Skip to main content

Groups gear up to boost Chicago's black tech community

Riana Lynn said she plans to release a report about minority tech founders along with a resource website in January.

(James C. Svehla, Blue Sky)

The Code2040 Entrepreneurs in Residence program is leading an effort to map all the black and Latino tech founders in Chicago so investors can find them, while other initiatives are also aiming to boost Chicago's black tech community.

Riana Lynn, working through 1871 on the Code2040 project, said she plans to release a report about minority tech founders along with a resource website in January. 

"We'll do a full mapping and infographics data summary," said Lynn, co-founder of FoodTrace and a Google Code 2040 fellow. Information can be submitted at Chicago2040.org.

The report will be compiled for investors who say they want to put money toward the endeavors of minority-owned businesses but can't connect with them, she said.

"We want to understand all of the businesses that are out there, and we want to share this information with central partners and investors," Lynn said. "These venture capitalists say they don't know who's out there. No one's approaching them.

"We want to make sure our Chicago companies are being discovered." 

It's also an effort to encourage black and Latino professionals in tech to look to Code2040 as an umbrella organization.

The report will precede the State of the Black Tech Ecosystem, a separate event Jan. 28 led by Black Tech Mecca, one of several entities in Chicago focused on increasing the numbers of blacks and Latinos in tech.

"We will be providing a glimpse into how the black tech community is driving change in Chicago to an audience of leaders and influencers," said organization founder Fabian Elliott. 

October marked the relaunch of Coding While Black, which was founded in 2014 to highlight blacks in tech. Its mission has expanded to include connecting, educating and empowering black digital professionals and entrepreneurs.

Black Tech Mecca and BlackInTech, which produces event series for entrepreneurs and professionals of color in tech, both launched last summer. 

Blue Sky spoke with the founders of the new initiatives.

CODING WHILE BLACK, codingwhileblack.org

Founded: April 2014

Founder: Dominic Liddell, an independent web developer.

Mission: To connect, educate and empower blacks to propel their businesses and careers forward by leveraging technology, and to highlight black tech achievement, according to Liddell.

Signature programs: Open Code provides monthly popup tech-focused spaces for coworking, tutoring and discussing tech. Black Techies Happy Hour is a monthly event with speakers at local tech offices. Propel Academy offers affordable tech classes and workshops.

Cost/fees: Some programs are free, but the average cost of a class or event is $10-$25. Annual membership is $22-$72 (with half off through the end of the year). Scholarships are available for all programs and membership.

Organization/program funding: Bootstrapped.

What should the Chicago tech community do to improve the numbers of minority founders and workers? "Stop looking at the diversity in technology as primarily a marketing effort and be more supportive of the day-to-day work that needs to be done," Liddell said. "Many approach me because they want their companies to be seen as more diverse, but don't want to support any of the programming that leads to more diversity. Typically, they want a big speaker event to attach their name to. That's awesome, but how about a smaller class that leads to a new worker they can hire down the line?"

BLACK TECH MECCA, blacktechmecca.org

Founded: June 2015 

Founder: Fabian Elliott, advertising technology consultant at Google. 

Mission: To connect the black tech community, direct growth and transform Chicago. To align efforts to transform Chicago into the "Global Black Tech Mecca" by strengthening connections within the black tech community, quantifying impact and directing ecosystem growth.

Why founded: "The absence of collaborative synergy and a universal tracking mechanism to measure progress has left the black community vastly underrepresented in Chicago's tech sector, which restricts desperately needed economic opporunity," Elliott said.

Signature program: Plans quarterly town halls and an awards ceremony in 2016.

Cost/fees: None set to date.

Organization/program funding: Individual donations and corporate sponsorships.

What should the Chicago tech community do to improve the numbers of minority founders and workers? "Focus on creating and supporting inclusive environments for all," Elliott said. "These environments will attract the right people to sustain it and retain the talent that is attracted."

BLACKINTECH, imblackintech.com

Founded: July 2015

Founder: Thomas K.R. Stovall, founder of business-intelligence app Candid Cup. 

Mission: To drastically impact the velocity with which entrepreneurs and corporate professionals in tech grow their businesses and/or their careers, inside of clearly articulated, step-by-step blueprints for doing so, by seasoned individuals who have already successfully navigated that path."

Why founded: "I meet so many people of color in Chicago who are passionate, driven, well-intended, and have no clue what to do, what order to do it in, and how to do it, in order to have a shot at success in their startup," Stovall said.

Signature program: The Founders Series of events provides growth tips and support for founders of color in tech. The Corporate Series does the same for technology professionals pursuing corporate careers.

Cost/fees: Both series are free to attend.

Organization/program funding: Out of pocket by Stovall plus occasional contributions. 1871 covers costs of auditorium space and food.

What should the Chicago tech community do to improve the numbers of minority founders and workers? "Invest time and money in programs and organizations that have a clear vision, are making tangible impact, and are measuring their outcomes, by the numbers, so that we are held accountable to actually producing outcomes," Stovall said. "We have to move beyond good intentions and create a baseline standard for what the goals are, as a community, and track which organizations are working in which areas, what outcomes they are producing, and what support they need."

Cheryl V. Jackson is a freelance writer.

Posted in Business News, Digital Media and Technology Resources