Google's Tech Equity Collective Introduces Free Black Genius Academy App to Foster Black Tech Talent

  • By Kate Lucariello
  • 09/19/23

The Tech Equity Collective (TEC) was started by Google to assist aspiring Black tech talent and innovation. It creates "culturally informed career pathway programs," Google said, and recently announced the Black Genius Academy (BGA) app. This free app helps aspiring Black tech learners by providing resources such as personal guidance to help them locate and enroll in certificate and bootcamp programs with supportive and successful Black tech leaders and educators to guide them in navigating careers in tech.

Information on grant opportunities to help defray the cost of education programs is also available.

The three fastest growing tech fields today are cybersecurity, software engineering, and user experience (UX) design, the company said. Learners can listen to audio interviews with Black leaders in these fields and get help working out a career plan. The five-step process supports learners to:

  • Received a customized career path plan;
  • Obtain a career coach who can help with goals, planning, and making decisions;
  • Become part of a community of Black tech professionals who can support them in their journey;
  • Enroll in tech job training programs; and
  • Participate in workshops and other venues for new tech innovators.

"Every step of the way, I felt guided and empowered to explore, learn, and evolve," said Dawit Ferede, a Black Genius Academy learner. "This unwavering focus on my growth is a testament to the program's dedication to fostering talent and potential."

Go to the Black Genius Academy page to learn more about the app and sign up.

The Tech Equity Collective "partners with the Black community, other tech companies, and organizations to create holistic pathways for the Black tech innovators," the organization said. To learn more, visit the Tech Equity Collective page.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

Featured

  • computer with a red warning icon on its screen, surrounded by digital grids, glowing neural network patterns, and a holographic brain

    Report Highlights Security Risks of Open Source AI

    In these days of rampant ransomware and other cybersecurity exploits, security is paramount to both proprietary and open source AI approaches — and here the open source movement might be susceptible to some inherent drawbacks, such as use of possibly insecure code from unknown sources.

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • a professional worker in business casual attire interacting with a large screen displaying a generative AI interface in a modern office

    Study: Generative AI Could Inhibit Critical Thinking

    A new study on how knowledge workers engage in critical thinking found that workers with higher confidence in generative AI technology tend to employ less critical thinking to AI-generated outputs than workers with higher confidence in personal skills.

  • university building with classical columns and a triangular roof displayed on a computer screen, surrounded by minimalist tech elements like circuit lines and abstract digital shapes

    Pima Community College Launches New Portal for a Unified Digital Campus Experience

    Arizona's Pima Community College is elevating the digital campus experience for students, faculty, and staff with a new portal built on the Pathify digital engagement platform.