Erin Horne McKinney

Co-Founder, Black Female Founders & KissIntel App

Washington, D.C.

Passionate about emerging technology, entrepreneurship, and social justice, Erin Horne McKinney is the co-founder of Black Female Founders (#BFF) and KissIntel mobile app. She previously served as Senior Advisor on Innovation and Entrepreneurship to D.C.’s Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity (DMGEO). Erin is a serial entrepreneur and intrapreneur with nearly two decades of tech policy, marketing communications, economic and business development experience.

Prior to joining DMGEO, Erin served as D.C.'s Tech and Innovation Sector Manager within the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) representing technology firms, entrepreneurs, and organizations. Erin has held leadership roles with the National Association of Multicultural Digital Entrepreneurs (NAMDE) and the Maynard Institute. Her telecommunications policy work includes research positions with TechNet, the National Telecommunication and Information Administration within the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. As a marketing and communications consultant specializing in the area of business development and diversity marketing, Erin produced programs for organizations such as General Mills, the City of Minneapolis, and IPX International. She also generated and managed millions of dollars in on-air/on-line/on-site/out-of-home/digital revenue for companies such as ABC Radio, CBS Radio, and Clear Channel Communications as a top national media strategist. Additionally, Erin worked in the communications and editorial departments of Marriott International, TIME magazine, BET News, and Knight-Ridder Newspapers.

Erin is a mentor at 1776, WeWork, and AccelerateDC. She also serves on the Byte Back board, the Halcyon Incubator advisory board, and the Fish & Richardson's FISHstep program review committee. Erin is a doctoral student in the communications technology policy program at Howard University, where she also completed her BA and MA.