Podcast Summary: The Journey with Morgan DeBaun

Episode: What’s New at AfroTech Conference 2025 (Health, AI + More)

Date: September 23, 2025
Host: Morgan DeBaun

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Morgan DeBaun offers a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at the evolution and future direction of AfroTech Conference 2025. She discusses the strategic decisions behind the event’s growth, her personal motivations, and the diverse programming being introduced this year—including expanded health initiatives, deep tech and AI content, a stronger spotlight on small businesses, and new resources for creators. This episode is packed with practical insights for anyone interested in event scaling, community-building, tech trends, and Black excellence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. AfroTech’s Growth & Location Strategy

• AfroTech’s history: Began in 2014 in a modest 300-person event center in San Francisco’s Westfield Mall ([01:00]).
• Rapid expansion: Conference attendance doubled annually for several years, now drawing up to 20,000 inside the convention center, with another 10-20,000 participating in surrounding events ([02:15]).
• Shifting cities: The move from the Bay Area to Texas is driven by demographic changes, migration trends in Black professional communities, and better infrastructure for large events.
  • Austin experience: While chosen for its infrastructure (inspired by South by Southwest’s success), Austin fell short in logistics and inclusivity for Black attendees ([07:00]).
  • Houston success: Current host city has gone "above and beyond," with robust support from local government, business, and community stakeholders ([10:00]).
• City selection process: Involves sending detailed RFPs (Requests for Proposals) to tourism boards nationwide to find the best-fit city partners ([09:00]).
• Conference scheduling changes: Now Monday–Friday to avoid confusion over unaffiliated weekend parties ([13:00]).

“Houston’s been very good to us. I have no complaints. Like the city, the community, Houston’s restaurants, the clubs, the police, everybody is like on board. It is a well-oiled machine.”
— Morgan DeBaun [10:15]

2. Health & Well-being: Introduction of Health Stack

• Personal motivation: Morgan’s family legacy in medicine and experiences with health inequities inspired her to deepen health programming at AfroTech ([16:00]).
• Strategic importance: Growing urgency around technology’s role in health equity, especially with regards to the impact and opportunity of AI in medicine.
• Health Stack debut: New community and programming track, targeting nurses, practitioners, graduate students, and tech employees interested in health impact ([18:00]).
  • Collaboration: Engaging local communities and organizations for broader access and participation.
  • Job connections: Connecting tech talent with companies making a direct impact on Black health outcomes.
• Continuing education: Plans to offer continuing education credits starting in 2026 to increase value for professionals ([20:15]).

“There’s a huge opportunity for AI to help people make smart decisions faster, more informed. And it allows people potentially to have better outcomes… we need technologists and practitioners to build the infrastructure that is happening right now behind the scenes.”
— Morgan DeBaun [17:25]

3. Supporting Small Businesses and Non-VC Entrepreneurs

• Shifting focus: Previously centered on venture-backed founders and investors; now expanding focus to include small business owners and startups ([23:00]).
• New opportunities: Introduction of Startup Row for demos, and an expanded small business marketplace.
• Direct business-building: Emphasis on helping Black business owners connect directly with customers and enterprise clients, not just investors ([25:00]).
• Ecosystem-building: Intent to spark real transactions between business owners and attendees, emphasizing community wealth development through entrepreneurship ([27:00]).

“Black people love to shop. Okay? You put me in front of a Black business marketplace, I’m dropping at least a couple hundred just because I can’t help it.”
— Morgan DeBaun [27:30]

4. Empowering Creators

• Creator program: Previously internal, now public—free trainings for “micro creators” with ambitions to turn their craft into full-time businesses ([29:00]).
• Programming expansion: Added a half-day dedicated to the business of content creation, featuring platform partners and DreamCon (a leading creativity & streaming event) ([31:00]).
• Professionalizing the creator economy: Focus on sustainable income and skill-building, not just influencer deals.

“Although there’s a lot of information about how to be a creator, there’s still a lot of questions about how to professionalize this hobby or this side hustle.”
— Morgan DeBaun [29:50]

5. Focus on Hardware, Robotics, and Deep Tech

• Product Demo Stage: Partners and clients bring hardware, robotics, wearables for attendees to see, test, and even purchase ([34:00]).
• Influential Speakers: Brings thought leaders such as Mustafa (CEO of Microsoft AI), and Astro Teller (CEO of Google X Moonshots) to steer conversations on tech innovation, AI, and societal responsibility ([36:30]).
• Learning leapfrog: The conference is designed to keep participants “a year or two ahead of everyone else,” especially on rapidly evolving topics like AI and cybersecurity ([38:00]).

“AI is moving so quickly, but going to AfroTech for one week, you should leapfrog basically a year or two ahead of everybody else… That’s how we design the curriculum.”
— Morgan DeBaun [39:05]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “We’re planning 2027, 2028, and 2029 right now. Like, we’re looking at the RFP process for that. And we are in Houston this year. We’re very excited.”
  — Morgan DeBaun [09:30]

• “AfroTech is more than just talent acquisition… it’s all about community and you getting really connected to new people that have the same types of priorities and care about the same things you care about.”
  — Morgan DeBaun [28:45]

• “Not to get super militant on you, but how I feel—ownership and having assets and transacting with one another is a core way we’re going to continue to have liberation.”
  — Morgan DeBaun [28:55]

• “If you are someone who is like a tech philosopher, if you have like, points of view of how technology is made, how society is managing this transition into AI, how we are doing things equitably, how we’re doing things with care… then this year is the conference you should be going to.”
  — Morgan DeBaun [37:15]

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|--------------------------------------------------| | 00:00-02:30| AfroTech’s origins and early growth | | 03:00-10:00| Conference expansion, city moves, Houston review | | 12:00-14:00| RFP process and city selection | | 15:00-22:00| Health Stack: new health initiatives & vision | | 23:00-28:00| Small business/Startup Row & ecosystem building | | 29:00-33:00| Creator program and dedicated content | | 34:00-40:00| Hardware, deep tech, and AI programming | | 41:00-END | Final thoughts and call to action |

Episode Takeaways

• AfroTech 2025 is deeply committed to community experience, impact, and innovation.
• The event is broadening its scope: integrating health and AI, centering small businesses, supporting creators, and spotlighting deep tech.
• Morgan DeBaun provides candid insight into the challenges and triumphs of both running and scaling a leading Black tech conference.
• If you care about tech, community wealth, health equity, or growing as a creative professional, AfroTech 2025 is a not-to-miss event.

For more details or to get involved, visit afrotechconference.com