The Talent x Opportunity Initiative (TxO) launched a new grant program this summer to empower broader pools of undernetworked talent interested in technology and entrepreneurship through upskilling, career advancement, and internships. This program is a step toward expanding our support beyond the founders who participate in the TxO initiative. Our aim is to connect more talent of all backgrounds who have insightful ideas and the drive to advance in business or technology with opportunities to realize their ambitions.
We’re excited to welcome three pioneering organizations to the TxO community as the first grantees of this program: Teach.Empower.Achieve., Unlocked Labs, and VetsinTech. These nonprofits are leading efforts to bridge gaps in tech education, skills training, and economic opportunity for women facing employment barriers, justice-impacted individuals, current and returning veterans, and military spouses.
Learn more about the 2024 TxO Grantees below. TxO will continue to support mission-aligned nonprofits annually with the next grant cycle kicking off in 2025. Stay tuned for application updates.
- Teach.Empower.Achieve. (T.E.A.): T.E.A. is a workforce development organization dedicated to empowering women facing employment barriers by providing comprehensive programs that address critical needs such as transportation, childcare, and career planning. T.E.A. collaborates closely with businesses to identify employment needs and offers tailored training in digital literacy, financial wellness, and professional skills to support participants’ pathways toward self-sufficiency.
- Unlocked Labs: Unlocked Labs is focused on transforming the justice system by training and employing currently and formerly incarcerated individuals in technology. Founded by Jessica Hicklin and Chris Santillan, both originally sentenced to life without parole as juveniles, Unlocked Labs equips justice-impacted individuals with the skills and opportunities to succeed in tech and startup careers while driving systemic change. Through a comprehensive training program and development shop, they employ currently and formerly incarcerated people on projects that improve the justice system, such as tools for prison education, parole outcomes, and reducing racial bias in prosecutions. By leveraging lived experiences, Unlocked Labs empowers individuals to thrive in tech and contribute to a more just society.
- VetsinTech: VetsinTech supports current and returning veterans and military spouses transitioning to civilian life by connecting them with the national technology ecosystem through education, employment, and entrepreneurship programs. As the only nonprofit focused entirely on placing veterans and military spouses in tech careers or startups, VetsinTech helps reduce unemployment and empower its 80,000+ members. Offering free training in web development, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and more, VetsinTech also partners with top tech companies for direct hiring, mentorship, and job placement. Additionally, VetsinTech supports veteran entrepreneurs through bootcamps, pitch contests, and a startup network, fostering long-term success in the tech industry.
