Why are there so few Black tech founders in the US and how can the tech ecosystem better support them?
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That’s a loaded question, because there are several reasons. Let’s start by pointing out that white people made up 77% of the labor force in 2019, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, while Black and Asian people made up just 13% and 6% of the labor force, respectively.
Still, data shows that black entrepreneurship is on the rise. Now, experts interviewed by Lifewire say the challenge is to revamp the country’s tech ecosystem to better support them.
Melissa Bradley, managing partner of 1863 Ventures, told Lifewire in an email interview that many Black people simply lack the resources and pathways to technology careers. Once there, they also lack the same access to capital as white entrepreneurs.
