RenderATL is a tech convention devoted to numerous views in Atlanta

RenderATL is a distinct form of tech convention that’s distant from the tech heartland of Silicon Valley. Based mostly in Atlanta, it’s all about bringing extra numerous engineers and folks into the group of technologists.

Began in 2019 by Justin Samuels, founder and CEO of RenderATL, the occasion now brings an financial influence of over $6.5 million to Atlanta and it expects greater than 5,000 attendees at this 12 months’s occasion going down June 12 to June 14 at America’s Mart throughout Atlanta Tech Week.

Render isn’t your typical firm; it’s made for expertise professionals by expertise professionals, Samuels stated. And it’s the place the worlds of collards and code seamlessly intertwine, creating an setting the place individuals can authentically be themselves with out feeling like they’re simply there to examine a field, Samuels stated in an interview with VentureBeat.

Total variety within the tech business continues to be fairly small. World wide, males are about 92% of software program builders. Within the U.S., girls are about 22% of software program engineers. Black engineers are underneath 5%, whereas Hispanic/LatinX persons are 6.9%, in accordance with a report in 2022.

The occasion options greater than 70 companions and greater than 100 keynote addresses, seminars and workshops. By design, it’s not the same old circuit of audio system. RenderATL options audio system together with NFL legend Shannon Sharpe; distinguished Google engineer Kelsey Hightower; and entertainer DJ Pee .Wee (AKA Anderson .Paak).

Samuels hopes to carry individuals into the world of expertise in order that they will form its route. It would function talks on synthetic intelligence, software program engineering, design, product and mission administration, tech management and extra.

These experiences will present attendees with not solely insights into the newest developments and developments however have the chance to deepen their understanding of cutting-edge applied sciences and acquire sensible expertise to drive success of their respective fields in addition to a platform for employer recruiting with excessive profession placement success charges.

RenderATL is not like some other tech convention because it has a dedication to bridging the hole between tech and tradition. Render attendees can be on the forefront of the intersection between the 2, with not solely empowering discussions and workshops, but additionally witness a few of at present’s high musical acts carry out and community throughout all industries in a singular manner.

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 Seventies. He had an entrepreneurial spirit, all the time gathering random gadgets and making one thing with them. At some point, he gave a pc to the younger Samuels, who turned it on and figured it out. He performed a sport known as The Oregon Path obsessively.

“That was where I first got exposed to tech,” he stated. He began making Geocities pages and acquired onto MySpace. He picked up tech expertise alongside the best way and made his manner into the tech business.

“I was going across the country constantly to do continuing education as a software engineer. In our line of work, you have to get continuing education credits. It helps you to keep updated and remain up to date on your skills because software is constantly changing.”

He began asking himself why he couldn’t do these occasions on the East Coast, and why he couldn’t do it in a metropolis like Atlanta, with its extraordinarily busy airport.

“I thought that if we were able to do it here, we could engage with cultural elements that you usually don’t find at a tech conference. And make it a like a representation of not just one particular group of the industry, but make it representative of everybody across the board,” he stated.

So Samuels stated he began work on making a premier place for expertise professionals seeking to improve their persevering with training and seeking to get these expertise in order that they may transfer their organizations ahead.

His timing may have been higher. He began the occasion in 2021, proper in the midst of the pandemic.

He added, “I was tired of the isolation. I was always blessed to have a remote job. But I needed to meet some people face to face. I wanted to engage. I needed social interaction. People were receptive to it.”

So he created a small occasion in September 2021 the place individuals have been nonetheless keen to enterprise out. Regardless of the dangers of COVID, about 350 individuals nonetheless got here out to the occasion in Atlanta. There have been 20 company companions and the occasion offered out that 12 months. In June 2022, the occasion drew 1,200 individuals. In June 2023, it drew 3,000.

Now Samuels anticipated having his greatest occasion but, the place there are tons of demos and exhibit cubicles for corporations making an attempt to recruit expertise.

The 2024 occasion

This 12 months, RenderATL is ready to have cultural shifters like Shannon Sharpe, identified for his legendary 14 season profession within the NFL and his acclaimed podcast “Club Shay Shay” because the keynote speaker. He’ll speak about organizational and government management in a session moderated by Revolt Media and TV CEO Detavio Samuels.

Samuels stated that Sharpe is attention-grabbing as a podcaster and YouTube persona who can speak about government management, tips on how to construct a group, tips on how to lead and encourage others to be their greatest.

RenderRTL does a survey the place it asks 38 questions of its attendees, audio system and extra in order that it could possibly establish their backgrounds, with permission. Over 40% of the attendees establish as having African descent, and about half establish as girls, which is large for the male-dominated business, he stated.

Kelsey Hightower, distinguished Google engineer, will converse as a developer advocate. Others embody musical expertise reminiscent of DJ Pee .Wee (AKA Anderson .Paak), R&B star Rotimi, D Smoke, CoCo and Breezy, Kamaiyah and DaniLeigh.

“2024 marks a pivotal moment for the tech community as we gather in Atlanta for RenderATL,” Samuels stated. “As a technology conference we brought together the best speakers and workshop conductors for the best continuous learning environment to help enable our attendees to go further in their career and advance technology beyond cutting industry knowledge, especially with our cornerstone focus in A.I., for this year’s experience. The energy surrounding this conference is infectious, and we’re thrilled to shine light on all of the talent this conference brings each and every year.”

RenderATL has the assist of Zillow as its title sponsor. “At Zillow, our purpose is to help more and more people get home, and we strive to do that by connecting with the best and brightest talent. RenderATL offers community for top talent, and we cannot wait to get to Atlanta for another year of connection and building at the intersection of technology, innovation and culture,” stated Roz Francuz-Harris, vp of expertise acquisition and engagement & belonging for Zillow, in an announcement.

The occasion has the assist from the mayor of Atlanta, Andre Dickets.

“For us to become a top five tech hub, we need to build and shape our talent pool. Occasions like Atlanta Tech Week and RenderATL Conference, help us connect Atlantans to coveted career opportunities and training, which strengthens our ecosystem and more importantly- can change someone’s life,” stated Donnie Beamer, senior expertise advisor to the mayor, in an announcement. “Atlanta Tech Week and RenderATL also invites aspiring technologists and entrepreneurs to see what Atlanta has to offer. We’re excited that RenderATL continues to call Atlanta home, is making it a destination for the industry and reaches populations that have long been overlooked. Together we’re building something special.”

“I always tell people that, while we’re a diverse conference, our main mission is to be the premier technology conference for continuing education,” he stated. “It was intentionally made for people to find somebody they could identify with. That’s important because learning and education comes in many shapes and sizes. We can be incredibly smart people, but we probably do not learn in the exact same classroom setting. Some people learn better online or at school. You need different avenues and media for people to learn and be the best they can be.”

Studying at a tech convention is one more medium, he stated.

“It allows people from multiple backgrounds that come to gather and to learn in an environment that they feel comfortable in,” he stated.

Samuels can be chairman and founding father of Atlanta Tech Week, which acquired began in 2023 and runs this 12 months from June 9 to June 15. It options occasions taking place throughout the Atlanta space. Now there are individuals coming from different areas like different states within the South.