We’re proud to announce the launch of a College Tech Talent Training Program division within the Intentionally Good program to connect organizations that train diverse college students and students in social impact in tech entrepreneurship, software development, design, product management, and more. Following behind our Scalable Tech Startup, Tech-enabled Small Business, and K-12 Tech Talent Training Program divisions, the first organization we’re working with in this new division is Black Tech Ventures (BTV), a Washington DC-based nonprofit that empowers Black undergraduate and graduate students majoring or concentrating in STEM to pursue startup entrepreneurship led by Chad Womack Ph.D (Senior Director, STEM Programs & Initiatives @ UNCF), Legand Burge III, Ph.D (Director of Howard West/Google TechXchange Program), and Grant M. Warner, Ph.D (Director, HowU Innovate @ Howard University).

Black Tech Ventures is launching the Tech Ventures Fellowship program as a multi-stage pre-accelerator program that will develop entrepreneurial talent, de-risk nascent ideas and ventures and build a robust pipeline of African American tech entrepreneurs and startup founders. “BTV represents a culmination of our experiences in teaching entrepreneurship, mentoring entrepreneurs and startup founders and being STEM innovators and tech entrepreneurs ourselves. Over the years, we have engaged many very bright and motivated Black entrepreneurs seeking to launch new tech ventures, and these experiences have given us deeper insights about their needs, how to prepare them for launch and initial investments”, said Chad Womack, PhD a Co-Founder of BTV.

STEM education, innovation and entrepreneurial leadership are the keys for success in the global tech economy. Many African American students matriculate through their undergraduate and, even, graduate STEM programs without ever being exposed to entrepreneurship or encouraged to consider becoming startup founders. Yet, these students represent a potential source of tech entrepreneurial leaders who can build, lead and scale future startup companies. However, before these future tech entrepreneurial leaders get to the launch phase, they need to understand the core or fundamental principles of Lean Startup entrepreneurship that will help to guide them along their entrepreneurial journey.

Black Tech Ventures pipeline of students aligns well with Goodie Nation’s community of diverse tech startup founders, social entrepreneurs, influencers, corporate innovators, experts, and investors. “The time has never been greater to train the next generation of tech leaders. I launched my first startup in college, and I understand the importance of developing the ability to go from idea to pilot at a young age,” says Joey Womack, Founder and CEO of Goodie Nation. “Working with Black Tech Ventures aligns with our philosophy of providing assistance to high-potential program operators, and it signals our entry into the college tech talent training program market.”

For more information about Black Tech Ventures visit www.blacktech.ventures

This is tech done right.