Techstars Startup Weekend Community Leader Spotlight: Tatiana Yate

Techstars Startup Weekend Community Leaders play a vital role in building startup culture and creating impact in their communities. They are the Organizers who make Techstars Startup Weekend happen!

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Tatiana: I grew up in South Florida and graduated from University of Florida. I landed my first job at an Asset Management firm where I had the opportunity to work for around 3 years. While working, I started to have a great interest in the startup community. That was when I become involved in meetups and participated in Techstars Startup Weekend NYC. I relocated to Miami early this year for family reasons; I currently work for a startup called SquadUP that is located in Santa Monica, where I work remotely.

Q: What or who has gotten you where you are today?

Tatiana: My mom has been my number one supporter. She has always been there to remind me of my capabilities when I doubted myself.

Q: How did you first learn about Techstars Startup Weekend Latinx in Tech? What did you love about it?

I learned about Techstars Startup Weekend Latinx in Tech through Facebook. As I was reading the event description, all I was hoping was for it not to be a hackathon. As a woman who comes from a non-technical background, these events can be pretty intimidating. I purchased my ticket two days before the event, unaware of what my weekend was going to entail.

What I most enjoyed was presenting the prototype Sunday to a panel of judges. A prototype that was consolidated in three days by a team of four: it was an accomplishment to see our ideas come together.

Q: Why did you decide to organize a Techstars Startup Weekend Latinx?

Tatiana: I was pretty ecstatic about sharing the same experience I lived at Techstars Startup Weekend Latinx in Tech with the South Florida ecosystem. I signed up to organise couple of months after moving to Miami.

Q: What does being a Techstars Startup Weekend Community Leader mean to you?

Tatiana: Techstars Startup Weekend was a life changing event. I don’t believe people understand the value of it, and how fun and informative it can be. I still talk to my team members from Techstars Startup Weekend in New York City, as well as to the mentors. They have provided a plethora of resources and connections.

Q: What do you find inspirational in general?

Tatiana: Growing spiritually, personally, and professionally are equally important to me. Communities that have raised awareness of mental health problems are inspiring. There has been an increasing alertness of anxiety and depression amongst our society. Shine is an example of an app that inspires me to be a better person.

I am aware that committing a full weekend to an event can seem exhausting, especially a Friday after work when, you are just ready for the weekend. When Sunday came around after Techstars Startup Weekend Latinx in Tech, I felt like I was on cloud nine from having such a productive and fulfilling weekend.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my experience!

Join us as we kick off the second National Techstars Startup Weekend Latinx in Tech in partnership with the Kapor Center. Beginning on September 21–23, 2018, we’re gathering 900 Latinx entrepreneurs in the making and allies over 54 hours, in 10 different cities, to identify and design technology solutions to problems disproportionately facing the U.S. Latinx community.

Techstars Global Startup Weekend is coming on November 2–4, 9–11, and 16–18, 2018! 15,000 entrepreneurs at 200+ locations around the globe believe they can build a startup in a weekend. Challenge yourself. Join us.