THE STATE OF THE
BLACK TECH ECOSYSTEM
State of Tech Diversity
1.6%
In AI and machine learning roles, Black professionals represent only 1.6% of all workers globally
5%
Bootcamps allocate less than 5% of their curriculum to soft skills, career navigation, or interpersonal development
7%
Black students earn only 7% of STEM bachelor’s degrees.
1.3%
Black founders received just 1.3% of $288B of capital deployed
Diversity. Inclusion. Equity.
PARTNERS
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OUR FRAMEWORK
The Black Tech Initiative (BTI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit transforming not just careers — but lives, ecosystems, and futures. We exist because access alone isn’t enough. Our people need belonging, guidance, and spaces that see them fully. That’s what we build.
At BTI, we center community, culture, and impact in everything we do. We’re not here to replicate what’s already out there — we’re here to reimagine what’s possible. We walk with people, not just point the way. Our work fills the gaps that traditional programs overlook: the emotional, cultural, and systemic barriers that make or break someone’s path in tech.
We create safe spaces where authenticity is power, where showing up as your full self is the expectation — not the exception. Our programming weaves together career development, mental health, cultural connection, and real-world exposure, because we believe success in tech isn’t just about skill — it’s about confidence, community, and clarity of purpose.
BTI is where innovation meets identity. Where mentorship is personal. Where opportunity is intentional. And where Black talent is not just welcomed — it’s built into the foundation.
We’re not just helping people get into tech. We’re building a future where they can lead, thrive, and change the game — on their own terms.
OUR CODE
The Black Tech Initiative is a transformative movement dedicated to empowering Black professionals, students, and entrepreneurs in technology through impactful events, innovative programs, and a strong sense of community. With roots in Queen City Black Tech Events and Triangle Black Tech Events, we host impactful, culturally rich, and community-centered experiences that bridge opportunities across the Southeast and beyond.
OUR FRAMEWORK
Grounded in the mission of fostering practical skills, real-world experience, and measurable impact, we equip participants to thrive in the tech industry.Rooted in impact, community, and culture, we amplify Black voices and create pathways to success, driving a future where diversity and innovation thrive.
Programs & Pathways
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What Connects Us
Community
We’re building more than a network — we’re building a village. A living, breathing ecosystem where Black tech professionals, creatives, entrepreneurs, and visionaries can thrive together. From safe spaces to shared resources, from supporting Black-owned businesses to hosting spaces that feel like home, our community is rooted in trust, authenticity, and collective uplift.
Culture
Our culture is our compass. It shapes how we gather, how we build, and how we lead. We don’t assimilate — we innovate, guided by the rhythms, resilience, and brilliance of Black identity. Every experience we create is culturally grounded, intentionally designed, and unapologetically ours.
Impact
Our impact is personal, generational, and systemic. We’re not here to check boxes — we’re here to break barriers. Through every program, event, and partnership, we create real change — moving people from access to ownership, from overlooked to unstoppable.
LATEST EVENTS RECAP
State of Black Tech Charlotte
Tech Sync-Up
How We Stand Apart
01.
Programs with holistic development — blending skills, growth, career strategy, and relationship-building.
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Purposefully curated Events centered on connection, culture, empowerment, and meaningful opportunity.
A Community built on deep trust, authentic relationships, and lasting support
04.
Partnerships rooted in cultural alignment .
