As a black woman in the tech industry, Nadiyah Johnson is no stranger to being the only person of color in the room. She noticed the lack of representation throughout her experiences in academia, in the corporate landscape, and in Milwaukee’s tech scene, where she is best known as the founder of Jet Constellations, an up-and-coming software solutions company.
In 2017, with Jet Constellations prepared for takeoff, Johnson made it her mission to bring other black entrepreneurs to the forefront of Milwaukee’s startup ecosystem. Shortly after launching Jet, she initiated The Milky Way Tech Hub, a concierge accelerator focused on creating a diverse and inclusive environment for underrepresented startup founders. Both ventures are housed at Johnson’s 5,700-square-foot office on Fon du Lac Avenue.
What originally started out as a consultancy soon evolved into a resource for everything from business planning, to building custom software, and startup funding. More importantly, Johnson says, The Milky Way Tech Hub served as a critical breakthrough for the region’s diverse startup class.
“We wanted to empower people to take control of the narrative of the city they live in,” Johnson, a Milwaukee native, said. “We always hear ‘Milwaukee is not the best place for black people.’ Empowering people to be the problem-solvers is a critical focus of Jet and Milky Way.”
It has also opened the doors to key conversations around representation. Johnson, a 2019 Wisconsin Inno 50 on Fire winner, says people may feel uncomfortable discussing race, gender and economic gaps, but Milwaukee’s reputation as a viable tech hub depends on it reflecting its diverse population.
Less than 12 percent of the region’s businesses are minority-owned despite non-whites making up more than 33 percent of the population, according to the Wisconsin Policy Forum.
“I am a black woman in tech, so I am very vocal about uplifting black people in the community, as well as very vocal about diversity in other underrepresented areas,” Johnson says. “There aren’t a lot of people making those bold statements, but there has to be an acknowledgment of the problem. More people are feeling accountable, and that’s the first step.”
During this year’s Startup Milwaukee Week, Johnson hosted The Milky Way Hub Track, a series of programs aimed at encouraging diversity among small business owners and entrepreneurs in Milwaukee. The events also included a pitch competition that awarded $10,000 to an early-stage company.
“It’s time for us to demystify this idea that there aren’t enough of ‘us’ — far too many people have leaned on this excuse,” Johnson said. “Some people see that negatively; I see that as meaning there is a lot of opportunity.”
It’s an opportunity that appears to be on the growth track. Since launching the accelerator program, The Milky Way Tech Hub has begun developing a database of founders to funnel through to partners, and has brought roughly 10 startups under its wing through its cohorts.
The businesses serve a wide range of industries and have included DisasterMed, a location-based platform used to help people find aid during a natural disaster; Crowd Canvass, an app used to crowdsource volunteer street teams; and StyleQ, a tech company that connects customers to beauty professionals in Milwaukee.
“Some people come knocking on your door and they have a brilliant idea, and that’s it,” Johnson said. “We help them move through the stages of ideation, all the way to plug-and-play, and have awarded funds to take their startup to the next level. The winning equation is drive, ambition and the right direction.”
That winning approach has earned The Milky Way Tech Hub key partnerships, including one with the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact, a venture capital firm focused on creating economic opportunities and closing equity gaps across the nation.
“Not only are they working with us on several initiatives, but they are also working alongside us to bring this vision to life,” Johnson said. “There are a lot of conversations leading to actions. I think Milwaukee has a lot of potential as a tech hub. A great tech hub is here — we’ve landed.”
