Episode 6: Bridging the Tech Gaps in San Antonio with Jesse from DEVSA

Episode OverviewIn this episode of Beyond Giving, we sit down with Jesse Garcia, the dynamic founder of DEVSA, a nonprofit uniting San Antonio’s fragmented tech scene. Jesse opens up about his unconventional journey from sales rep at USAA to self-taught developer and tech community leader.From launching a Discord server to now facilitating over a dozen active tech groups, Jesse’s mission with DEVSA is clear: make it easy for tech professionals and learners to connect, learn, and grow.We explore the evolution of DEVSA, its creative roots in Digital Canvas, the cultural transformation happening in San Antonio’s tech ecosystem, and what’s next—including DEVSA TV, Dev South Texas, and a bold vision for empowering developers to solve real-world problems.Host: Zac Brown: "The Non-Profit Guy"Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacjordanbrown/Guest: Jesse Hernandez: Founder of DEVSALinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessebubble/Website: https://devsanantonio.com/Find Us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannelSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/50nKlDy81jHuoobIFLwiHyApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-giving/id1803474427Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBoostChannelWebsite: https://theboost.fm/beyond-giving/Key Highlights!How Jesse transitioned into tech at nearly 40 years oldThe origin story and mission behind DEVSAWhy traditional tech meetups weren’t cutting it post-pandemicHow DEVSA brought structure, collaboration, and inclusivity to San Antonio’s tech sceneA deep dive into the 14+ tech groups now thriving under the DEVSA umbrellaThe launch of DDEVSA TV and its role in showcasing community voicesPlans for expansion into Brownsville, the Rio Grande Valley, and Monterrey, MexicoHow DEVSA’s free coworking space is empowering the next generation of codersWhy focusing on real community pain points (like in healthcare and small biz) is the future of local tech innovationResources & LinksDEVSA Website: https://devsanantonio.comYear-in-Review: https://devsanantonio.com/replay2024Follow DEVSA:https://www.linkedin.com/company/devsa/https://www.instagram.com/devsatxhttps://x.com/devsatxSpecial ThanksThanks to our friends at Nonprofits HQ and The Boost Network for making this podcast possible.How You Can SupportAttend a DEVSA meetupShare posts from DEVSA and its partner orgsJump into the Discord and connect with fellow tech enthusiastsGot a problem in your industry tech can solve? Reach out to be featured on DDEVSA TV’s new “Call to Action” series!