We all know the stats about minorities and women in tech and about African Americans in particular:
Fewer than 1% of venture capital backed tech companies in Silicon Valley had Black American founders.
The median funding for White-funded companies is $2.3 million and for Asian-Funded company is $4 million compared to just $1.3 million for black-funded ventures.
Despite the fact that you don’t necessarily need to know how to code to be a Startup founder and there are many jobs in Start Up companies that do not require coding experience (marketing, PR, legal, design etc), many still point to the fact that blacks only make up 3% of scientists and engineers, disproportionately low compared to the fact they are 13% of the US population.
After getting an earful from many people following its release of data revealing its abysmal employment diversity numbers, Google, through its Women Techmakers initiative, is offering 3-months coding codes to women and minorities.
This opportunity is available to all traditionally underrepresented groups in technology (including, but not limited to, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, persons with disabilities, women and veterans).
It has paired up with Code School which offers a number of Google-related technology courses such as Shaping Up With Angular.js, Exploring Google Maps for iOS, Discover Drive and Discover DevTools.
If you’re a woman or minority in technology and want to apply for a chance to take part in this initiative, visit the Women Techmakers’ application page and share what inspired you to join the technology industry.
If you already have a code, you can redeem it Code School’s website here.
I already signed up. My eldest kid is taking coding this summer so, if accepted, we can do homework together!
Jay Jay Ghatt is also editor at Techyaya.com, founder of the JayJayGhatt.com and JayJayGhatt.com where she teaches online creators how to navigate digital entrepreneurship and offers Do-It-For-You Blogging Service. She manages her lifestyle sites BellyitchBlog, Jenebaspeaks and JJBraids.com and is the founder of BlackWomenTech.com 200 Black Women in Tech On Twitter. Her biz podcast 10 Minute Podcast is available on iTunes and Player.fm. Follow her on Twitter at @Jenebaspeaks. Buy her templates over at her legal and business templates on Etsy shop!
