This session features an in-depth interview with Savannah, a Black woman and tech entrepreneur who has created a decentralized blockchain platform called Gwop aimed at empowering Black businesses and communities. Savannah shares her journey as a seasoned technologist and founder, discussing the challenges she faced in securing funding due to racial barriers, and how this inspired her to develop Gwop as a self-sustaining ecosystem for community-driven business growth. The platform integrates innovative governance mechanisms, such as “Black governors,” to enable decentralized decision-making and funding opportunities for entrepreneurial ventures. Savannah also highlights her commitment to education through free webinars, workshops, and an upcoming book on cryptocurrency aimed at demystifying blockchain for everyday people. The conversation emphasizes the importance of empowering people of color economically and technologically, with Savannah’s project serving as a tangible, functional example amid many blockchain initiatives lacking real-world application. The session concludes with reflections on the value of such summits for community engagement and knowledge sharing, affirming the need for more frequent events to support ongoing empowerment and collaboration within the Black tech ecosystem.
