Diversifying Tech as a Service with Veni Kunche — MicroConf On Air

and we and we are live welcome to this week's episode are live welcome to this week's episode are live welcome to this week's episode of microconf on air of microconf on air of microconf on air i'm your host rob walling and i'm i'm your host rob walling and i'm i'm your host rob walling and i'm listening to two simultaneous playing listening to two simultaneous playing listening to two simultaneous playing theme songs theme songs theme songs every wednesday we live stream for 30 every wednesday we live stream for 30 every wednesday we live stream for 30 minutes and we cover topics related to minutes and we cover topics related to minutes and we cover topics related to building and growing ambitious building and growing ambitious building and growing ambitious sas startups bring us freedom purpose sas startups bring us freedom purpose sas startups bring us freedom purpose and allow us to value and maintain and allow us to value and maintain and allow us to value and maintain healthy healthy healthy relationships we strive to build real relationships we strive to build real relationships we strive to build real businesses with real customers who pay businesses with real customers who pay businesses with real customers who pay us real money us real money us real money we do it all while not burning ourselves we do it all while not burning ourselves we do it all while not burning ourselves out working crazy hours out working crazy hours out working crazy hours this is the lens through which we view this is the lens through which we view this is the lens through which we view building and growing building and growing building and growing successful startups welcome the successful startups welcome the successful startups welcome the uh the video you saw at the top of the uh the video you saw at the top of the uh the video you saw at the top of the show show show is talking about the state of is talking about the state of is talking about the state of independent sas survey that we're independent sas survey that we're independent sas survey that we're currently running it runs for about currently running it runs for about currently running it runs for about another week another week another week and if you haven't already filled out it and if you haven't already filled out it and if you haven't already filled out it takes about takes about takes about six to eight minutes it seems this year six to eight minutes it seems this year six to eight minutes it seems this year if you have a sas app if you have a sas app if you have a sas app a recurring software product that is a recurring software product that is a recurring software product that is doing doing doing at least a dollar a month in mrr would at least a dollar a month in mrr would at least a dollar a month in mrr would love to have your input love to have your input love to have your input and your metrics it's all anonymous and and your metrics it's all anonymous and and your metrics it's all anonymous and it allows us to put together this really it allows us to put together this really it allows us to put together this really solid strong report um that that covers solid strong report um that that covers solid strong report um that that covers our type of sas not the venture funded our type of sas not the venture funded our type of sas not the venture funded sash that needs to go big go home sash that needs to go big go home sash that needs to go big go home or go public or go bust it's really the or go public or go bust it's really the or go public or go bust it's really the independent the bootstrapped and mostly independent the bootstrapped and mostly independent the bootstrapped and mostly bootstrap sas bootstrap sas bootstrap sas so state of indie sas.com to check out so state of indie sas.com to check out so state of indie sas.com to check out that survey that survey that survey and again it's six or eight minutes and and again it's six or eight minutes and and again it's six or eight minutes and uh if you haven't seen the report from uh if you haven't seen the report from uh if you haven't seen the report from last year it's really solid it's like 75 last year it's really solid it's like 75 last year it's really solid it's like 75 pages uh you can go to the microsoft pages uh you can go to the microsoft pages uh you can go to the microsoft website if you want to check out what we website if you want to check out what we website if you want to check out what we what we crank out there what we crank out there what we crank out there all types of metrics and benchmarks and

all types of metrics and benchmarks and all types of metrics and benchmarks and numbers about you know hiring and team numbers about you know hiring and team numbers about you know hiring and team size and size and size and um all kinds of stuff so check that out um all kinds of stuff so check that out um all kinds of stuff so check that out stateofindysass.com stateofindysass.com stateofindysass.com today we are diving into diversifying today we are diving into diversifying today we are diving into diversifying tech tech tech as a service and my guest today is vani as a service and my guest today is vani as a service and my guest today is vani kunche and you can head to kunche and you can head to kunche and you can head to diversifytech.co to see what she's built diversifytech.co to see what she's built diversifytech.co to see what she's built over the past over the past over the past two years after attending microcom two years after attending microcom two years after attending microcom starter edition in starter edition in starter edition in in 2018 and she was inspired in 2018 and she was inspired in 2018 and she was inspired by attending microconf and decided to by attending microconf and decided to by attending microconf and decided to launch diversify tech and she has grown launch diversify tech and she has grown launch diversify tech and she has grown it to it to it to more than ten thousand dollars in more than ten thousand dollars in more than ten thousand dollars in monthly revenue monthly revenue monthly revenue which is super super impressive um so which is super super impressive um so which is super super impressive um so i'll be talking with her in just a i'll be talking with her in just a i'll be talking with her in just a minute minute minute vanee is a developer a maker and a vanee is a developer a maker and a vanee is a developer a maker and a founder after working as a software founder after working as a software founder after working as a software engineer for 15 years engineer for 15 years engineer for 15 years she launched diversified tech to help she launched diversified tech to help she launched diversified tech to help make the tech industry more inclusive make the tech industry more inclusive make the tech industry more inclusive diversified tech connects diversified tech connects diversified tech connects underrepresented people in tech to underrepresented people in tech to underrepresented people in tech to opportunities opportunities opportunities and it also helps companies hire them so and it also helps companies hire them so and it also helps companies hire them so back in 2017 vayne was awarded back in 2017 vayne was awarded back in 2017 vayne was awarded one of uh microcomp starter scholarships one of uh microcomp starter scholarships one of uh microcomp starter scholarships and i believe she attended the 2018 and i believe she attended the 2018 and i believe she attended the 2018 vegas we were trying to figure out which vegas we were trying to figure out which vegas we were trying to figure out which year it was probably not that important year it was probably not that important year it was probably not that important but but but um a starter uh you know event we have um a starter uh you know event we have um a starter uh you know event we have our starter and our growth events and our starter and our growth events and our starter and our growth events and she attended a couple years ago we're she attended a couple years ago we're she attended a couple years ago we're going to take a look at how things have going to take a look at how things have going to take a look at how things have changed for her after attending changed for her after attending changed for her after attending microgram starter microgram starter microgram starter and being inspired to start diversified and being inspired to start diversified and being inspired to start diversified tech so tech so tech so vayne welcome so much to uh vayne welcome so much to uh vayne welcome so much to uh microconfounder thanks for joining me microconfounder thanks for joining me microconfounder thanks for joining me yeah thank you so much for having me yeah thank you so much for having me yeah thank you so much for having me yeah it's great it's gonna be a good yeah it's great it's gonna be a good yeah it's great it's gonna be a good conversation today conversation today conversation today so diversify tech for folks who can't so diversify tech for folks who can't so diversify tech for folks who can't get over the website your

get over the website your get over the website your h1 is a collection of resources for h1 is a collection of resources for h1 is a collection of resources for underrepresented people in tech underrepresented people in tech underrepresented people in tech and you know as i was saying in in the and you know as i was saying in in the and you know as i was saying in in the intro you help intro you help intro you help um underrepresented people find um underrepresented people find um underrepresented people find job opportunities and then you also help job opportunities and then you also help job opportunities and then you also help companies hire folks that are companies hire folks that are companies hire folks that are underrepresented is that is that an underrepresented is that is that an underrepresented is that is that an accurate assessment accurate assessment accurate assessment yes uh initially i started it as a way yes uh initially i started it as a way yes uh initially i started it as a way for people to find for people to find for people to find opportunities like events in tech and opportunities like events in tech and opportunities like events in tech and scholarships scholarships scholarships and so on because sometimes and so on because sometimes and so on because sometimes opportunities opportunities opportunities are there but they may not be shared and are there but they may not be shared and are there but they may not be shared and like the right networks like the right networks like the right networks so i wanted to make sure that you know so i wanted to make sure that you know so i wanted to make sure that you know every people who are unrepresented also every people who are unrepresented also every people who are unrepresented also had had had you know knew about them yeah and so you know knew about them yeah and so you know knew about them yeah and so how what mechanism do you use to do that how what mechanism do you use to do that how what mechanism do you use to do that do you have a job board i presume and do you have a job board i presume and do you have a job board i presume and then uh then uh then uh i know you have an email newsletter how i know you have an email newsletter how i know you have an email newsletter how does all that tie in maybe give us the does all that tie in maybe give us the does all that tie in maybe give us the 30 000 foot view 30 000 foot view 30 000 foot view yeah uh so what you're looking at right yeah uh so what you're looking at right yeah uh so what you're looking at right now it's kind of now it's kind of now it's kind of i set it up as like a directory of like i set it up as like a directory of like i set it up as like a directory of like resources so you can click on any of resources so you can click on any of resources so you can click on any of those categories those categories those categories and you can find opportunities like and you can find opportunities like and you can find opportunities like speaking opportunities or speaking opportunities or speaking opportunities or events or communities specifically for events or communities specifically for events or communities specifically for unrepresented people unrepresented people unrepresented people and along with that i also have a job and along with that i also have a job and along with that i also have a job board where board where board where companies can post their jobs and it's companies can post their jobs and it's companies can post their jobs and it's slightly different from other slightly different from other slightly different from other job boards and that i ask companies to job boards and that i ask companies to job boards and that i ask companies to kind of give more insight kind of give more insight kind of give more insight into their teams for example i asked into their teams for example i asked into their teams for example i asked them them them how many people of color are in your on how many people of color are in your on how many people of color are in your on your tech teams how many your tech teams how many your tech teams how many um disabled folks are on your tech team um disabled folks are on your tech team um disabled folks are on your tech team because i want my members to come in and because i want my members to come in and because i want my members to come in and take a look and see

take a look and see take a look and see you know if how they're doing and if you know if how they're doing and if you know if how they're doing and if they feel like they can they feel like they can they feel like they can be part of that company yeah be part of that company yeah be part of that company yeah and i want to call to the audience if and i want to call to the audience if and i want to call to the audience if you have any questions uh you have any questions uh you have any questions uh for vani about her experience or about for vani about her experience or about for vani about her experience or about diversify tech diversify tech diversify tech please do post them to youtube or into please do post them to youtube or into please do post them to youtube or into the microconf on air slack channel in the microconf on air slack channel in the microconf on air slack channel in microconf connect microconf connect microconf connect if you're not in microconf connect you if you're not in microconf connect you if you're not in microconf connect you should head to microcom connect.com should head to microcom connect.com should head to microcom connect.com we have crested 1500 founders and we have crested 1500 founders and we have crested 1500 founders and aspiring founders aspiring founders aspiring founders in inconnect and it's it's really a in inconnect and it's it's really a in inconnect and it's it's really a great community great community great community and vayne you're part of that as well so and vayne you're part of that as well so and vayne you're part of that as well so thanks for thanks for participating thanks for thanks for participating thanks for thanks for participating um so you attended microsoft starter a um so you attended microsoft starter a um so you attended microsoft starter a couple years ago couple years ago couple years ago and you know talk a little bit about and you know talk a little bit about and you know talk a little bit about kind of the you know the inspiration or kind of the you know the inspiration or kind of the you know the inspiration or what just made you decide to um what just made you decide to um what just made you decide to um to uh you know start diversify tech but to uh you know start diversify tech but to uh you know start diversify tech but one thing you know what we've done with one thing you know what we've done with one thing you know what we've done with starter and actually my co-founder mike starter and actually my co-founder mike starter and actually my co-founder mike tabor was really the spirit behind this tabor was really the spirit behind this tabor was really the spirit behind this and i'm really glad we did it is and i'm really glad we did it is and i'm really glad we did it is developing our scholarship program developing our scholarship program developing our scholarship program which allows us to offer you know free which allows us to offer you know free which allows us to offer you know free tickets to folks who might not otherwise tickets to folks who might not otherwise tickets to folks who might not otherwise be able to attend or might not otherwise be able to attend or might not otherwise be able to attend or might not otherwise attend to microcomp so i'm curious attend to microcomp so i'm curious attend to microcomp so i'm curious how did you find out because you came on how did you find out because you came on how did you find out because you came on the scholarship program how did you find the scholarship program how did you find the scholarship program how did you find out about it out about it out about it uh you know i think i was part of the uh you know i think i was part of the uh you know i think i was part of the microcom um microcom um microcom um mailing list already and i'm i was also mailing list already and i'm i was also mailing list already and i'm i was also and i'm part of the mega maker community and i'm part of the mega maker community and i'm part of the mega maker community that justin jackson runs that justin jackson runs that justin jackson runs and they were all talking about i think and they were all talking about i think and they were all talking about i think in 2017 all you know a lot of the people in 2017 all you know a lot of the people in 2017 all you know a lot of the people in the community were thinking about in the community were thinking about in the community were thinking about going to microphones and they were going to microphones and they were going to microphones and they were chatting and i chatting and i chatting and i had major football because i wanted to had major football because i wanted to had major football because i wanted to go but at that time i was pregnant so i go but at that time i was pregnant so i go but at that time i was pregnant so i was like was like was like you know that's possible this year and

you know that's possible this year and you know that's possible this year and then in 2018 then in 2018 then in 2018 uh i thought you know it's the first uh i thought you know it's the first uh i thought you know it's the first time i heard of the scholarship and time i heard of the scholarship and time i heard of the scholarship and i you know had to think about it a i you know had to think about it a i you know had to think about it a little bit because i was little bit because i was little bit because i was had just given birth my daughter was had just given birth my daughter was had just given birth my daughter was like four months old i was like should i like four months old i was like should i like four months old i was like should i go do this go do this go do this and then i said you know i'm gonna fly and then i said you know i'm gonna fly and then i said you know i'm gonna fly if i get it i'm gonna go if i get it i'm gonna go if i get it i'm gonna go so it was kind of exciting to see it and so it was kind of exciting to see it and so it was kind of exciting to see it and i applied and i got a scholarship i applied and i got a scholarship i applied and i got a scholarship and um yeah yeah and it was a great and um yeah yeah and it was a great and um yeah yeah and it was a great experience experience experience uh at the time i was actually working on uh at the time i was actually working on uh at the time i was actually working on two different ideas two different ideas two different ideas and coming in i kind of wanted to talk and coming in i kind of wanted to talk and coming in i kind of wanted to talk to a lot of people to figure out to a lot of people to figure out to a lot of people to figure out which one i kind of should focus on which one i kind of should focus on which one i kind of should focus on and i did get that opportunity i talked and i did get that opportunity i talked and i did get that opportunity i talked to people who were working on similar things or you were working on similar things or you know ask them know ask them know ask them about you know just talk through what i about you know just talk through what i about you know just talk through what i was working on and heard their thoughts was working on and heard their thoughts was working on and heard their thoughts so so so at the end of the conference it kind of at the end of the conference it kind of at the end of the conference it kind of gave me some clarity on you know which gave me some clarity on you know which gave me some clarity on you know which path i should take were you already were path i should take were you already were path i should take were you already were you you were looking at two different you you were looking at two different you you were looking at two different things was one of them diversify tech things was one of them diversify tech things was one of them diversify tech uh it was actually something similar i uh it was actually something similar i uh it was actually something similar i used to run a newsletter called code used to run a newsletter called code used to run a newsletter called code with many with many with many which was to help women get into tech uh which was to help women get into tech uh which was to help women get into tech uh so so so i was i was working on that and at that i was i was working on that and at that i was i was working on that and at that time audrey had time audrey had time audrey had about 2000 subscribers and i was getting about 2000 subscribers and i was getting about 2000 subscribers and i was getting sponsorships but at that time i didn't sponsorships but at that time i didn't sponsorships but at that time i didn't think of it as a business think of it as a business think of it as a business because as a software engineer you know because as a software engineer you know because as a software engineer you know i was thinking software you know i was i was thinking software you know i was i was thinking software you know i was thinking product thinking product thinking product things like that so when i had was things like that so when i had was things like that so when i had was growing this newsletter but i growing this newsletter but i growing this newsletter but i didn't think of it as a business to like didn't think of it as a business to like didn't think of it as a business to like attend that microconf

attend that microconf attend that microconf i actually had office hours with patrick i actually had office hours with patrick i actually had office hours with patrick and i actually asked him like and i actually asked him like and i actually asked him like he was between the two ideas i shared he was between the two ideas i shared he was between the two ideas i shared the two ideas and he was like oh you the two ideas and he was like oh you the two ideas and he was like oh you should work on should work on should work on the woman in tech one and as i asked him the woman in tech one and as i asked him the woman in tech one and as i asked him like is a newsletter of business like is a newsletter of business like is a newsletter of business and he said yes you know you can find and he said yes you know you can find and he said yes you know you can find sponsors and you can you know sponsors and you can you know sponsors and you can you know so i think it was good to hear somebody so i think it was good to hear somebody so i think it was good to hear somebody who was experienced who was experienced who was experienced uh say that to me right yeah and patrick uh say that to me right yeah and patrick uh say that to me right yeah and patrick for those who don't know that's patrick for those who don't know that's patrick for those who don't know that's patrick mckenzie mckenzie mckenzie patio 11 so wise advice so patio 11 so wise advice so patio 11 so wise advice so um talk to me then you know tell us a um talk to me then you know tell us a um talk to me then you know tell us a little bit about your decision little bit about your decision little bit about your decision to build and launch or i guess it sounds to build and launch or i guess it sounds to build and launch or i guess it sounds like you kind of pivoted into like you kind of pivoted into like you kind of pivoted into version one of of diversified tech so version one of of diversified tech so version one of of diversified tech so the decision it sounds like a lot of the decision it sounds like a lot of the decision it sounds like a lot of microconf folks microconf folks microconf folks spoke to that and made you want to go spoke to that and made you want to go spoke to that and made you want to go after the women in tech after the women in tech after the women in tech but i'm curious you know what was the but i'm curious you know what was the but i'm curious you know what was the pivot to to make it wider and pivot to to make it wider and pivot to to make it wider and what was the you know the process like what was the you know the process like what was the you know the process like yeah with when i ran code with new yeah with when i ran code with new yeah with when i ran code with new newsletter newsletter newsletter which was especially for women in tech i which was especially for women in tech i which was especially for women in tech i think i did think i did think i did i learned a lot from it uh from uh i i learned a lot from it uh from uh i i learned a lot from it uh from uh i made a lot of mistakes i did learn a lot made a lot of mistakes i did learn a lot made a lot of mistakes i did learn a lot from it and i kind of used all those from it and i kind of used all those from it and i kind of used all those learnings learnings learnings uh and i made it not just for women in uh and i made it not just for women in uh and i made it not just for women in tech but for i tech but for i tech but for i wanted to include more unrepresented wanted to include more unrepresented wanted to include more unrepresented people so um people so um people so um three folks in texas i wanted to make three folks in texas i wanted to make three folks in texas i wanted to make sure that it includes a lot more people sure that it includes a lot more people sure that it includes a lot more people so so so that's why i kind of pivoted off from that's why i kind of pivoted off from that's why i kind of pivoted off from just women in tech to just women in tech to just women in tech to more broader uh unrepresented people more broader uh unrepresented people more broader uh unrepresented people and also i wanted it to be more and also i wanted it to be more and also i wanted it to be more focused on opportunities code with many

focused on opportunities code with many focused on opportunities code with many was more was more was more inspiration so i would share stories inspiration so i would share stories inspiration so i would share stories about about about um you know there are women in tech and um you know there are women in tech and um you know there are women in tech and this is how they're doing this is how they're doing this is how they're doing um one of the things i learned is that um one of the things i learned is that um one of the things i learned is that that's already out there there's a lot that's already out there there's a lot that's already out there there's a lot of things going on of things going on of things going on to inspire women to get into tech or to inspire women to get into tech or to inspire women to get into tech or under up some people to get in tech under up some people to get in tech under up some people to get in tech but there wasn't a lot going on at that but there wasn't a lot going on at that but there wasn't a lot going on at that time to actually time to actually time to actually work on the next step okay okay you're work on the next step okay okay you're work on the next step okay okay you're inspired you want to get into tech now inspired you want to get into tech now inspired you want to get into tech now what what what you know like where do you find the you know like where do you find the you know like where do you find the opportunities which companies are good opportunities which companies are good opportunities which companies are good for you for you for you uh so i pivoted to focusing more on that uh so i pivoted to focusing more on that uh so i pivoted to focusing more on that on the opportunities part of it uh and on the opportunities part of it uh and on the opportunities part of it uh and uh for my first version i i uh for my first version i i uh for my first version i i made it pretty simple i said you know made it pretty simple i said you know made it pretty simple i said you know i'm gonna put i'm gonna put i'm gonna put i just took an airtable table and listed i just took an airtable table and listed i just took an airtable table and listed a bunch of scholarships a bunch of scholarships a bunch of scholarships and i said i'm going to start a and i said i'm going to start a and i said i'm going to start a newsletter i'm going to be sharing with newsletter i'm going to be sharing with newsletter i'm going to be sharing with these resources these resources these resources if you're interested you know sign up if you're interested you know sign up if you're interested you know sign up and i shared it with my code with many and i shared it with my code with many and i shared it with my code with many subscribers i shared it on twitter uh subscribers i shared it on twitter uh subscribers i shared it on twitter uh and i it was mostly a test to see and i it was mostly a test to see and i it was mostly a test to see you know what i thought would be useful you know what i thought would be useful you know what i thought would be useful would be good for people would be good for people would be good for people and ended and it did i think i and ended and it did i think i and ended and it did i think i got to 500 subscribers pretty fast and got to 500 subscribers pretty fast and got to 500 subscribers pretty fast and that was kind of the that was kind of the that was kind of the first version which kind of led to more first version which kind of led to more first version which kind of led to more yeah so so that's really interesting so yeah so so that's really interesting so yeah so so that's really interesting so you get to 500 really fast and it was you get to 500 really fast and it was you get to 500 really fast and it was just about scholarships just about scholarships just about scholarships was it scholarships to events yes was it scholarships to events yes was it scholarships to events yes uh at that time so now we're in global uh at that time so now we're in global uh at that time so now we're in global times but previously for times but previously for times but previously for to get to conferences it was pretty to get to conferences it was pretty to get to conferences it was pretty expensive for flights for

expensive for flights for expensive for flights for the actual tickets uh so i was sharing the actual tickets uh so i was sharing the actual tickets uh so i was sharing scholarships that conferences were scholarships that conferences were scholarships that conferences were already offering like similar to already offering like similar to already offering like similar to microconf how microconf how microconf how you offered a free ticket to the event you offered a free ticket to the event you offered a free ticket to the event so other tech events were offering free so other tech events were offering free so other tech events were offering free tickets tickets tickets some were also offering um like some were also offering um like some were also offering um like travel things like that so i compiled a travel things like that so i compiled a travel things like that so i compiled a list of all the things they could find list of all the things they could find list of all the things they could find and i would share those and i would share those and i would share those very cool and then essentially very cool and then essentially very cool and then essentially 18 give or take 18 months later you were 18 give or take 18 months later you were 18 give or take 18 months later you were able to quit your day job able to quit your day job able to quit your day job is that right you said you you kind of is that right you said you you kind of is that right you said you you kind of had a number in mind that you wanted to had a number in mind that you wanted to had a number in mind that you wanted to hit hit hit in in revenue in order to be able to do in in revenue in order to be able to do in in revenue in order to be able to do that you want to talk us through that that you want to talk us through that that you want to talk us through that yes uh so in april of 2018 uh i think yes uh so in april of 2018 uh i think yes uh so in april of 2018 uh i think that's when i attended microconf that's when i attended microconf that's when i attended microconf like in may is when i kind of like like in may is when i kind of like like in may is when i kind of like launched the first mvp to see if there launched the first mvp to see if there launched the first mvp to see if there was was was any interest and at that time i just any interest and at that time i just any interest and at that time i just worked on growing the community worked on growing the community worked on growing the community to make sure that you know people are to make sure that you know people are to make sure that you know people are interested that i'm giving them the interested that i'm giving them the interested that i'm giving them the resources they want resources they want resources they want and then towards the end of that year in and then towards the end of that year in and then towards the end of that year in 2018 is when i really thought about 2018 is when i really thought about 2018 is when i really thought about monetization i was like you know monetization i was like you know monetization i was like you know i'm on to something but in order to be i'm on to something but in order to be i'm on to something but in order to be sustainable you sustainable you sustainable you have to make money somehow so that's have to make money somehow so that's have to make money somehow so that's when i explored you know different ways when i explored you know different ways when i explored you know different ways of moderation and then i of moderation and then i of moderation and then i settled on running a job board uh and settled on running a job board uh and settled on running a job board uh and for the first time i i'd actually didn't for the first time i i'd actually didn't for the first time i i'd actually didn't know know know like you know my customers were gonna be like you know my customers were gonna be like you know my customers were gonna be recruiters recruiters recruiters uh people who are interested in uh people who are interested in uh people who are interested in diversity inclusion but diversity inclusion but diversity inclusion but i did not have that network so what i i did not have that network so what i i did not have that network so what i did was actually

did was actually did was actually uh built the job board and launched on uh built the job board and launched on uh built the job board and launched on product hunt to see product hunt to see product hunt to see if any i wanted to validate the other if any i wanted to validate the other if any i wanted to validate the other part of it part of it part of it so i launched in product hunt and that's so i launched in product hunt and that's so i launched in product hunt and that's where i got my first few customers where i got my first few customers where i got my first few customers uh and uh another thing i did along with uh and uh another thing i did along with uh and uh another thing i did along with the launch was the launch was the launch was i have a newsletter for unrepresented i have a newsletter for unrepresented i have a newsletter for unrepresented people in tech i also said you know if people in tech i also said you know if people in tech i also said you know if you're interested in a newsletter you're interested in a newsletter you're interested in a newsletter that talks about diversity and inclusion that talks about diversity and inclusion that talks about diversity and inclusion for people who are interested to learn for people who are interested to learn for people who are interested to learn more please sign up here more please sign up here more please sign up here and at that time i didn't know if people and at that time i didn't know if people and at that time i didn't know if people would be interested would be interested would be interested but over time that just kind of grew but over time that just kind of grew but over time that just kind of grew like people were like people were like people were subscribing and i hadn't actually subscribing and i hadn't actually subscribing and i hadn't actually started it yet uh started it yet uh started it yet uh and at one point somebody asked me like and at one point somebody asked me like and at one point somebody asked me like hey i'm not getting emails from this and hey i'm not getting emails from this and hey i'm not getting emails from this and i was like oh i really i was like oh i really i was like oh i really should you know work out this so that's should you know work out this so that's should you know work out this so that's when i first then i started doing when i first then i started doing when i first then i started doing a newsletter for people who are a newsletter for people who are a newsletter for people who are interested in diversity inclusion interested in diversity inclusion interested in diversity inclusion so so had uh both of these going so so had uh both of these going so so had uh both of these going at the same time and i basically started at the same time and i basically started at the same time and i basically started you know talking about the job board in you know talking about the job board in you know talking about the job board in the newsletter the newsletter the newsletter that's where i started getting more that's where i started getting more that's where i started getting more customers from that side too customers from that side too customers from that side too and end of last year uh is when i kind and end of last year uh is when i kind and end of last year uh is when i kind of got to it on of got to it on of got to it on 2500 per month and on the job board 2500 per month and on the job board 2500 per month and on the job board and it was also getting tough to manage and it was also getting tough to manage and it was also getting tough to manage it it it uh um part-time that's when i uh um part-time that's when i uh um part-time that's when i kind of talked with my family and said kind of talked with my family and said kind of talked with my family and said you know i think i'm gonna work on this you know i think i'm gonna work on this you know i think i'm gonna work on this whole time uh so yeah since whole time uh so yeah since whole time uh so yeah since 29 beginning of this year i've been 29 beginning of this year i've been 29 beginning of this year i've been working full-time on it

working full-time on it working full-time on it that's great and then so it took you that's great and then so it took you that's great and then so it took you about 18 months to get to about 18 months to get to about 18 months to get to 2500 and then um 2500 and then um 2500 and then um we have a tweet i think producer xander we have a tweet i think producer xander we have a tweet i think producer xander might be able to pull it out but we'll might be able to pull it out but we'll might be able to pull it out but we'll certainly link to it in show notes certainly link to it in show notes certainly link to it in show notes you have a tweet where you say i feel you have a tweet where you say i feel you have a tweet where you say i feel uncomfortable talking about money this uncomfortable talking about money this uncomfortable talking about money this is from last month i feel uncomfortable is from last month i feel uncomfortable is from last month i feel uncomfortable talking about money but i'm happy to talking about money but i'm happy to talking about money but i'm happy to share that diversified tech crossed ten share that diversified tech crossed ten share that diversified tech crossed ten thousand dollars in thousand dollars in thousand dollars in monthly revenue it happened in june so monthly revenue it happened in june so monthly revenue it happened in june so that was basically six almost six months that was basically six almost six months that was basically six almost six months later so it was 18 months to later so it was 18 months to later so it was 18 months to 2500 and six ish months to uh 2500 and six ish months to uh 2500 and six ish months to uh to 10k i told myself that it's probably to 10k i told myself that it's probably to 10k i told myself that it's probably just a fluke but just a fluke but just a fluke but it has been happening consistently since it has been happening consistently since it has been happening consistently since then so i guess i should then so i guess i should then so i guess i should believe it so tell us that story how do believe it so tell us that story how do believe it so tell us that story how do you how do you you how do you you how do you quadruple in in six months what was the quadruple in in six months what was the quadruple in in six months what was the you know what was the driving factor you know what was the driving factor you know what was the driving factor uh yeah i mean as you know 2019 has uh uh yeah i mean as you know 2019 has uh uh yeah i mean as you know 2019 has uh 2020 has been um 2020 has been um 2020 has been um y leader uh yeah with the pandemic uh y leader uh yeah with the pandemic uh y leader uh yeah with the pandemic uh black lives matter movement a lot has black lives matter movement a lot has black lives matter movement a lot has been going on been going on been going on so i quit my job uh in in december of so i quit my job uh in in december of so i quit my job uh in in december of last year in january last year in january last year in january you know things were consistent you know things were consistent you know things were consistent everything was going well everything was going well everything was going well and then once the pandemic hit uh my jaw and then once the pandemic hit uh my jaw and then once the pandemic hit uh my jaw board actually board actually board actually literally just dropped to like 250 or literally just dropped to like 250 or literally just dropped to like 250 or something that month and something that month and something that month and i worried for like a month i'm like i i worried for like a month i'm like i i worried for like a month i'm like i think i chose the wrong time to quit my think i chose the wrong time to quit my think i chose the wrong time to quit my job job job to go into this but i had some friends to go into this but i had some friends to go into this but i had some friends who were you know using the job board who were you know using the job board who were you know using the job board they said you know people are just they said you know people are just they said you know people are just scared right now scared right now scared right now because they're reacting to the pandemic because they're reacting to the pandemic because they're reacting to the pandemic just give it time things will pick up so just give it time things will pick up so just give it time things will pick up so i kept i kept i kept you know doing so what i was doing uh

you know doing so what i was doing uh you know doing so what i was doing uh maintaining what was going on maintaining what was going on maintaining what was going on um and then you know a lot of things um and then you know a lot of things um and then you know a lot of things with the black lives matter movement with the black lives matter movement with the black lives matter movement started which uh unfortunate that that's started which uh unfortunate that that's started which uh unfortunate that that's what it took for people to realize what it took for people to realize what it took for people to realize what's going on in our country what's going on in our country what's going on in our country um and because of that people started um and because of that people started um and because of that people started looking for looking for looking for things to do to how to demonstrate their things to do to how to demonstrate their things to do to how to demonstrate their companies and things like that companies and things like that companies and things like that and prior to that you know and prior to that you know and prior to that you know as i was working on diversify tech my as i was working on diversify tech my as i was working on diversify tech my members would often members would often members would often ask me like how can i support you how ask me like how can i support you how ask me like how can i support you how can i help you can i help you can i help you and i would tell them you know if you and i would tell them you know if you and i would tell them you know if you know know know if you can tell companies uh about us if you can tell companies uh about us if you can tell companies uh about us that'd be great that's what i would that'd be great that's what i would that'd be great that's what i would always ask always ask always ask in return and when this happened uh you in return and when this happened uh you in return and when this happened uh you know companies were looked seeking for know companies were looked seeking for know companies were looked seeking for something something something like what i was building so all of my like what i was building so all of my like what i was building so all of my members were basically recommending me members were basically recommending me members were basically recommending me uh to recommending diversity attack to uh to recommending diversity attack to uh to recommending diversity attack to all these companies all these companies all these companies and that kind of just kind of took off and that kind of just kind of took off and that kind of just kind of took off from there um from there um from there um yeah so i think it was a matter of yeah so i think it was a matter of yeah so i think it was a matter of people looking for what i people looking for what i people looking for what i built at that time sure yeah a little built at that time sure yeah a little built at that time sure yeah a little bit a little bit of hard bit a little bit of hard bit a little bit of hard a lot of quite a bit of hard work some a lot of quite a bit of hard work some a lot of quite a bit of hard work some luck and some skill right luck and some skill right luck and some skill right i'll go into this type of stuff and so i'll go into this type of stuff and so i'll go into this type of stuff and so is the majority of your revenue then is the majority of your revenue then is the majority of your revenue then from the job board from the job board from the job board or because i know you also have kind of or because i know you also have kind of or because i know you also have kind of patrons who patrons who patrons who i think commit you know it's like a i think commit you know it's like a i think commit you know it's like a donation or like a support donation or like a support donation or like a support you know structure and then you i you know structure and then you i you know structure and then you i believe you have sponsors for your email believe you have sponsors for your email believe you have sponsors for your email newsletter as well newsletter as well newsletter as well okay but the majority is from the job okay but the majority is from the job okay but the majority is from the job board yes uh so you have

board yes uh so you have board yes uh so you have patrons and i have sponsorships and i patrons and i have sponsorships and i patrons and i have sponsorships and i also do ads in the newsletter itself also do ads in the newsletter itself also do ads in the newsletter itself uh but majority is from the job board uh but majority is from the job board uh but majority is from the job board right very cool so the time right very cool so the time right very cool so the time yeah go ahead uh the 10k that i yeah go ahead uh the 10k that i yeah go ahead uh the 10k that i tweeted about is uh just from the job tweeted about is uh just from the job tweeted about is uh just from the job board oh got it board oh got it board oh got it oh man so you're you're above 10k that's oh man so you're you're above 10k that's oh man so you're you're above 10k that's uh congratulations uh congratulations uh congratulations that's really cool i mean there's a that's really cool i mean there's a that's really cool i mean there's a little bit of right you know right place little bit of right you know right place little bit of right you know right place at the right time at the right time at the right time um even though it's a difficult time but um even though it's a difficult time but um even though it's a difficult time but it at least there was a resource for it at least there was a resource for it at least there was a resource for people to go to like that's the way i people to go to like that's the way i people to go to like that's the way i look at it look at it look at it you've filled this gap of you know where you've filled this gap of you know where you've filled this gap of you know where else would people have gone to to try to else would people have gone to to try to else would people have gone to to try to um to try to you know engage with the um to try to you know engage with the um to try to you know engage with the black lives matter and try to diversify black lives matter and try to diversify black lives matter and try to diversify tech and i think you've chosen a really tech and i think you've chosen a really tech and i think you've chosen a really a really good name uh for the you know a really good name uh for the you know a really good name uh for the you know for your company and i think for your company and i think for your company and i think um it's obvious that you have struck a um it's obvious that you have struck a um it's obvious that you have struck a nerve and and hit nerve and and hit nerve and and hit filled a need you know a pretty dire filled a need you know a pretty dire filled a need you know a pretty dire need that in two years getting to 10k a need that in two years getting to 10k a need that in two years getting to 10k a month um month um month um and kind of building a community almost and kind of building a community almost and kind of building a community almost from scratch in that amount of time is from scratch in that amount of time is from scratch in that amount of time is without a big content push or without a without a big content push or without a without a big content push or without a big ad budget or without any funding big ad budget or without any funding big ad budget or without any funding like like like it's something to really should really it's something to really should really it's something to really should really feel good about that like it's feel good about that like it's feel good about that like it's it's super impressive i mean job boards it's super impressive i mean job boards it's super impressive i mean job boards are are are are are are you know famous for being these um you know famous for being these um you know famous for being these um i'll say just very stable sources of i'll say just very stable sources of i'll say just very stable sources of revenue revenue revenue um even in i know when there's downturns um even in i know when there's downturns um even in i know when there's downturns people hire less and yes people hire less and yes people hire less and yes it can drop off but for for indesire it can drop off but for for indesire it can drop off but for for indesire tech workers you know it's it's pretty tech workers you know it's it's pretty tech workers you know it's it's pretty rare that there's

rare that there's rare that there's months and months and months when no one months and months and months when no one months and months and months when no one wants to hire them so wants to hire them so wants to hire them so it's it is such a stable i think going it's it is such a stable i think going it's it is such a stable i think going to be a stable to be a stable to be a stable piece for you um i'm curious if you at piece for you um i'm curious if you at piece for you um i'm curious if you at this point if you have this point if you have this point if you have plans to expand your offerings because plans to expand your offerings because plans to expand your offerings because right now you know i know you have right now you know i know you have right now you know i know you have as we saw on your homepage you know you as we saw on your homepage you know you as we saw on your homepage you know you have nine different things or whatever have nine different things or whatever have nine different things or whatever that you kind of offer that you kind of offer that you kind of offer um do you have additional things that um do you have additional things that um do you have additional things that you are looking to you are looking to you are looking to build out and expand into or are you build out and expand into or are you build out and expand into or are you just you know putting all your weight just you know putting all your weight just you know putting all your weight behind behind behind uh you know what you have today uh you know what you have today uh you know what you have today uh in terms of expansion i've actually uh in terms of expansion i've actually uh in terms of expansion i've actually been getting a lot of customers from been getting a lot of customers from been getting a lot of customers from europe europe europe uh they want something uh to reach uh uh they want something uh to reach uh uh they want something uh to reach uh under represent people in europe and under represent people in europe and under represent people in europe and unfortunately like unfortunately like unfortunately like i commit built the community um i i commit built the community um i i commit built the community um i focused all of my energy in the u.s focused all of my energy in the u.s focused all of my energy in the u.s so it's not very international so i at so it's not very international so i at so it's not very international so i at this time i'm actually turning away this time i'm actually turning away this time i'm actually turning away customers from europe customers from europe customers from europe uh so my next thing is going to be i uh so my next thing is going to be i uh so my next thing is going to be i think think think do the same thing but for the european do the same thing but for the european do the same thing but for the european market market market and i'm thinking of doing pretty much and i'm thinking of doing pretty much and i'm thinking of doing pretty much repeating the same thing repeating the same thing repeating the same thing um i don't think i'll have the energy to um i don't think i'll have the energy to um i don't think i'll have the energy to do it all by myself so i'm looking to do it all by myself so i'm looking to do it all by myself so i'm looking to partner with somebody else partner with somebody else partner with somebody else uh who can share do what i'm doing but uh who can share do what i'm doing but uh who can share do what i'm doing but just for the european market just for the european market just for the european market so i think that'll be the next thing so i think that'll be the next thing so i think that'll be the next thing yeah and that's that was a question i yeah and that's that was a question i yeah and that's that was a question i was going to ask is you know as a solo was going to ask is you know as a solo was going to ask is you know as a solo founder founder founder you're you're doing a lot here because you're you're doing a lot here because you're you're doing a lot here because this is not just this is not just this is not just hey i built a software product and hey i built a software product and hey i built a software product and people onboard themselves and stuff people onboard themselves and stuff people onboard themselves and stuff happens i imagine there's a lot going happens i imagine there's a lot going happens i imagine there's a lot going into it into it into it are there any processes or anything are there any processes or anything are there any processes or anything specific things you've done

specific things you've done specific things you've done that have helped you streamline your that have helped you streamline your that have helped you streamline your operations operations operations to be able to run this fairly complex to be able to run this fairly complex to be able to run this fairly complex business on your own one of the things i did differently uh one of the things i did differently uh when i started this was when i started this was when i started this was not um overtake it i guess not um overtake it i guess not um overtake it i guess uh i built i started very simple uh uh i built i started very simple uh uh i built i started very simple uh and as i find myself doing the same and as i find myself doing the same and as i find myself doing the same thing over and over again thing over and over again thing over and over again then i would automate it so on the then i would automate it so on the then i would automate it so on the surface surface surface it's a simple site there's a database it's a simple site there's a database it's a simple site there's a database behind it behind it behind it but once a job is posted there's a lot but once a job is posted there's a lot but once a job is posted there's a lot of manual work that i have to do of manual work that i have to do of manual work that i have to do because not everybody who posts actually because not everybody who posts actually because not everybody who posts actually gets to be on the job board i gets to be on the job board i gets to be on the job board i look up their reviews on glassdoor if look up their reviews on glassdoor if look up their reviews on glassdoor if there's i look up their news so there's there's i look up their news so there's there's i look up their news so there's a lot of manual things that i have to do a lot of manual things that i have to do a lot of manual things that i have to do so some things i've done is okay i got a so some things i've done is okay i got a so some things i've done is okay i got a job first thing i get job first thing i get job first thing i get you know send myself an automated email you know send myself an automated email you know send myself an automated email uh with you know glassdoor reviews uh with you know glassdoor reviews uh with you know glassdoor reviews that and i had and i also like created that and i had and i also like created that and i had and i also like created email draft to send to companies of like email draft to send to companies of like email draft to send to companies of like you know you know you know you know i have two templates yes you you know i have two templates yes you you know i have two templates yes you know know know your job looks great or no so all of your job looks great or no so all of your job looks great or no so all of that i kind of like automated that i kind of like automated that i kind of like automated using no code tools um and so using no code tools um and so using no code tools um and so yeah i kind of do everything manually to yeah i kind of do everything manually to yeah i kind of do everything manually to start with start with start with and as things are as i do the same and as things are as i do the same and as things are as i do the same things over and over again i things over and over again i things over and over again i use no code tools to kind of automate it use no code tools to kind of automate it use no code tools to kind of automate it um it's a hard thing to do as a software um it's a hard thing to do as a software um it's a hard thing to do as a software engineer because i want to just build engineer because i want to just build engineer because i want to just build everything from scratch everything from scratch everything from scratch but yeah the community doesn't really but yeah the community doesn't really but yeah the community doesn't really care what i use you know

care what i use you know care what i use you know not just it's the result they're looking for yeah it's the result they're looking for yeah i'm curious i mean i'm curious i mean i'm curious i mean you know are you looking for then you know are you looking for then you know are you looking for then companies that are diversity friendly companies that are diversity friendly companies that are diversity friendly is that is that the idea you want to is that is that the idea you want to is that is that the idea you want to kind of verify that they're not a crappy kind of verify that they're not a crappy kind of verify that they're not a crappy environment or hostile environment environment or hostile environment environment or hostile environment and i guess that's the first part of the and i guess that's the first part of the and i guess that's the first part of the question second part is when you reject question second part is when you reject question second part is when you reject a company's jobs have you a company's jobs have you a company's jobs have you have you ever had backlash or like a have you ever had backlash or like a have you ever had backlash or like a real negative response to that real negative response to that real negative response to that um it's yeah one of the things i try to um it's yeah one of the things i try to um it's yeah one of the things i try to do is kind of look in a glass door and i do is kind of look in a glass door and i do is kind of look in a glass door and i look for certain clues look for certain clues look for certain clues uh if most like you know are they racist uh if most like you know are they racist uh if most like you know are they racist you know if there are you know if there are you know if there are issues usually i find them on glassdoor issues usually i find them on glassdoor issues usually i find them on glassdoor that they're racist that they're racist that they're racist the ceo sexes or you know things like the ceo sexes or you know things like the ceo sexes or you know things like that i've encountered that i've encountered that i've encountered uh previously and other things i look up uh previously and other things i look up uh previously and other things i look up is in the news is in the news is in the news um for example i recently had a posting um for example i recently had a posting um for example i recently had a posting and some news came out just literally and some news came out just literally and some news came out just literally two days ago that the ceo did something two days ago that the ceo did something two days ago that the ceo did something that was not great uh so things like that was not great uh so things like that was not great uh so things like that so i have to like that so i have to like that so i have to like constantly be on the lookout for what constantly be on the lookout for what constantly be on the lookout for what these companies are doing these companies are doing these companies are doing um uh sometimes it's a um uh sometimes it's a um uh sometimes it's a it's you know i see i pay attention a it's you know i see i pay attention a it's you know i see i pay attention a lot on twitter because under represent lot on twitter because under represent lot on twitter because under represent people people people tend to speak out a lot there uh so i tend to speak out a lot there uh so i tend to speak out a lot there uh so i look for clues there so i just search look for clues there so i just search look for clues there so i just search the company's name the company's name the company's name and see what's going on uh sometimes and see what's going on uh sometimes and see what's going on uh sometimes there there there feels like something's off uh then i feels like something's off uh then i feels like something's off uh then i actually reach out actually reach out actually reach out to previous employees that have left the to previous employees that have left the to previous employees that have left the company company company and asked them you know what was your i and asked them you know what was your i and asked them you know what was your i specifically reached out to under absent specifically reached out to under absent specifically reached out to under absent people and asked them what was your people and asked them what was your people and asked them what was your experience like experience like experience like i get to that part only if everything

i get to that part only if everything i get to that part only if everything else else else you know if i feel like something's off you know if i feel like something's off you know if i feel like something's off but yeah that's kind of the process so but yeah that's kind of the process so but yeah that's kind of the process so far and far and far and most companies are okay with it most most companies are okay with it most most companies are okay with it most companies actually just ghost me like companies actually just ghost me like companies actually just ghost me like once i say i'm sorry i can't work with once i say i'm sorry i can't work with once i say i'm sorry i can't work with you i never hear back from them you i never hear back from them you i never hear back from them some companies ask for um some companies ask for um some companies ask for um some sort of like process to some sort of like process to some sort of like process to get them on the job board it's an appeal get them on the job board it's an appeal get them on the job board it's an appeal they want to they want to they want to yeah yes that's the word an appeal but yeah yes that's the word an appeal but yeah yes that's the word an appeal but um you so far have not um you so far have not um you so far have not had that happen uh that much and had that happen uh that much and had that happen uh that much and recently and just yesterday i said no to recently and just yesterday i said no to recently and just yesterday i said no to somebody and they said somebody and they said somebody and they said can we get on a call and discuss i'm not can we get on a call and discuss i'm not can we get on a call and discuss i'm not sure yet on how sure yet on how sure yet on how i'm going to handle that because it it i'm going to handle that because it it i'm going to handle that because it it was the was the was the last overviews are pretty awful for that last overviews are pretty awful for that last overviews are pretty awful for that company so yeah i'm trying to figure company so yeah i'm trying to figure company so yeah i'm trying to figure that out that out that out yeah yeah that's a it's a challenge when yeah yeah that's a it's a challenge when yeah yeah that's a it's a challenge when you're curating like that and you're you're curating like that and you're you're curating like that and you're curating based on curating based on curating based on the kind of third-party information you the kind of third-party information you the kind of third-party information you know um is glassdoor known i don't know know um is glassdoor known i don't know know um is glassdoor known i don't know much about glassdoor i've i've read much about glassdoor i've i've read much about glassdoor i've i've read reviews a few times but reviews a few times but reviews a few times but is it known to be relatively accurate is it known to be relatively accurate is it known to be relatively accurate like is there a chance that someone if like is there a chance that someone if like is there a chance that someone if they have a they have a they have a uh you know what do you call it kind of uh you know what do you call it kind of uh you know what do you call it kind of a pic to a pic to a pic to pick to bear no wait a minute a axe to pick to bear no wait a minute a axe to pick to bear no wait a minute a axe to grind grind grind extra grinding it's a phrase you know if extra grinding it's a phrase you know if extra grinding it's a phrase you know if someone had an extra grind could they someone had an extra grind could they someone had an extra grind could they like put a bunch of negative reviews in like put a bunch of negative reviews in like put a bunch of negative reviews in glassdoor glassdoor glassdoor yeah i mean it's quite possible and what yeah i mean it's quite possible and what yeah i mean it's quite possible and what i've been trying to do is i've been trying to do is i've been trying to do is look only in the past six months or so look only in the past six months or so look only in the past six months or so so i don't go so i don't go so i don't go too far in the past six months how are

too far in the past six months how are too far in the past six months how are they doing they doing they doing and they say that glassdoor usually does and they say that glassdoor usually does and they say that glassdoor usually does not because sometimes i guess companies not because sometimes i guess companies not because sometimes i guess companies try to go to glassdoor and have try to go to glassdoor and have try to go to glassdoor and have reviews remove wood if it's bad but reviews remove wood if it's bad but reviews remove wood if it's bad but apparently glassdoor is pretty good apparently glassdoor is pretty good apparently glassdoor is pretty good about that about that about that but similar to glassdoor there are other but similar to glassdoor there are other but similar to glassdoor there are other ones too which focus specifically for ones too which focus specifically for ones too which focus specifically for women and then also for unrepresented women and then also for unrepresented women and then also for unrepresented people so i people so i people so i checked those too but in terms of if checked those too but in terms of if checked those too but in terms of if somebody somebody somebody had actually grind and gave a bad review had actually grind and gave a bad review had actually grind and gave a bad review i would rather not risk it i guess you i would rather not risk it i guess you i would rather not risk it i guess you know i always try to prioritize know i always try to prioritize know i always try to prioritize the community over the company so the community over the company so the community over the company so it might happen but yeah sure it might happen but yeah sure it might happen but yeah sure cool so uh maybe one or two more cool so uh maybe one or two more cool so uh maybe one or two more questions questions questions um curious as you were um curious as you were um curious as you were trying to like figure out monetization trying to like figure out monetization trying to like figure out monetization for diversified tech i'm sure that was for diversified tech i'm sure that was for diversified tech i'm sure that was something that something that something that that maybe was a challenge in the early that maybe was a challenge in the early that maybe was a challenge in the early days obviously you've days obviously you've days obviously you've figured out pretty well at this point figured out pretty well at this point figured out pretty well at this point but um i'm curious to hear but um i'm curious to hear but um i'm curious to hear you know what have been some of your you know what have been some of your you know what have been some of your biggest challenges when it came to biggest challenges when it came to biggest challenges when it came to monetizing and anything that was monetizing and anything that was monetizing and anything that was surprisingly easy surprisingly easy surprisingly easy yeah uh in terms of monetization the as yeah uh in terms of monetization the as yeah uh in terms of monetization the as we were talking the biggest challenge we were talking the biggest challenge we were talking the biggest challenge was was was how do i monetize something where how do i monetize something where how do i monetize something where like i can monetize on the under ups and like i can monetize on the under ups and like i can monetize on the under ups and people on tech side because people on tech side because people on tech side because my whole thing is that i want to give my whole thing is that i want to give my whole thing is that i want to give them access to opportunities so i can't them access to opportunities so i can't them access to opportunities so i can't put a paywall put a paywall put a paywall you know for that that goes against what you know for that that goes against what you know for that that goes against what i'm trying to do i'm trying to do i'm trying to do so i had to figure out another way which so i had to figure out another way which so i had to figure out another way which was you know through companies

was you know through companies was you know through companies when i was running kodu 20 one of the when i was running kodu 20 one of the when i was running kodu 20 one of the things that happened was i was getting a things that happened was i was getting a things that happened was i was getting a lot of sponsors lot of sponsors lot of sponsors but the difficulty there was um but the difficulty there was um but the difficulty there was um the requests always came from the the requests always came from the the requests always came from the marketing department of a company marketing department of a company marketing department of a company so they want to do more like brand so they want to do more like brand so they want to do more like brand management so management so management so they wanted to sponsor to show uh people they wanted to sponsor to show uh people they wanted to sponsor to show uh people that they that they that they are diverse that they are for diversity are diverse that they are for diversity are diverse that they are for diversity and unfortunately what happens is that and unfortunately what happens is that and unfortunately what happens is that what they say may not be reality what they say may not be reality what they say may not be reality i was like if i focused on sponsorships i was like if i focused on sponsorships i was like if i focused on sponsorships then i'm you know basically being a pr then i'm you know basically being a pr then i'm you know basically being a pr for for for person for the company and that was like person for the company and that was like person for the company and that was like a difficult thing to manage so a difficult thing to manage so a difficult thing to manage so that i didn't focus so much on that so that i didn't focus so much on that so that i didn't focus so much on that so the job board was a good the job board was a good the job board was a good way because i was i made it more of an way because i was i made it more of an way because i was i made it more of an application process you know similar to application process you know similar to application process you know similar to how candidates go and apply to companies how candidates go and apply to companies how candidates go and apply to companies they you know companies ask a lot of they you know companies ask a lot of they you know companies ask a lot of information like your gpa information like your gpa information like your gpa why do you want to work for the company why do you want to work for the company why do you want to work for the company and things like that so i kind of did and things like that so i kind of did and things like that so i kind of did the same thing the same thing the same thing so i asked them their demographics i so i asked them their demographics i so i asked them their demographics i asked them why should underrepresent asked them why should underrepresent asked them why should underrepresent people in tech people in tech people in tech work at your company uh so things like work at your company uh so things like work at your company uh so things like that so i kind of like reversed that a that so i kind of like reversed that a that so i kind of like reversed that a little bit little bit little bit and honestly at the beginning i didn't and honestly at the beginning i didn't and honestly at the beginning i didn't think any would actually fill out this think any would actually fill out this think any would actually fill out this really really really long form but there was long form but there was long form but there was i think enough of an interest and there i think enough of an interest and there i think enough of an interest and there were companies who were companies who were companies who did want to diversify their teams so it did want to diversify their teams so it did want to diversify their teams so it helped to kind of filter out the helped to kind of filter out the helped to kind of filter out the companies that were companies that were companies that were had good intentions uh so i had to try had good intentions uh so i had to try had good intentions uh so i had to try quite a few different things too

quite a few different things too quite a few different things too yeah figure out monetization which was yeah figure out monetization which was yeah figure out monetization which was good for the community too good for the community too good for the community too yeah i would agree benny thank you so yeah i would agree benny thank you so yeah i would agree benny thank you so much for joining me today on microkoff much for joining me today on microkoff much for joining me today on microkoff on air we're going to wrap on air we're going to wrap on air we're going to wrap up folks want to keep up with you you up folks want to keep up with you you up folks want to keep up with you you are vani kuche are vani kuche are vani kuche on twitter and diversifytechco on twitter and diversifytechco on twitter and diversifytechco on remember diversifytech.com and then on remember diversifytech.com and then on remember diversifytech.com and then the twitter handle is diversify techco the twitter handle is diversify techco the twitter handle is diversify techco and of course i am at rob walling if and of course i am at rob walling if and of course i am at rob walling if folks want to folks want to folks want to connect with any of us thanks again for connect with any of us thanks again for connect with any of us thanks again for joining me it's great having you joining me it's great having you joining me it's great having you yeah thank you all right yeah thank you all right yeah thank you all right as we wrap up um state of independence as we wrap up um state of independence as we wrap up um state of independence sas i mentioned at the top of the show sas i mentioned at the top of the show sas i mentioned at the top of the show state of indysass.com state of indysass.com state of indysass.com if you want to partake i'd encourage you if you want to partake i'd encourage you if you want to partake i'd encourage you to uh to uh to uh to do that so we can all get great to do that so we can all get great to do that so we can all get great numbers and uh interesting metrics and numbers and uh interesting metrics and numbers and uh interesting metrics and benchmarks to measure from benchmarks to measure from benchmarks to measure from also thanks to hey and stripe for being also thanks to hey and stripe for being also thanks to hey and stripe for being our headline our headline our headline partners for the year as i always say partners for the year as i always say partners for the year as i always say they make everything we do just a little they make everything we do just a little they make everything we do just a little easier and it's great to be easier and it's great to be easier and it's great to be connected with hey and stripe if you connected with hey and stripe if you connected with hey and stripe if you haven't already subscribed head to haven't already subscribed head to haven't already subscribed head to youtube.com youtube.com youtube.com microconf all of our new videos come out microconf all of our new videos come out microconf all of our new videos come out and i will see you and i will see you and i will see you next wednesday same time same place next wednesday same time same place next wednesday same time same place [Music]