An actress, writer and producer is set to take the stage for Black Tech Week next month.
Issa Rae, who is best known for her HBO series "Insecure," will serve as the keynote speaker for the annual event, officials announced June 8. Last year's event was headlined by tennis superstar Serena Williams.
"(Rae's) dedication to promoting diversity in the tech industry along with her remarkable achievements in entertainment, truly embody the spirits of solidarity and success so central to the Black Tech Week experience," Candice Matthews Brackeen, CEO of Lightship Foundation, said in a news release.
Black Tech Week will return to the Queen City on July 18. The two-day event is expected to bring more than 3,000 visitors to the city to hear from more than 100 speakers and participate in 50-plus workshops.
This is the second year Black Tech Week has been hosted locally. The event, which boasted a more than $7 million economic impact last year, was purchased by the Lightship Foundation in March 2021.
Rae's comedy series "Insecure" focuses on the friendship of two modern-day Black women as they navigate both professional and personal challenges in everyday life. The show ran for five seasons before it finished in late 2021.
Rae has been a frequent startup investor in recent years, backing companies launched by diverse founders. Her investments include: New York-based Glow Up Games, which launched a video game inspired by her HBO series; and Washington, D.C.-area catering startup Hungry Marketplace.
