incubator programs specifically designed to support Black tech founders. These programs offer mentorship, funding, and other resources to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
Diversity-Focused Venture Capital Funds: There are also many venture capital funds that focus specifically on investing in diverse founders, including Black tech founders. These funds recognize the value of diverse perspectives and experiences and actively seek out opportunities to invest in underrepresented founders.
Networking and Community Building Organizations: There are many organizations and communities that are specifically focused on supporting Black tech founders. These organizations offer networking opportunities, events, and other resources that can help founders connect with other entrepreneurs and gain exposure to potential investors.
Business Development Centers: The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) provides support to minority-owned businesses, including Black tech startups, through a network of business development centers across the country. These centers offer a variety of services including access to capital, mentorship, and technical assistance.
Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives: Many larger tech companies have launched diversity and inclusion initiatives to promote greater representation of underrepresented groups, including Black tech founders. These initiatives often include mentorship programs, networking events, and other resources that can help Black tech founders connect with potential investors and grow their businesses. 
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sites.google.com/view/roadpitch/
- Instagram: @roadpitch
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadpitch/
- Twitter: @RoadPitch