0
0
By Lavanya Kathirgamanathan
Black tech entrepreneurs and innovators are making significant strides by creating ground-breaking technologies and solutions that positively impact their communities and advance the digital field. Highlighting their achievements is crucial to not only celebrate the contributions that Black professionals have made to society, but to also provide inspiration and role models for future generations of tech professionals.
One innovator, Kimberly Bryant, founded Black Girls CODE, a non-profit organization to teach girls of colour about computer programming and technology. Black Girls CODE has introduced thousands of girls to the tech world through various workshops, hackathons, and summer camp sessions. Bryant’s work addresses the underrepresentation of Black women in technology and provides them with the skills and confidence needed to pursue careers within the field. Her efforts have been recognized by Forbes in 2018, when she was named as one of the top 50 women in tech.
Another notable figure is Tristan Walker, the founder of Walker & Company brands. This company designs health and beauty products catered to people of colour. Walker’s tech-driven approach to solving common grooming issues faced by Black men, led to the development of a shaving system called Bevel. This shaving system is designed to prevent razor bumps and irritation. Walker not only filled a significant market gap and also set a new standard for inclusivity in product design by leveraging technology to create products that address the unique needs of the Black community.
Arlen Hamilton is the founder and managing partner of a venture capital firm called Backstage Capital. This firm invests in start-ups led by underrepresented founders, including Black entrepreneurs, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Founded in 2015, Backstage Capital has invested over $10 million in more than 100 companies. Hamilton’s work is to provide much-needed funding and support to Black innovators.
These examples demonstrate the profound impact that Black innovators in tech can have on the industry and the community as a whole. Their work advances technology and also addresses specific challenges faced by the Black community.
Highlighting the achievements of Black tech entrepreneurs is important for several reasons. It challenges the stereotypes and biases that exist within the tech industry and provides aspiring technologists with role models. By celebrating innovators, we can inspire the next generation of Black technologists and ensure the tech industry becomes more representative of the diverse world it serves.
Lavanya Kathirgamanathan is one of the Writers for this year’s publication at Black Voice. She’s a recent graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University, where she studied Journalism and will further her education in Human Resources at George Brown College. Lavanya has experience writing for multiple publications and has her own food blog on social media. Lavanya’s main goal as a writer for the Black Voice publication is to showcase Black excellence within the community, and in the city of Toronto.