Top Minorities in Technology 'Bridge the Gap" between Tech + Community during SXSWedu

AUSTIN, Texas - March 4, 2014 - PRLog -- On March 5, 2014, BiTHouse in collaboration with the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center will conduct a pitch competition and panel discussions intended for members interested in diversity in tech and the community starting March 5, 2014. BiTHouse’s Soul + Tech Connect “Inclusion Factors” Initiative “Bridges the Gap” between diversity, community and technology and wants to make sure members of the Austin community are included during SXSW.

Those interested in attending and/or participating in BiTHouse events March 5 - March 9, 2014 can register by visiting: http://bithouse.eventbrite.com (http://bithousepitch.eventbrite.com/?aff=estw). "The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center is a tremendous resource for the community and by collaborating with BiTHouse, we are able to connect with those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend technology programs or visit our center." Tiffany Moreno, Culture and Arts Coordinator, ESB-MACC.

BiTHouse has partnered with various organizations to enable access to members of the community throughout SXSWedu and SXSW.  "Many times community gets left behind during conferences and business growth in big cities and BiTHouse wants to "Minimize Barriers to Entry" for members of the community and minority entrepreneurs and technologists. Several initiatives are taking place around the country to teach youth and those from  disadvantaged communities how to code and generate interest in areas of STEM.  BiTHouse aims to provide sustainable solutions to those teaching youth and adults how to code as well as providing resources continuously enhance financial and professional growth and development throughout one's career, states Jewell Sparks, CEO and Founder of BiTHouse.

Partners for BiTHouse's "Inclusion Factors" initiative throughout 2014 include: Striking.ly, DEXPERIO, GivKwik, MentorMe, Blacks in Technology,  Latino Startup Alliance and others.  Partners and sponsors specifially for  the SXSW initiative include: Mondelez, Rackspace, UBER, Kapor Center for Social Impact, Sparks Fund, and the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.

The BiTHouse Pitch Competition takes place Wednesday, March 5, 2014 from 10:30 am - 11:45 am in the Raul Salinas room at the ESB-MACC located at 600 River Street in Austin, Texas. Interested parties should register by visiting: http://bithousepitch.eventbrite.com/?aff=estw.  Judges for the 2nd annual BiTHouse Pitch Competition include: Jewell Sparks (Strategic Diversity Group / BiTHouse), Brian Dixon (Kapor Capital), Natalia Oberti Noguera (Pipeline Fellowship), Marcia Wade Talbert (Jet Magazine), Jason Rosado (GivKwik), Alyssa Chavez (Latinitas), Jarvis Brown (The CEO Mind), Muhammad Abdurrahman (Playtabase) and Tony Campbell (Rackspace).  BiTHouse has partnered with the GABCC and Shark Tank for the BiTHouse Pitch (https://bithousepitch.eventbrite.com) event to offer minority entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch their concepts prior to participating in the Shark Tank casting session scheduled from 2-6 p.m., March 5 at the Greater Austin Black Chamber office, 912 E. 11th Street.

BiTHouse panel topics for 2014 include the following: Society, Culture and Stereotypes: Impacts on Education, Financing and Employment, "Your Voice Matters," How Social Media and Marketing Provokes Leadership Diversity and Social Change, "A Day in the Life of," A Conversation: Food + Tech + Health, Education and Technology: Innovative Resources to Increase and Maintain Minority Interest in STEM, and Wearable Technologies: Aiding with Health Disparities and Disabilities. Panelists are from organizations such as Dell, AT&T, Rackspace, Paypal, Kai Dupe Productions, Bibi's Patisserie, Playtabase, Strategic Diversity Group, University of Texas - Austin, ProgressNow and other known entities.

People interested in finding out more about BiTHouse can meet its founder and partners at The Four Seasons for a Digital Diversity: Who's Who in Tech Meetup in the  Lobby Lounge on Sunday March 9, 2014 from 5-7 p.m. For more information visit: http://www.thebithouse.org. If you are interested in partnering with BiTHouse for future conferences send an email to: info@thebithouse.org.