15 Tech Organizations Actively Supporting Black Coders

Last updated 10/17/2023

There’s no doubt that Black founders, developers, and investors are making great strides in the tech world—yet Black Americans are still vastly underrepresented in the industry overall.

According to research from McKinsey, “Black people make up 12 percent of the US workforce but only 8 percent of employees in tech jobs. That percentage is even smaller further up the corporate ladder; just 3 percent of technology executives in the C-suite are Black.”

But many groups are working to make tech more inclusive and equitable—specifically for the Black community.

By advocating for Black coders, making tech education more accessible, and offering support and advice to Black founders, these 15 organizations are creating dedicated spaces in tech where Black technologists can grow personally and professionally.

All Star Code

All Star Code is an organization that teaches computer science skills to young Black men and aims to create “economic opportunity by developing a new generation of boys and young men of color with an entrepreneurial mindset who have the tools they need to succeed in a technological world.”

The organization was founded in 2013 by Christina Lewis, who was inspired by her experiences as a business journalist to create an organization that increases the representation of Black people in tech.

We Build Black

We Build Black is committed to increasing black representation in tech by creating opportunities for networking, skill sharing, and mentorship.

The idea for We Build Black was brought to fruition in 2016 after Devin Jackson felt isolated as the only black software engineer at his company. It began as the Black Software Engineers of NYC Meetup, which hosted meetings every Sunday in Jackson’s office and grew to over 1,000 members in just 6 months.

We Build Black offers several developmental programs for people of all ages, including the Mavens I/O: Black Women in Tech Conference.

Black Founders

Black Founders seeks to empower Black tech entrepreneurs by creating an ecosystem of advice, mentorship, and funding.

Founded in 2011 by Chris Bennett, Hadiyah Mujhid, Nnena Ukuku, and Monique Woodward, the organization’s mission is “to increase the number of successful Black entrepreneurs in technology.”

To that end, the organization runs a number of programs. One of these is HBCUHacks, a weekend hackathon that gives students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) the opportunity to test their programming skills.

Black Girls Code

Black Girls Code is a nonprofit that seeks to introduce a new generation of young Black girls to technology in general and programming specifically.

The organization was founded by Kimberly Bryant, who was inspired to start and then lead the program by her own feelings of isolation as a Black woman in programming.

Blacks In Technology

Blacks In Technology is a global network open to any Black person who works in tech. It is the largest community and media organization dedicated to increasing the representation of people of color in the tech world.

The organization is making good on this mission by creating events, activities, and media to serve as resources for and provide guidance to members.

The Blacks In Technology community is split up into geographic chapters with independent meetings and activities. If there isn’t a chapter near you, you can also join as an At Large member.

Blacks United in Leading Technology (BUiLT)

Blacks United in Leading Technology (BUiLT) is focused on bringing equality to tech through community-focused activities, events, and programs.

BUiLT has chapters across the U.S. and internationally that provide members with a variety of opportunities for networking and professional development. Members also receive a number of unique benefits, including free and discounted technical training, access to leadership positions within the organization, speaking opportunities, and more.

Black Tech Unplugged

Black Tech Unplugged is a podcast created to empower and inspire Black people in tech.

It was created by Deena McKay, who was inspired to spread the word of Black achievements in technology after experiencing first-hand—much like Kimberly Bryant—the isolation that came with being a Black woman in tech.

In each episode of the podcast, McKay interviews a leading Black technologist about their accomplishments and current projects, how they got where they are today, and what aspiring professionals can do to follow in their footsteps.

Center for Black Innovation

Center for Black Innovation is an organization that brings together innovative young Black minds to learn, exchange ideas, and address common issues in workshops and discussions.

The organization focuses on five key areas: Innovation, Economic and Social Mobility, Business Development, Education, and Family and Community to build talent- and asset-rich spaces in Black communities.

Black Women Tech Talk

Black Women Tech Talk is a collective of Black women tech entrepreneurs that aims to identify, support, and encourage Black women interested in building tech companies.

Created by TresseNoir cofounder Regina Gwynn and CoSign cofounder Esosa Ighodaro, the organization boasts more than 500 members.

The organization also runs the nation’s only conference for Black women founders—the Roadmap to Billions conference—which offers entrepreneurs the chance to learn, network, and get access to funding opportunities.

Code2040

Code2040 is a nonprofit that places students of color into internships at major tech companies and startups.

The year 2040 is symbolic because it’s the start of the decade in which Black and Latinx people are projected by the US Census Bureau to make up the majority of the U.S. population.

These groups together in fact already make up 30 percent of the U.S. population, yet only 10 percent of tech executives hail from either. Code2040 means to change this.

Since its founding, the organization has grown to more than 6,000 students, partners, volunteers, and allies. In 2017, 132 students were paired with companies seeking tech talent as part of the organization's summer-long internship program.

digitalundivided

digitalundivided is a social enterprise that seeks to encourage women of color to own their economic security through innovation-focused entrepreneurship.

Based in Atlanta and founded in 2012, the organization has since helped Black and Latina founders raise more than $25 million in outside funding.

digitalundivided also launched ProjectDiane, a biennial demographic study on the state of Black female founders. Data from this study informed the organization’s decision to launch its BIG Incubator program, which provides a direct pathway for women of color to enter the tech world.

/dev/color

/dev/color is a nonprofit networking organization that empowers Black software engineers and technologists to become industry leaders.

The organization’s A* Program is an on- and offline community of like-minded Black software developers who grow their careers by learning from and supporting their peers.

Whatever Black coders want to achieve—whether it’s finding a new job, learning a new skill, or starting a company—the /dev/color/ community can help them get there.

The Hidden Genius Project

The Hidden Genius Project trains and mentors young Black men to become tomorrow’s tech leaders.

It was founded in 2012 by five technologists who wanted to leverage the huge number of career opportunities to solve high unemployment among young Black Americans. The organization’s approach is two-fold:

1. Immersion is a 15-month holistic membership experience that offers software engineering, computer science, leadership, and entrepreneurship training to Black high school boys.
2. Catalyst is a series of free single- and multi-day events and workshops aimed at igniting interest in computer programming among Black teenagers.

In 2020, the Hidden Genius Project also launched the Alumni Venture Seed Fund, which helps support student-alumni entrepreneurs.

Black Professionals in Tech Network (BPTN)

The Black Professionals in Tech Network provides members with opportunities for mentorship, skill-building, and career advancement within the tech industry.

Founded by Lekan Olawoye, BPTN boasts a growing network of over 50,000 professionals across North America. BPTN partners with corporations to help them hire, retain, and promote Black talent.

The organization also hosts a weekly Global Masterclass series and an annual Global BFUTR Tech Summit

Dream.org

Previously known as Dream Corps, the organization was co-founded by CNN political commentator Van Jones and is led by Vien Truong. Dream.org’s tech initiative helps give underrepresented communities the training and tools to succeed in the tech industry. The initiative also works with company partners to place individuals in high-paying careers.

In addition to training and career placement, Dream.org also offers a Tech Fund Scholarship and Clean Energy Scholarship, helping to elevate underrepresented populations further. Dream.org is also committed to reducing pollution and reforming criminal justice.

Diversifying Tech Through Education

At Fullstack Academy, diversity and inclusion are an integral part of our mission because diversity drives innovation, transforms communities for good, and powers better results. To continue to fulfill this commitment, we’ve partnered with several other New York-based organizations to help make tech training more accessible to underrepresented communities.

Ready to kickstart a lucrative career in tech? Apply to a Fullstack Academy Tech Bootcamps!