The Beginning
February 2019 Luis had a meetup group at Startup Grind Global Conference in Silicon Valley where over 60+ Black, Latino, other underrepresented founders, Minority Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors in the Startup, Tech & Innovation space came to connect and empower one another. After this event, Luis and Christiana met to begin building what is now known as We Tha Plug.
We Tha Plug officially launched June 2019 in partnership with San Diego Startup Week & Blink - UX Research & Design SD. The pitch event and fireside chat garnered large crowds and yielded 8 Pan African & Latinx Founders pitching to secure a $5k prize package from sponsor Republic.
We Tha Plug continues to expand their reach by launching their global virtual membership marketplace in April 2020 & We Tha Incubator September 2020. With more programming, events including an international division rolling out 2021-2022.
The overarching goal is to create a global ecosystem that advocates tech and innovation entrepreneurship in Pan African, Latinx and other underrepresented communities by helping founders access early stage startup fundamental education, resources, community, mentorship, programming, funding opportunities and so much more.
Feb. 2019 Pan African & Latinx Meetup Startup Grind Global Conference powered by Google in Silicon Valley, CA
“We Tha Plug is one of 8+ Black-owned SD businesses you should know” San Diego Regional EDC, June 4, 2020
MEET THE TEAM
Luis Martinez, MSOL
Founder | CEO
Christiana Russell, M. Ed
Partner | COO
Feb. 2020 We Tha Plug Pan African & Latinx event-Startup Grind Global Conference-Silicon Valley, CA
“Obligation should not wake you up in the morning, opportunity should.”
Luis Martinez, MSOL Founder/CEO
“What sets us apart is that we take a holistic approach to what we do.”
Christiana Russell, M.Ed Partner | COO
