It’s the quintessential American success story. Three young, black engineers left a major technology corporation to form their own business. They built it into an internationally successful company and eventually sold it.
Today’s guest on The Next Idea, David Tarver, was one of the engineers who founded Telecom Analysis Systems over 30 years ago amid the challenges and promise of the post-Civil Rights era.
Raised in Flint, he now works with entrepreneurs through his Detroit non-profit, the Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative.
“Growing up during the Civil Rights era was a very empowering experience,” Tarver said. “It made me feel like things were changing and I really wanted to see if I could not just work for a company but own and run a company.”
Tarver will join with fellow entrepreneurs Steven Moore and Charles Simmons for a discussion about diversity and inclusion in tech. It's hosted by TechTown Detroit and the Michigan Science Center and it's part of TechTown's Candid Conversations and Code series.
The event is Friday, July 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Michigan Science Center, on the corner of John R. and Warren in Midtown Detroit.
Listen above for the full conversation.
(Subscribe to the Stateside podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or with this RSS link)
