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RenderATL is a unique form of tech convention, removed from the tech hub of Silicon Valley. Situated in Atlanta, it is all about bringing extra various engineers and folks to the tech group.
Launched in 2019 by Justin Samuels, founder and CEO of RenderATL, the occasion now brings greater than $6.5 million in financial impression to Atlanta, with greater than 5,000 attendees anticipated this yr from June 12-14 at America’s Mart throughout Atlanta Tech week.
Render isn’t any peculiar firm; it is made for expertise professionals by expertise professionals, Samuels stated. And that is the place the worlds of collars and code seamlessly intertwine, creating an setting the place folks could be themselves with out feeling like they’re simply there to test a field, Samuels informed VentureBeat.
Total range within the tech trade continues to be fairly low. Worldwide, males make up about 92% of software program builders. Within the US, ladies make up about 22% of software program engineers. Based on the 2022 report, black engineers make up lower than 5%, whereas Hispanic/Latino engineers make up 6.9%.
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The occasion consists of greater than 70 companions and greater than 100 keynotes, seminars and workshops. By design, this isn’t an peculiar speaker circuit. RenderATL has audio system together with NFL legend Shannon Sharpe; distinguished Google engineer Kelsey Hightower; and entertainer DJ Pee .Wee (aka Anderson .Paak).
Samuels hopes to convey folks into the world of expertise to allow them to form its course. It is going to function talks on synthetic intelligence, software program growth, design, product and undertaking administration, technical management, and extra.
This expertise is not going to solely present contributors with the chance to grasp the most recent traits and developments, but in addition the chance to deepen their understanding of cutting-edge expertise and achieve sensible abilities to achieve their fields, in addition to create a recruiting platform for prime profession employers. placement success charges.
RenderATL is completely different from every other tech convention as a result of it goals to bridge the hole between expertise and tradition. Render attendees will probably be on the forefront of the intersection between the 2 and won’t solely develop the alternatives for discussions and workshops, however may even witness a few of right now’s finest music artists carry out and work together throughout industries in a novel approach.
Origins
I requested concerning the genesis of the occasion.
Samuels himself is a baby of immigrants. His father got here from Montego Bay, Jamaica within the Nineteen Seventies. He had an entrepreneurial spirit, all the time choosing up random objects and making one thing out of them. At some point he gave the pc to younger Samuels, who turned it on and figured it out. He was obsessively enjoying a sport known as The Oregon Path.
“That is the place I acquired my first publicity to expertise,” he stated. He began creating Geocities pages and ended up on MySpace. Alongside the best way, he picked up technical abilities and labored his approach into the tech trade.
“I always traveled across the nation to get an schooling as a software program engineer. In our line of labor, you need to get credit for superior coaching. It helps you keep up-to-date and keep on prime of your abilities as a result of software program is consistently altering.”
He began asking himself why he could not do these occasions on the East Coast and why he could not do it in a metropolis like Atlanta with its very busy airport.
“I assumed if we may do this right here, we may faucet into cultural parts that you do not usually see at tech conferences. And make it a illustration of not only one specific group of the trade, however make it a illustration of all people throughout the board,” he stated.
So, Samuels stated, he started working to create a premier vacation spot for expertise professionals who need to advance their persevering with schooling and need to purchase these abilities to allow them to transfer their group ahead.
His timing may have been higher. He began the occasion in 2021, proper in the midst of the pandemic.
He added: “I am bored with being remoted. I’ve all the time been comfortable to have a distant job. However I wanted to fulfill some folks nose to nose. I wished to observe. I wanted social interplay. Folks took it.”
So in September 2021, he created a small occasion that folks have been nonetheless keen to return out to. Regardless of the chance of COVID, about 350 folks nonetheless got here to the occasion in Atlanta. That yr there have been 20 company companions and offered out. In June 2022, the occasion gathered 1,200 folks. In June 2023, he gathered 3,000 folks.
Now Samuels was wanting ahead to his largest occasion, which options quite a few demonstrations and exhibition stands for corporations attempting to recruit expertise.
2024 occasion
This yr, RenderATL is slated to function cultural influencer Shannon Sharpe, recognized for his storied 14-season NFL profession and his acclaimed podcast “Membership Shay Shay,” as a keynote speaker. He’ll discuss organizational and government management in a session moderated by Revolt Media and TV CEO Detavio Samuels.
Samuels stated Sharp is attention-grabbing as a podcaster and YouTube persona who can discuss government management, easy methods to construct a group, easy methods to lead and encourage others to be their finest.
RenderRTL is conducting a survey during which it asks 38 questions of its members, presenters and others to find out their background with permission. Greater than 40% of contributors establish as of African descent, and about half establish as ladies, which is critical in a male-dominated trade, he stated.
Kelsey Hightower, a well known Google engineer, will act as an advocate for builders. Others embody musical abilities corresponding to DJ Pee .Wee (aka Anderson .Paak), R&B star Rotimi, D Smoke, CoCo and Breezy, Kamaiyah and DaniLeigh.
“2024 is a pivotal second for the tech group as we collect in Atlanta for RenderATL,” stated Samuels. “As a expertise convention, we have introduced collectively one of the best audio system and workshop leaders for one of the best steady studying setting to assist our attendees advance their careers and push expertise past trade information, particularly with our cornerstone concentrate on AI, this yr’s expertise. The power surrounding this convention is contagious and we’re excited to shine a lightweight on all of the expertise this convention brings annually.”
RenderATL is supported by Zillow as a significant sponsor. “At Zillow, our objective is to assist extra folks get residence, and we try to try this by connecting with one of the best and brightest expertise. RenderATL gives a group for prime expertise, and we won’t wait to get to Atlanta for an additional yr of networking and constructing on the intersection of expertise, innovation and tradition,” stated Roz French-Harris, Zillow’s Vice President of Expertise Acquisition and belongings. , in a press release.
The occasion is supported by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dicketts.
“For us to be a prime 5 expertise hub, we have to construct and form our expertise pool. Occasions like Atlanta Tech Week and the RenderATL Convention assist us join Atlantans to fascinating profession and studying alternatives that strengthen our ecosystem and, extra importantly, can change somebody’s life,” stated Donnie Beamer, the mayor’s senior expertise adviser, in a press release. “Atlanta Tech Week and RenderATL additionally invite rising technologists and entrepreneurs to see what Atlanta has to supply. We’re excited that RenderATL continues to name Atlanta residence, making it the place to be for the trade and reaching a long-overlooked inhabitants. Collectively we’re constructing one thing particular.”
“I all the time inform those who although we’re a various convention, our principal mission is to be the premier expertise convention for persevering with schooling,” he stated. “It was finished on goal so folks may discover somebody they might establish with. That is essential as a result of studying and schooling are available many styles and sizes. We could also be extremely clever folks, however we in all probability do not examine in the identical courses. Some folks be taught higher on-line or in school. You want completely different avenues and media for folks to be taught and be one of the best they are often.”
Coaching at a technical convention is one other means, he stated.
“It permits folks from completely different walks of life to return collectively and be taught in an setting they really feel comfy in,” he stated.
Samuels can be the chairman and founding father of Atlanta Tech Week, which started in 2023 and runs this yr from June 9-15. It options occasions occurring all through the Atlanta space. Now there are individuals who come from different areas, like different southern states.
