In the face of fast-changing landscapes and mounting challenges – from extreme wildfires, heat, and floods across the globe to the strides needed to overcome social inequalities and the urgency to restore peace amid conflict – our collective future hinged on the power of collaboration and innovation. The startup ecosystem was where that happened. It was the founders, investors, accelerators, and community players (and more) who were willing to think big, take risks, and be the active change agents in shaping our futures.

"One Giant Leap" embodied that feeling of being a founder; a constant giant leap of faith in something you believe in. It embodied the spirit of unity, the transformative impact of converging efforts, and symbolized our innovative efforts. We were inspired to remember that while our individual steps may have seemed small, together they amounted to leaps toward innovation, sustainability, and equity. In a time of urgency, where our needs as people and the planet were ever-evolving, we stood on the shoulders of giants – where every small idea and action propelled us forward toward a thriving and brighter future.

TechBBQ was a platform that brought the ecosystem together to learn from one another, celebrate our leaps and bounds, and understand how to make big change against the backdrop of our complex, changing worlds.