About REFACTR.TECH
Atlanta's tech community, since 2018.
Our Story
REFACTR.TECH started in 2018 as an inclusive tech conference in Atlanta. Our goal was simple: create space for the stories tech doesn't always make room for. Over the years, we welcomed speakers from Microsoft, Netflix, Google, Mozilla, and dozens of other companies, all sharing real perspectives on technical work, leadership, and what it takes to grow in this industry.
We hosted four REFACTR.TECH conferences between 2019 and 2023 — featuring 250+ speakers and welcoming over a thousand attendees across multi-day events in Atlanta. The 2020 conference was cancelled due to COVID; 2021 was our virtual edition; 2022 returned to in-person; and 2023 was our final conference before we transitioned to year-round community programming.
After several years of running the conference, we realized something important. The lasting impact of REFACTR wasn't the conference itself, it was the community that formed around it. So we evolved. We kept the mission and changed the model.
Today, REFACTR is a year-round meetup community. We host Tech Talks, Code Reading Club, Career Panels, and social gatherings throughout Atlanta. We collaborate with peer communities twice a quarter for joint nights. Our YouTube channel holds years of conference talks and meetup recordings, free for anyone who wants in.
By the Numbers
What We Believe
Stories matter.
Tech is full of voices that don't always get heard. We make room for them.
Sustained beats spectacular.
Community shows up consistently. We're year-round, not once-a-year.
Conversation over consumption.
We learn best by talking through things together, not just absorbing.
Approachable, not shallow.
Every event welcomes new faces. The depth happens once you're in the room.
ConnectEvents Team
REFACTR.TECH is run in partnership with ConnectEvents, led by Vincent Mayers and Pratik Patel.
Past Speakers
A few of the voices that have shaped REFACTR.
And many more across years of REFACTR programming.
Community Voices
What REFACTR has meant, in their words.
"REFACTR has been such a meaningful part of my journey. I met incredible leaders like Erica, Beth, and Angel, and heard stories along the way that gave me hope I can still make it in this fast-changing world of technology. It helped me build my network, opened the door for me to become a conference speaker, and gave me the chance to give back and help others. Grateful to be part of this community."
— Daneez Owais
"The incredible leaders, and members, of REFACTR have changed the course of my career and life. I have enjoyed some of my happiest working years, thanks to the connections made among members enabling me to land in fulfilling roles. Through more difficult times, REFACTR has been there for me with affirming support, and a community ready to reassure, and uplift my spirits. I treasure the people who have built this uniquely welcoming space within tech, and am thankful for the people brought into my life by their dedication to community building."
— Valarie Regas
"REFACTR helped me feel welcome when I first moved to Georgia. I had relocated from another state, was transitioning from a completely different field, and didn't know anyone in the local tech community. By attending REFACTR events, including speaker meetups and community lunches, I quickly found a group of people who were genuinely friendly, supportive, and open to connecting. REFACTR gave me more than a professional network. It gave me a sense of belonging. The relationships and encouragement I found through this community helped me build confidence, grow in my career, and eventually become a community leader myself. I am incredibly grateful to the amazing women at REFACTR and the welcoming community they have created. I truly do not think I would be where I am today without them."
— Calypso Hernandez