On Wednesday, May 16, leaders from San Francisco’s technology and business communities collided at Airbnb headquarters for “Tech After Dark,” organized by sf.citi, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and of, course, our generous host Airbnb. Timed and themed around San Francisco Small Business Week, the event explored today’s changing business landscape, which is increasingly powered by modern technology.
“Order your burrito through Postmates, pay for it with Square, and get it delivered to your Airbnb!” – Jennifer Stojkovic, sf.citi Executive Director
Techies, small business owners, and everyone in between took their seats as sf.citi Executive Director Jennifer Stojkovic posed the first question: How have today’s technologies made it easier for small businesses to level and scale?
From left to right: sf.citi Executive Director Jennifer Stojkovic, Matt Middlebrook of Airbnb, Vikrum Aiyer of Postmates, and Antonio Silva of Square.
Event Highlights
Our panelist from Square, Antonio Silva, cited a study revealing that 72% of small businesses face more challenges to growth today than in the past. However, 65% of those surveyed reported feeling more able to handle those challenges…in large part thanks to the tools available to them thanks to tech.
Matt Middlebrook of Airbnb explained how one of the company’s newest features, Airbnb Experiences, offers small business owners a new and interesting point of entry to potential customers. He explained, “It’s a way for a local to share a passion of theirs. And they make a bunch of money doing it!”
Finally, did you know that Postmates can deliver more than just food? Among Postmates’ other achievements, the company’s 2018 Economic Impact Report found that Postmates has enabled its partner merchants to grow 3.7x faster than their competitors. Elaborating on how Postmates allows brick and mortar retail to modernize and compete in the 21st century, Vikrum Aiyer said, “Instead of building that warehouse, why not treat the entire city as the warehouse.”
What did you think of Tech After Dark? Let us know using the #TechAfterDark hashtag!
See more of the event’s photo highlights:
Comments are closed.