, /PRNewswire/ -- UrbanGeekz founder and CEO Kunbi Tinuoye opened this year's Roadmap to Billions Conference with a dynamic 'Founders Firsts Masterclass', setting the tone for two days of high-impact programming for Black women in tech.

The session, held at Microsoft's Times Square offices in New York City, explored pivotal "firsts" in the investor and entrepreneurial journey—everything, from the first investor check to the first board meeting and the first significant setback.

Tinuoye, a veteran journalist and digital media executive, skillfully guided the conversation with Mita Carriman, founder of travel tech startup Adventurely and co-founder of Caribbean Venture Collective. They were also joined by Esosa Ighodaro, co-founder of Black Women Talk Tech and a seasoned investor.

Tinuoye pivoted seamlessly to engage both panelists in an honest and wide-ranging conversation from both founder and investor perspectives. The masterclass was filled with candid reflections. Carriman shared lessons from navigating her first investor pitch and early product-market fit challenges. Ighodaro offered a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into early investor calls and the tough lessons she learned from her first board experiences.

"It was an honor and privilege to join the line-up at Roadmap to Billions," said Tinuoye. "The Black Women Talk Tech team has done a fantastic job curating so many credible speakers."

"The energy at this year's Roadmap to Billions was electric," said Esosa Ighodaro. "We saw more founders securing meetings, more investors showing up intentionally, and more conversations that will spark real momentum. Our future plans include doubling down on community-driven content, building more pathways to capital, and expanding globally."

Looking ahead, Black Women Talk Tech is focused on expanding its reach and resources to support even more founders, with new programming and opportunities on the horizon.

Now in its ninth year, The Roadmap to Billions conference, hosted by Black Women Talk Tech, is the largest annual tech conference created by and for Black women founders. Last month's 2025 event featured an impressive slate of speakers representing a wide range of expertise across venture capital, finance, and tech innovation. Notable speakers included Antonia Dean, Principal at Black Ops VC; Tricia Taitt, CEO of FinCore; and Lenore Champagne Beirne, Founder and Managing Partner at Bright Ventures.

Other influential voices included Victoria Yampolsky, Founder and CEO of Curastory; Dominique Aubry, Principal and CEO of Beacon Insights; Saydeah Howard, Managing Partner at Cherryrock Capital; and Stephanie LeBlanc-Godfrey, CEO and Founder of Mother AI.

Tinuoye's participation underscores UrbanGeekz's unwavering commitment to inclusive innovation and elevating underrepresented voices in the tech and business landscape. As the visionary behind a pioneering digital media platform, she continues to champion the narratives of Black and brown changemakers who are often overlooked in mainstream coverage.

Through in-depth reporting, thought leadership, and community-driven storytelling, UrbanGeekz plays a vital role in reshaping the narrative around who drives innovation, spotlighting diverse founders, investors, and professionals who are breaking barriers and building the future of tech and entrepreneurship.

About UrbanGeekz
UrbanGeekz is a black-owned, African-American, Latinx, multicultural digital news platform focused on technology, business, science, and entrepreneurship. The groundbreaking videocentric multimedia platform covers tech, startups, and business. Its mission is to make tech 'cool' and accessible while highlighting innovative careers and STEM-related fields as exciting and rewarding paths, especially for women and underrepresented groups.

About Black Women Talk Tech
Black Women Talk Tech (BWTT) is a collective of Black women entrepreneurs committed to identifying, supporting, and encouraging Black women-led technology companies. Founded in 2017, BWTT aims to showcase the brilliance of Black women, foster deep connections, and create real funding opportunities for Black women in tech. Esosa Ighodaro and Regina Gwynn are the co-founders of BWTT.

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SOURCE UrbanGeekz