Bridgette

The idea for RaveVenn sparked during a restless night in late 2022, reflecting on the chaotic state of our nation – insurrection, racial injustice, pervasive disinformation – and the alarming disengagement and apathy it fostered. My own idealism about democracy felt eroded, especially seeing young, passionate generations consuming news through social media feeds often prioritizing engagement over accuracy. I envisioned a platform tailored to them, empowering constructive dialogue with facts from diverse perspectives.

The name RaveVenn emerged from watching Game of Thrones. In Game of Thrones ravens delivered messages to the families to alert them as to what was coming. "Rave" for passionate discussion, "Venn" for the interlocking nature of democracy. Within an hour of buying the domain name of my platform, because I was petrified, I begged God for a sign that what I was embarking on was the right thing to do. I asked for this sign to not only be big enough to be undeniable but also to be something someone else I was close to could see. Right after this prayer, I had a profound experience while trying to explain what I was building to my friends.

I began telling her that what I was doing was going to really help our country, going to be huge and that I was scared! While I was explaining this to her large black birds were flying really low and loudly in a circle and in pairs two. These birds were flying in a large circle and in a strange pattern as if they were circling Saturn. I became frustrated as my friends who were paying more attention to the birds than to my huge news. At the same time these birds were getting louder and not going anywhere. My friend decided to figure out what she was witnessing and she put in her description what was happening in Youtube and what came up was similar videos of ravens mating! The moment I got up and started watching the ravens in their mating ritual and realized that this must be the sign I just requested from God....within an hour after I purchased the domain and asked for validation.

Returning to Chicago, I realized the need for support and found it at the 1871 Tech Innovation Hub. I got a scholarship to attend and was a member about a month later. There, I began bootstrapping RaveVenn, building an app to combat the misinformation and apathy threatening our civic fabric. Young adults, women, and people of color need a trusted space for reliable information on laws, rights, and candidates, free from biased algorithms and potential shadowbanning on mainstream platforms.

RaveVenn is that dedicated space, delivering vetted, focused information on democracy to foster critical thinking and informed participation. Building this as an African American woman in tech is fueled by a deep belief in our collective power, channeling the perseverance of ancestors who fought for democracy. RaveVenn isn't just an app; it's a necessary tool to place power back in the hands of an informed citizenry.