Episode Overview

In 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 DEVSA

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessebubble/

Website: https://devsanantonio.com/

Find Us:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/50nKlDy81jHuoobIFLwiHy

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-giving/id1803474427

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBoostChannel

Website: https://theboost.fm/beyond-giving/

Key Highlights!

• How Jesse transitioned into tech at nearly 40 years old
• The origin story and mission behind DEVSA
• Why traditional tech meetups weren’t cutting it post-pandemic
• How DEVSA brought structure, collaboration, and inclusivity to San Antonio’s tech scene
• A deep dive into the 14+ tech groups now thriving under the DEVSA umbrella
• The launch of DDEVSA TV and its role in showcasing community voices
• Plans for expansion into Brownsville, the Rio Grande Valley, and Monterrey, Mexico
• How DEVSA’s free coworking space is empowering the next generation of coders
• Why focusing on real community pain points (like in healthcare and small biz) is the future of local tech innovation

Resources & Links

• DEVSA Website: https://devsanantonio.com
• Year-in-Review: https://devsanantonio.com/replay2024

Follow DEVSA:

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/devsa/
• https://www.instagram.com/devsatx
• https://x.com/devsatx

Special Thanks
Thanks to our friends at Nonprofits HQ and The Boost Network for making this podcast possible.

How You Can Support

• Attend a DEVSA meetup
• Share posts from DEVSA and its partner orgs
• Jump into the Discord and connect with fellow tech enthusiasts
• Got a problem in your industry tech can solve? Reach out to be featured on DDEVSA TV’s new “Call to Action” series!