The world’s largest consumer technology show is underway today, opening its doors to industry leaders from over 155 countries.
Our team hit the ground at the Consumer Electronics Show yesterday to get a sneak peek at the tradeshow floor and to listen in on technology trends advancing mobility, smart cities, and the debatable ethics that will govern artificial intelligence powering these advancements.
With an anticipated attendance of over 200,000 people to Las Vegas’ most popular conference and convention centers, exhibitors run the global gamut from giants like Google and Samsung to new industry players hoping to catapult their business to the next level.
Over 1,000 startups will take center stage at this year’s conference. Among them are a select few founders of color.
Here’s a look at a few of the Black tech startup companies we’re getting to know at CES:
WeatherCheck
Founder: Demetrius Gray
Inside the company: WeatherCheck saves property owners money by monitoring mobile and immobile property for severe weather.
Where you can find them.: Eureka Park, Sands, Hall G – 50723
Bundil
Founder: Dmitri Love
Inside the company: The Bundil platform allows you to automatically invest your spare change from everyday creditor debit card purchases into bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Where you can find them: Eureka Park, Sands, Hall G – 53159
SpokeHub
Founders: Robert Hartsfield and Richard Berryman
Inside the company: SpokeHub is a group-based social media platform that gives users the ability to create or join public or private Hubs around trending topics or areas of interest.
Where you can find them: Chief Strategy Officer, John McAdory, is on the ground at CES. Reach him for a sit-down.
HireHer
Founder: Ruth Chandler Cook
Inside the company: This HR Tech Saas company delivers web and mobile applications to help ensure companies recruit, engage, and retain diverse talent.
Where you can find them: Ruth Chandler Cook was a panelist yesterday on the AI integration with Today’s Workforce panel. Reach her for a sit-down.
Pigeonly
Founder: Fred Hutson
Inside the company: Pigeonly provides loved ones a simple, affordable way to stay in touch with your inmate from any phone, tablet, or computer.
Where you can find them: Fred Hutson is a friend of ThePLUG and operates his 30+ employee office in Las Vegas.
Centiment.io and Centiment Capital
Founder: Micah Brown
Inside the companies: Centiment Capital is the only Venture Capital firm in the US to focus on investing in technical founders of color working on Deep Tech and Neuroscience business problems. Centiment.io is a neuro-powered marketing and advertising technology platform.
Where you can find them: Micah Brown is on the ground at CES. Reach him for a sit-down.
Greenlight Insights
Founder: Clifton Dawson
Inside the company: Using comprehensive market data, Greenlight Insights provides strategic intelligence to clients like Microsoft, Facebook, and Intel through syndicated research, services, and events.
Where you can find them: I shared an Uber with Clifton who has been attending CES with his company for the last 4 years. Reach him for a sit-down.
Did we miss you? If you’re a Black tech startup founder on the ground or exhibiting at CES, reach us at hello@theplugdaily.com and tell us more about what you’re building. We’ll be updating this list as we continue our reporting at CES.
