Watch: Bambi Francisco on Oakland's emerging tech scene

'Together we can shape it and create it in an inclusive way'

Vator's founder and CEO Bambi Francisco kicked off Vator Splash Oakland with a slide show, showing how the Pacbell ballpark in downtown San Francisco ignited that city's tech scene in the last decade, and how a ballpark on the Jack London Square waterfront could do the same thing for Oakland. 

"If you're a startup or investor, you don't have to consider planting yourself in Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley is coming to us and together we can shape it and create it in an inclusive way," Francisco said.

She emphasized the parallels between Oakland today and San Francisco circa 1999 and how SOMA (south of market)/China Basin was at the time a desolate and barren place but over 10 years would become the epicenter of the tech boom. 

Here's her talk.

Be sure to join us at Splash London on June 19. Keynotes include David Cohen, CEO and Founder of Techstars, Julia and Kevin Hartz, Founders of Eventbrite, Travelzoo CEO Chris Loughlin and Brent Hoberman, Founder of PROfounders. Register here.

Save the Date: Splash LA is Oct. 2 in Santa Monica. Keynotes include Jessica Alba and Brian Lee, Founders of The Honest Company. Register here.

Thanks to our Vator Splash Oakland video sponsor, Oakland Forward and Bryan Parker, Oakland Mayoral candidate.