Break Through Tech

We are so thrilled to have been granted National Science Foundation (NSF) funding to expand our innovative Break Through Tech AI program. Democratizing access to cutting edge training has to be part of the solution to diversifying the AI ecosystem and Break Through Tech has designed and is rolling out an innovative solution that doesn't go AROUND higher education - it goes through it - providing privileged access to the opportunities that only a small percentage of potential learners can get access to today. Thank you to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for investing in our innovative approach to changing WHO IS IN THE ROOM where the important AI decisions are being made. If you want to join this growing national consortium of educators having an impact beyond their own four walls - please contact us at https://lnkd.in/e_7cPuhM Jeff Forbes Pivotal Ventures Cornell Tech Susan Poser Greg Morrisett Tsu-Jae Liu Don Fussell Mark Riedl Maya Israel Asu Ozdaglar

From exploring the intersection of biology and #machinelearning to building a logistic regression model with Accenture, Hritika Chaturvedi’s journey exemplifies the transformative power of Break Through Tech. As a senior at UCLA, Hritika has not only honed her technical skills but also discovered the confidence to pursue meaningful applications of machine learning. Her advice? "Don’t be afraid to ask for help, learn from others, and stay connected.' Read her inspiring story and see how she’s bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world impact! -> https://bit.ly/4gwgKtJ #womenintech #techtalent #womeninAI #breakthroughtech

Opportunity for #Undergraduate students! Get your applications early for the Break Through Tech AI Program at MIT. Priority deadline is January 13, 2025. #womenintech #nonbinaryintech #techtalent #breakthroughtech

We are proud to be part of Pivotal's $150M commitment to remove barriers for women in the workplace. Together, we are creating transformative opportunities for women in tech! Founded by Melinda French Gates in 2015, Pivotal works to advance social progress and expand women's power and influence in the U.S. and around the world. Our impact so far:  ✅ 80% of Break Through Tech AI Program fellows land tech positions ✅ Sprinterns™ secure summer internships at 10x the rate of their peers ✅ 8,500+ students served since 2016 ✅ Students from 260+ universities participate in our programs ✅ Backed by 275+ industry partners across sectors With Pivotal's visionary support, we're breaking barriers and building a more inclusive future for women in tech. Watch this video to see some of our incredible students already shaping tomorrow's tech landscape. 📢 Read more about Pivotal's announcement here: https://bit.ly/3BoXNKb Pivotal Ventures #WomenInTech #RemovingBarriers #WomeninAI #TechTalent

🎉 A heartfelt THANK YOU to our incredible supporters! 🎉 It’s because of you that Break Through Tech is changing the path to power and influence in our tech-enabled world. Your commitment enables us to empower female talent to break into influential tech roles by arming them with the skills, experiences, and professional readiness support they need to harness their limitless potential. Your belief in our mission fuels our work every day, and we couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for being part of this transformative journey. 🌟  Pivotal Ventures Cognizant Foundation Ken Griffin Citadel Citadel Securities Citigroup Foundation HOPPER-DEAN FOUNDATION Reboot Representation Google.org Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth Cadence System Design and Analysis Strada Education Foundation ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES CHARITABLE FOUNDATION New Ventures Fund VERIZON FOUNDATION Nielsen Foundation The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation #ThankYouDonors #RemovingBarriers #BreakThroughTech #WomeninTech

What happens when we bring together future tech leaders, thought-provoking insights, world experts, and actionable tools? Real change begins! We teamed up with The Algorithmic Justice League to tackle the critical role of diversity in #AI and how we can confront algorithmic bias in education. Download the Unmasking AI Guide here: https://lnkd.in/e2GfSdeR

Our first Break Through Tech Connect recently took place at Accenture’s impressive offices in New York. The room buzzed with energy as fellows, partners, and industry leaders came together to celebrate our shared mission: empowering the next generation of tech talent. The event underscored the power of collaboration, and we are grateful for Accenture’s partnership since 2016. Their support has been instrumental in creating opportunities for early career technologists and advancing our vision to expand access to tech careers for diverse talent across the country. A highlight of the day was a keynote by the brilliant Allie K. Miller, who shared her insights on the rapid evolution of AI and its human-centered possibilities. From showcasing #AI tools to inspiring bold innovation, her advice resonated with our fellows: embrace imperfection, uncover missing insights, and move ideas into action. The keynote was followed by an engaging panel featuring our CEO Judith Spitz, Ph.D., alongside Accenture leaders Lee Barrett and Teresa Tung, who shared their expertise and advice with fellows eager to shape their tech careers. Thank you to everyone who joined us in building a more inclusive tech future. Together, we’re not only envisioning change but actively building it. 💻✨ Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3ZXm6sj #RemovingBarriers #BreakThroughTech #TechDiversity #AIInnovation #Partnership

Removing barriers for women in the workplace isn’t just about fairness—it’s about creating systemic change that benefits everyone. 🌟 This insightful interview with the amazing Renee Kuriyan Wittemyer from Pivotal, featured by The Economist Impact, highlights key strategies for addressing workplace inequities. Key takeaways from the interview: 🔹 Caregiving responsibilities are a key barrier: A 16% increase since 2019 in women citing caregiving as a factor holding them back underscores the need for workplace flexibility and support. 🔹 The "broken rung" effect: Women face a significant drop-off in promotions to management roles, with caregiving and inflexible job structures driving the disparity. 🔹 Toxic workplaces persist: Harassment, violence, and bias disproportionately impact women, especially those in vulnerable or lower-income brackets. 🔹 Pivotal’s approach: Investments focus on scalable innovations, policy changes, and fostering women’s participation in AI and tech innovation. 🔹 A call to action for leaders: Policymakers and business leaders must prioritize removing barriers for women, ensuring their advancement is foundational to the strength of our economy. Break Through Tech is proud to partner with Pivotal to tackle these challenges by equipping undergraduate women with the skills, experiential opportunities, and supportive community they need to succeed in tech. As a beneficiary of Pivotal’s recently announced $150M commitment to remove barriers for women in the workplace, we’re energized by this investment to advancing systemic change. Together, we’re showing that change is not only necessary—it’s within reach. Pivotal Ventures #RemovingBarriers #WomeninTech #WomeninAI #BreakThroughTech https://lnkd.in/gUBq6hMU

Today we are deeply thankful and inspired to express our organization's gratitude to Melinda French Gates and the entire Pivotal team for the groundbreaking $150M commitment to remove barriers that hold women back in the workplace. This visionary support is about more than just funding -- it reflects a profound commitment to driving systemic change that empowers women and reshapes the future of work. We are equally enthusiastic about the incredible work of the other beneficiaries who are joining in this shared mission to create a better world for all of us. They are: Center for Inclusive Computing Lift Our Voices Management Leadership for Tomorrow National Partnership for Women & Families Responsible Innovation Labs Rewriting the Code The Aspen Institute Women and Public Policy Program at the Harvard Kennedy School #RemovingBarriers #BreakThroughTech #WomeninAI Pivotal Ventures

The application for our 2025-2026 AI Program is now LIVE! Break Through Tech’s AI Program is a virtual, one-year extracurricular experience tailored to equip diverse undergraduates with the networks and technical skills needed to secure a job in the fastest-growing areas of tech: data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML). We have more momentum than ever, thanks to continued support from Pivotal, a network of organizations founded by Melinda French Gates as part of their commitment to help remove barriers for women in the workplace. Apply here today: https://lnkd.in/e7Te7jj8 #womenintech #removingbarriers ##womeninAI #breakthroughtech #techtalent Pivotal Ventures Cornell Tech