Career Karma is partnering with Google's Tech Equity Collective to bring more Black talent into the technology sector.
Today the companies officially launched the Black Genius Academy, a free platform that equips users with resources and information to explore career options in software engineering, UX design and cybersecurity.
The website connects users with a community of coaches and professionals to help them succeed, including audio lessons from Black leaders in those fields. Users also receive personalized action plan that lays out the steps necessary to find a job.
The goal is to ensure young people and career switchers feel supported as they pursue a career in tech.
It's also a way to help close the racial talent gap in tech. Black professionals currently make up just 7% of the U.S. tech workforce, according to federal data. Increasing that share is a way to close racial income gaps as well, since tech workers typically earn above-average salaries.
Although the Miami-area stands out as the nation's most culturally and racially diverse market for technology degree graduates, only about 15% of those graduates are Black.
"Part of this is about ensuring that Black talent can stay in places like Miami as costs increase," Career Karma founder Ruben Harris told Miami Inno.
In addition to upskilling programs, Black Genius Academy users can connect with peers on the platform pursuing similar goals.
"Sometimes it is more helpful to talk to someone one rung in front of you so they can tell you exactly how they got there," Harris said.
Users who do not have background in tech can complete mini-lessons in either software engineering, UX design or cybersecurity before committing to a particular career path. After that, they can use the platform to identify and enroll in outside continuing education programs to obtain the credentials they need to qualify for one of those roles.
Black Genius Academy will eventually add mini-lessons and information for jobs tied to emerging technology like generative artificial intelligence, Harris added.
Founded in 2018, Career Karma considers a person's job history, skills and career goals and then matches them with one of hundreds of tech bootcamps or training programs available on its marketplace. The startup is backed by more than $50 million in venture capital from investors such as Google Ventures, SoftBank and Y Combinator.
In addition to Google, Black Genius Academy plans to partner with other major businesses to ensure users are training for in-demand skills that will get them hired, Harris added.
"A big question people have is, 'even if I go to the best schools, will what I learn still be relevant in the workforce?,'" he said. "We're making sure that they will be."
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