Three Black founders test self-funded event tech at new Park City festival

Three Black founders in their 60s will use a new winter festival in Park City, Utah, to test SlopeSync, a self-funded startup that links ticketing, referral promotion and sponsor engagement. The inaugural Black Powder Festival runs Dec. 10-13 and doubles as the company’s first major live proof point.

Why it matters: - SlopeSync is trying to show that event tech can reward the people who drive attendance while also giving sponsors clearer data on what attendees do after they arrive. - The Black Powder Festival will serve as a real-world test of that model, which could shape how the platform is built for other events.

What happened: - Robert Lewis, Desta Lewis and Deidra Ragland are launching SlopeSync and producing the inaugural Black Powder Festival at the same time. - The festival is set for Dec. 10-13, 2026, in Park City, Utah. - The founders are all in their 60s and describe the venture as self-funded. - Festival information and tickets are available at the festival website.

The details: - SlopeSync Share connects personal referral links and codes to ticket purchases. - Participating promoters can earn compensation on qualifying sales through the referral system. - Sponsor Intelligence records attendee actions, including giveaway entries and requests for information. - The sponsor tool turns those interactions into reports sponsors can use for follow-up. - Robert Lewis is SlopeSync’s president and CEO and is shaping the business model and product strategy. - Robert Lewis holds an MBA from Georgia State University. - Desta Lewis, known as Ms. Black Powder, leads brand and sponsor relations. - Robert Lewis and Desta Lewis are U.S. Air Force veterans. - Deidra Ragland oversees technology delivery and operations and has experience managing software engineering teams. - The Black Powder Festival centers on Black culture, community and winter travel. - The program includes an opening mixer, the Jamapalooza Pajama Party and a Casino Night themed around Black Dandyism. - Guests can ski or snowboard, or attend for the social experience in Park City.

Between the lines: - The founders are using the festival as both a customer-facing event and a product lab, which lets them measure whether the platform works in live conditions instead of only in theory. - The setup also reflects a broader bet that event organizers will want more visibility into how audiences are recruited and how sponsor engagement converts into follow-up. - The founders’ mix of business, brand and technology experience is central to that approach.

What's next: - SlopeSync will use the December festival to evaluate what helps people bring an audience, what sponsors learn and what improves the attendee experience. - The results from the festival are expected to guide future platform development for other events.

The bottom line: - SlopeSync is betting that a festival can prove its tech, and its tech can help prove a festival's value.