Muslim Tech Fest 2024 in San Francisco Highlights Muslim Talent and Innovation
Last week, Muslim Tech Fest made its U.S. debut, bringing together over 350 attendees at the Sunnyvale Convention Center on September 8, 2024. The event focused on celebrating Muslim talent and innovation in the tech industry, offering a platform for entrepreneurs and professionals to connect and share ideas.
The event, recently held in San Francisco, was inspired by a desire to highlight the contributions of Muslims in the tech world. Co-founders Arfah Farooq and Zahid Mahmood opened the day, emphasizing the importance of fostering inclusivity and driving innovation within the community.
A major highlight came from Safa Alkateb, CEO of Autocab (an Uber company), who delivered a keynote on entrepreneurship, sharing his experiences and offering practical advice in his talk titled "Entrepreneurship 101." Haroon Mokhtarzada, co-founder of Rocket Money, followed with an inspiring talk about how he scaled his company to a $1.3 billion valuation, motivating many of the aspiring entrepreneurs in attendance.
The event also featured a lively panel discussion on “Muslim Impact in Big Tech,” where industry leaders from Google, PayPal, and OpenAI discussed the important roles Muslims are playing in shaping the future of technology. Throughout the day, attendees also had the opportunity to hear startup pitches from companies like DeepTrust and MedSnapp, showcasing new and innovative ideas.
As the day came to an end, participants had time to connect over casual networking sessions, building meaningful relationships that extended beyond the event itself. The festival closed with reflections on the importance of supporting Muslim excellence in tech and entrepreneurship.
“Muslim Tech Fest has become a key platform for Muslim technologists,” said co-founder Zahid Mahmood. “This event is not just about celebrating achievements—it's about inspiring future innovation and creating a community of changemakers.”
Muslim Tech Fest 2024 was well-received, and plans for the next event are already underway, with the goal of continuing to foster growth and collaboration in the tech industry.
