Welcome! Meet Founder/CEO Luis Martinez, an Afro-Latino from Honduras and raised in Brooklyn, New York with an M.B.A. in Organizational Leadership, Luis is an advocate, networker and ecosystem builder for Blacks, Latinos in tech & innovation throughout the United States and abroad. A Former Pro Basketball Player and U.S. Navy Veteran, currently he is the Director for Startup Grind San Diego. Startup Grind is the largest independent startup community, actively educating, inspiring, and connecting 3,500,000 entrepreneurs in over 400 cities. Luis felt the need to create a movement aimed at creating the super ecosystem for Black & Latino Founders, Venture Capitalist & Angel Investors. The lack of access and information about tech and innovation that flows to these underrepresented communities is causing these communities to be behind in Math, Science & current Technology. Also, there is a disconnect between minorities that have been successful in tech & innovation and those back in communities in which they came from.  By creating “We Tha Plug”, Luis is connecting businesses, organizations, and individuals, leveraging their resources and talents to build a stronger Black & Latino tech and innovation community through collective efforts. 

Meet Partner/COO Christiana Russell born and raised in South Central LA, but later moved with her family to Tucson, AZ where she earned her BA & M. Ed at the University of Arizona & Northern Arizona University. She is an advocate, conduit & servant leader who believes everything begins with connectedness. Her motto is "building community and cultivating relationship is key to the success and sustainability of any venture that is purpose driven." Over the last 16 years, she has focused her attention in Mental Health, Prevention Education & Healthcare industries with a mission to create comprehensive and sustainable policies, resources and services that work to combat social and racial injustices. She is founder of Mendedwing Consulting, LLC an agency that focuses on strategic planning and process management for small business owners and entrepreneurs.  In 2018, she has found herself in the tech and innovation space partnering with Luis Martinez, to build a sustainable ecosystem that ensures Pan African, Latinx and other underrepresented founders leverage every opportunity to advance from ideation to seed stage and beyond. We believe creating a safe environment that fosters support and empowerment is key to sustaining present and future founders of color.   

we are a global virtual ecosystem that works with Pan African, Latinx, other under-represented founders & early stage startups from ideation phase to pre-seed and series A round. We are building a community that encompass investors, business professionals, and creatives that spans all genres of the startup space.

One pathway to manifest this vision is through our 1000/100/10 Initiative. This initiative will yield data driven impact through proven best practiced methodology implemented through We Tha Incubator.  

We Tha Incubator focuses on four areas:

• Bridging the gap between ideation and raising capital;

• Providing coaching and mentoring to founders;

• Eliminating the lack of access to ecosystem networks, technical and engineering challenges; 

• Providing training on the fundamentals of building a startup company.

Overall mission is to raise the awareness of innovation particularly in the Pan African & Latinx communities in all genres of technology, while building a global ecosystem that gives founders access to startup fundamental education, mentorship, programming, resources, community, funding and more. We amplify the voice of our community by promoting collaboration, showcasing our long-term contribution to the startup culture, and evangelizing the narrative that the representation of Pan African & Latinx founders are key to the success of the fourth industrial revolution.

We want to not only talk about how disenfranchised People of Color (POC), specifically Pan African & Latinx, are in the startup, Tech and Innovation spaces, but help to create job opportunities through strategic corporate and international partnerships as well as with local partners like San Diego Coding School.  Another way we are accomplishing this is through helping early stage startup businesses grow in order to hire more Pan African, Latinx and other underrepresented groups.  

PROGRAMS ARE A VITAL PART OF REINFORCING LEARNING OBJECTIVES FROM ANY ORGANIZATION.  

At “We Tha Plug” we are creating fundamental programming that is hands-on, educational yet still fun as you're moving through the learning process.  Our focus is to bring programs to cities across the United States and across the world.  “We Tha Plug” is  committed to helping community members reach their full potential through entrepreneur and business management training and providing professional development resources for successful business growth within our communities.   

We're aiming to make your experience here valuable. We want you to get five key benefits from We Tha Plug:

• There a multiple subscription membership plans to choose from. 

•  Receive the following features.
  Your membership includes but is not limited to:  Access to We Tha Plug ecosystem (connect with founders, partners, investors, mentors and coaches) live chat with We Tha Plug community, apply to the Incubator, gain access to webinars, create your own courses, webinars and masterclasses on the platform, set your own course fees & so much more.

  • Additional benefits include: Save 10% off regularly-priced programming, monthly webinars & events, discounts/ and or perks with WTP partners using our affiliate code (eCommerce, tech companies, co-work spaces, and corporations).
    
    
    

• Meet people who share your interests who live near you, who do the same things, or who care about the same topics. 

• Make better, more well-informed decisions about the things that are most important to you and your business.
  

• Swap stories, experiences, and ideas (not necessarily advice) around our shared mission.

• Find inspiration, thought-provoking conversations, and expert perspective each and every day. 

Signup today and become a member. Gain access to expert mentors, coaches, investors, signature events, partnerships discounts, networking, webinars, and meetup events.