Michael Brown: Eric Matched $18K to JuneteenthConf After a 16-Day MVP Launch

Synaptic Weave founder Michael Brown shares how Eric Ries privately matched $18,000 in donations to JuneteenthConf in 2020 — funding refurbished computers for Houston ISD kids and a post-bootcamp cohort.

“Eric reached out to me through one of our volunteers and congratulated me on the successful conference. I don't think he knew at the time, but I informed him that the lessons he shared about the MVP were what made it a sixteen-day launch instead of 'maybe next year'. He also offered to match the donations we received for the conference, to the tune of $18,000 or so. That helped us do several things that year: we purchased refurbished computers for donation to kids in the Houston ISD; we launched our post-bootcamp cohort, giving people looking to transition to tech hands-on, deep experience with building a product as a team; and we did a follow-up conference, Hidden Gems, in tribute to Katherine Johnson.” — Michael Brown on LinkedIn