ImpactAlpha, April 26 – The tech industry has come under fire recently for its lack of diversity. In response, a number of edtech ventures are developing new ways to teach employable skills and diversify the overwhelmingly white and male sector.
Colorado-based Techtonic Group uses an apprenticeship program that pairs the unemployed and underemployed with tech firms to learn software skills on the job. Techtonic’s founder developed the program after hearing that many of her clients were having trouble finding entry-level workers. University Ventures and Zoma Capital, both investors in workforce development, backed Techtonic’s first funding round.
- Beating tech’s diversity stats… Fifty people have participated in the program since its mid-2016 launch: 30% are women, almost 50% are from minority backgrounds and some 25% are veterans.
- Edtech on the move… Holberton School raised $8.2 million for its “pay later” training program while Zoma Capital recently backedPAIRIN and The Graide Network, which focus on “soft skills”.
