The technology field is often criticized for its lack of diversity. With that being said, Black tech is rising and Black entrepreneurs are building companies that are changing the landscape and promoting new perspectives. These revolutionary minds are doing more than just creating successful businesses, they’re solving complex problems and leading the next generation to follow in their footsteps. Let’s look at some of the most intriguing Black-owned tech companies that are having a serious impact in today’s world.
Calendly: Revolutionizing How We Schedule Meetings
Nigerian-born Tope Awotona founded Calendly in 2013 and grew the company from what was originally an easy scheduling tool into a worldwide productivity app. The app ranks among the best across all mobile marketplaces, receiving a ton of 5-star reviews. Awotona invested $200,000 of his own money to get the platform started after getting rejected by investors early on. Today, the company is worth over $3 billion and has over 10 million users monthly all over the world.
Calendly’s unique approach to the universal problem of scheduling meetings has made it almost impossible for businesses of all sizes not to make use of it. The platform’s success demonstrates the basics of business and how identifying and solving a problem that people face every day can lead to life-changing growth. The persistence of Awotona is inspiring and sets an example that many Black founders should follow in a space where they receive under 1% of VC funding.
Kanarys: Data-Driven Diversity Solutions
In 2018, Kanarys jumped on the scene, using data analytics to help build more inclusive workplaces from Fortune 500 companies to small or mid sized companies. Fueled by the leadership of Mandy Price, Star Carter, and Bennie King, the platform combines AI, machine learning, and data analysis to provide solutions and identify DEI gaps within organizations.
Kanarys approach to turning workplace inclusion into measurable metrics is what makes them stand out as a front-line company. The technology used assesses information from how a company hires to promotion patterns, resulting in giving businesses data to improve their efforts in diversifying their workplace. As companies continue to recognize the value of diverse workplaces, Kanarys has positioned itself to be an essential business during this transformation.
Fiveable: Democratizing Education Through Technology
Former AP teacher Amanda DoAmaral founded Fiveable to provide a solution to educational unfairness that she saw with her own eyes. Comprehensive study resources, live streams, and community support for students preparing for AP exams are just a few of the things the platform offers. Created originally to help students succeed on AP tests, a community of over 5 million users has blossomed.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the growth of Fiveable when learning remotely became essential. In 2021, the company raised $10 million in Series A funding and continues to expand its educational offerings and support the youth. The vision of DoAmaral for accessible yet quality education shows how purpose-driven tech can be a force of balance.
Airbase: Streamlining Financial Operations
Founded by Thejo Kote, Airbase is a one-stop shop money management platform that integrates purchasing, invoices, and expenses. With over $60 million raised, it serves hundreds of mid-market companies and continues to grow each day.
Airbase separates itself from their competition by unifying traditionally broken systems into one consistent platform, which is how they make their bread and butter. Kote sold Airbase for $100 million to Automatic, and through his experience he gained worldwide credibility to undertake complex financial challenges. Kote’s journey shows how serial entrepreneurship in the Black community creates compounding knowledge and opportunities that will last for decades.
Career Karma: Connecting Aspiring Developers to Coding Bootcamps
Ruben Harris, Artur Meyster, and Timur Meyster are the masterminds behind Career Karma, founded to help navigate the overstimulating process of switching careers to tech. The platform matches user profiles with coding boot camps and offers support as users begin their journey to learning a new skill. Today, Career Karma has helped thousands of people from all backgrounds enter the tech industry.
Career Karma raised $40 million in Series B funding in 2022, reinforcing its mission to open tech roads to success for underrepresented communities. The company’s growth brings light to the rising demand for alternative ways to get tech education, especially in minority communities.
Blavity: Building Media for Black Millennials and Gen Z
While Blavity Inc. isn’t solely a tech company, they stand out for their use of technology to build media platforms for young Black people. Morgan DeBaun, Aaron Samuels, Jonathan Jackson, and Jeff Nelson founded the company, and it has since grown into a digital media empire with brands such as, 21Ninety, AfroTech, and Travel Noire.
The company’s flagship conference, AfroTech, is the largest Black tech event in the U.S., offering networking opportunities to Black people of all ages. Blavity’s success highlights how technology broadcasts diverse voices and builds communities often overlooked by mainstream media.
Black Tech Is Rising: The Road Ahead
These companies represent just a fraction of the innovation happening in Black-owned tech businesses across America and globally. What unites them is not just their founders’ identities but their approach to creating technology that solves meaningful problems, often with perspectives informed by their diverse experiences.
In turn, Black-owned tech companies demonstrate diversity’s impact when talent gets an opportunity. Their success stories are gradually changing investor perceptions and opening doors for new generations of Black tech entrepreneurs.
Ultimately, Black tech is rising—and these pioneers show that the future of tech is more diverse, inclusive, and innovative.
