Google has purchased Edlyft’s AI tutor – a generative AI co-pilot for college students studying computer science. Erika Hairston and Arnelle Ansong, two long-time friends, founded Edlyft in 2020 to support Black college students and adults enrolled in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses. Their digital platform connects learners to inclusive mentorship, online group tutoring, live and recorded sessions, and personalized study tools, enabling them to succeed in their classes and secure high-paying jobs. Over the past two years, Edlyft collaborated with Google through their Google Tech Exchange, teaching applied data structures to Historically
British semiconductor company Arm has joined the Black Talent and Leadership in STEM program as the first consortium member of their “Be the Change” initiative. Located in the UK’s answer to Silicon Valley – ‘Silicon Fen’, Arm is the leading technology provider of processor intellectual property. Be The Change Recently, the Black Talent and Leadership Program launched the “Be the Change” initiative at Homerton College, University of Cambridge, to address the underrepresentation of Black talent in STEM. It was delivered with Cambridge Wireless, Homerton Changemakers, the University of Cambridge, the 10,000 Interns Foundation, and
Nigerian-born Richard Nonso is among the recipients of the Tomorrow’s Leaders Starting Out (ToLSO) program, a micro-grant for young Canadians. Tomorrow’s Leaders Starting Out ToLSO is a project delivered by Nigerian Canadians for Cultural, Educational, and Economic Progress (NCCEEP). Launched in December, ToLSO is a micro-grant for young Canadians aged 15-30, funded by the Canada Service Corps. Offering a $5,000 micro-grant, it aims to empower young Canadians to create action-based projects that make a lasting difference in their communities. Although the program is available to grant candidates of any background, NCCEEP member and program
Echo360 has announced its annual grants program that now features new award opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Echo360 is the most comprehensive, global, SaaS-based video platform for creating, delivering, and measuring learning engagement outcomes in any learning environment. The 2024 Echo360 e3 Tech Grants Program The 2024 program will award 20 recipients cash or software grants ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 in two grant categories: EchoImpact Grants and EchoInnovation Grants. EchoImpact Grants support instructors and researchers using Echo360 solutions to improve learner outcomes empirically. Conversely, the EchoInnovation Grants
Tech Nation has revealed the startups selected for the 2024 cohort of their Libra program, which aims to champion underrepresented founders. Based in the UK, Tech Nation is the leading growth platform for tech insights, connections, collaboration, and talent. It empowers ambitious founders and their teams with the access and knowledge they need from their seed stage to their end goal. Over the past decade, Tech Nation has engaged with over 5,000 businesses and accelerated 1,250 through 48 growth programs. The Libra Program Libra is the growth program for underrepresented tech founders
Sage, The BOSS Network, and Swoop have unveiled a new training and mentorship program to support Black women entrepreneurs in Atlanta. Sage is a small and medium-sized business accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology leader. The BOSS Network, founded by Dr. Cameka Smith, is an online community of professional and entrepreneurial women who support each other through conversations or online and event-based networking. Swoop is a global fintech company specializing in funding solutions for businesses, and together, the three have created the Pathways to Success program. Challenges Black Women Founders Face The program was
Spelman College has made history on its 100th birthday as the recipient of a $100 million donation: the largest-ever single gift to a historically Black college. The college is based in Atlanta and is a historically Black liberal arts college for women. The donation came from businesswoman and philanthropist Ronda Stryker and her husband, William Johnston – the chairman of the wealth management company Greenleaf Trust. Stryker has been a Spelman College Trustee since 1997 and a member of Harvard Medical School’s board of fellows member. She is also the granddaughter
Chatbot Engineer Academy has announced the launch of a new initiative to revolutionize the tech job market for low-income individuals. Audrey Bell-Kearney, the dynamic founder and President of the Gwinnett Women’s Chamber of Commerce and a visionary leader in AI, founded the academy with a focus on no-code AI chatbots. A no-code AI chatbot is a tool you can create without learning a programming language first. UpSkill To UpLift Initative Chatbot Engineer Academy has now launched the “UpSkill to UpLift Initiative.” UpSkill To UpLift Initiative is a groundbreaking program that
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is currently funding several programs to address racism in environmental and civil engineering to make the field more diverse. According to the Daily Caller, the NSF also aims to train engineers representing Black and Latinx communities. The grants are part of a broader effort by the NSF to push racial equity in STEM. In 2021, nearly a quarter (24%) of the US workforce was employed in STEM. However, Hispanic workers represented 15%, and Black workers only represented 9%. NSF’s funds aim to change that as they are
Karat’s Brillant Black Minds has welcomed new partners to its program, joining investors such as Serena Williams, levelling the playing field for Black software engineers. Brillant Black Minds Brilliant Black Minds was co-founded in 2021 and launched as a solution for Black engineers lacking access and resources to excel in the tech industry. The Brillant Black Minds program aims to bridge this gap through mentorship, networking opportunities, and more. The program recently received investment from tennis champion Serena Williams to help aspiring Black engineers enter the tech industry and change the narrative. “We’re focused on
