Finally, a few post about the lack of diversity in social media and web/tech entrepreneurship outside of the “black channel” are starting to pop-up around the interwebs. Maybe 2011 is “our” year or the year we’ll not only see more minority own startups launch but get funded, covered by major tech blogs and receive the same respect as other social media and web/tech entrepreneurs. Hey… I can dream right? Before I post a few links of the recent blog post about the lack of diversity problem, lets look back on a some articles I think really started to highlight the problem. Most are from BlackWeb 2.0 where my friend and colleague Angle Benton and team have been covering the minority web tech space since 2007. The post that really has been an eye opener is the Venture Capital Human Capital Report in which BlackWeb 2.0 highlights that African Americans Only 1% of Internet Start-up Founders as you can see in the chart at the top of this post.
Other articles from around the web about the lack of diversity in the social media and tech entrepreneurship space pre 2011 are:
- Innovation Crisis in Black America, Pt. 1
- Innovation Crisis in Black America Pt. 2: Where are Black Entrepreneurs and Angels?
- 23% of Black Web 2.0 Start-ups Operating with Revenue, Surpass National Average
- Why technology, startup, entrepreneur, social media conference organizers cannot fix the lack diversity problem at their events.
- BlackWeb2.0 Startup Entrepreneurs – Highly Educated, Operating with Revenue and Mostly Unfunded
- Surprise! Silicon Valley Doesn’t Employ Minorities
- Race and Technology: Are There Renowned Internet Startups With Black Founders?
Fast forward to late 2010 and early 2011 the conversation about the lack of diversity in social media and tech entrepreneurship is heating up and others are starting to take notice. Also note the previous post were discussed a lot during SXSW 2011 and a few of us decided to launch our own startup (gokit) during SXSW as you can read here on Black Enterprise as a result. You see, the links above are primarily from minority own or affiliate sites with the exception for one or two. In the past few weeks there have been Quora questions and other post by non minorities noticing the lack of diversity in the social media space and highlighting minorities entrepreneurs. Here are a few:
- Women of Color in Tech: How Can We Encourage Them?
- Blinded by the White: Social Media and Diversity
- U.S. Prisons Now Hold More Black Men Than Slavery Ever Did (unrelated but just sad)
- Women of Color in Tech: How Can We Encourage Them?
- Quora: Are there any Black owned mobile app Startups, that Robert Scoble and other pro bloggers have done interviews on?
- Quora: Who are some notable black founders, entrepreneurs, and executives in Silicon Valley?
- Startup America needs to look more like America | Where are the Startups of Color?
Now What?
So now what? The conversations are heating up, we know there is a problem, few are making it or at least trying. How can myself and others help solve the problem? I have a few ideas along with some of the notes and comments from the TechCrunch post about women of color. Here are some suggestions
- provide mentorship—and a lot of encouragement. via Vivek Wadhwa
- volunteer time/resources/money to the community you come from via Travell Perkins (TC comments)
- Stop complaining about the lack of diversity in the tech and web space and just do something about it.
- Network and attend various events outside of your confront zone.
- If you have an idea about launching a startup but not all the resources and skills, don’t let that hold you back. Partner and launch.
- Read various resources on launching a startup: a few are: http://thestartupfoundry.com http://www.startuplessonslearned.com and Dave McClure’s presentations on slideshare http://www.slideshare.net/dmc500hats (google and Quora are your friends)
- Join local groups on startups/entrepreneurship (use plancast and/or meetup.com
- If you’re a startup working with an accelerator or mentor help others get to where you’re at… pay it forward and don’t be selfish
- Read sites and join local groups focusing on minorities in the web tech space such as:
http://blackweb20.com
http://www.blackfounders.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/minorities-in-startups
http://www.meetup.com/blacksintech/
http://btechweekend.com/
http://whereareblacksintechnology.blogspot.com/
http://28daysofdiversity.com
http://www.bloggingwhilebrown.com/
http://www.blackweblogawards.com/
Building while brown facebook groups http://plancast.com/p/49ef/building-brown (ask to join)
http://blogalicious.com
http://diversityintech.com (coming soon)
Also note, I’m working with a team planning an accelerator based in the Bay Area this summer around minorities startups. For more information on the project email me if you would like to get involved.
Your turn!
What can you do and/or what are some suggestions how to solve the diversity problem in the social media and web/tech entrepreneurship space?
