First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

Table of Contents 02

About Us

17

Overall Impact

04

EX EC U T I V E SU MMA RY

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P I LOT P R O G R A M M I NG

05

OU R V I SI O N & MI SSI O N

21

PA RTN E RSH IP S

06

TEA M

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F IN A N C I A L S

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Programming 08

F EL LOWSHI P OV E R V I E W

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F EL LOWSHI P ST R U C T U R E

10

F EAT U R E D SP E A K E R S

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OVE R V I E W O F F E L LOW S

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SEL EC T I O N P R O C E SS

15

F EL LOW SP OT L I G HT S

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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Continued Impact 25

J O IN U S

1

First Tech Fund

was founded in 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic that amplified the existing inequalities students faced in the education system.

Now more than ever, students require access and support when trying to break generational cycles of poverty.

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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Theory of Change To empower low income high school students in identifying, navigating, and attaining academic and professional opportunities, First Tech Fund (FTF) provides a supportive, adaptive ecosystem where students get access to free tech, free broadband, skills training, social capital, mentorship, and more.

The Problem We Face SYSTE MATIC INEQUALITI E S PROBLEM

SOLU TI ON

12 million students are impacted by the digital divide in the United States.

EdSurge, 2020

First Tech Fund provides free laptops & WiFi for underserved high school students in NYC

PROBLEM

SOLU TI ON

44% of New Yorkers who are living in poverty have no broadband connection.

The Gothamist, 2020

First Tech Fund provides free unlimited internet for students and their families for a minimum of a year

PROBLEM

SOLU TI ON

55% more likely to enroll in college if underserved students receive mentorship in high school. Civic Enterprises &

Hart Research, 2014

First Tech Fund pairs students with mentors in fields they’ve expressed interest in, meeting 1x a month for the school year

PROBLEM

SOLU TI ON

2% of New Yorkers possess the in demand skills that employers seek.

First Tech Fund provides skills training & career development training to all students to prepare them for employment

NYC Tech Talent Pipeline, 2016

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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Dear supporter, Since 2020, First Tech Fund has been laser focused on bridging the gap for countless low-income high school students in NYC as they faced the digital divide, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a lack of guidance in accessing educational and professional development opportunities that equip them in breaking generational cycles of poverty. We are deeply committed to building systems of support which empower our students to discover, pursue, and take advantage of higher education, summer enrichment programs and scholarships, and to cultivating a community that generates collective success by sharing insights about college, internships, and more.

This report represents the impact that we’ve driven through the first two years of our organization’s work, and highlights the staff, volunteers and students that we work with. It reaffirms our commitment to offering high quality programming & wrap-around services, while continuing to provide the necessary technology and connectivity access that supercharges our student’s ability to succeed. We’ve taken into account input from our leadership team, our funders, and most importantly, our alumni and current students when thinking about operating and scaling. We’re especially grateful to our Student Advisory Committee, whose input has been invaluable to our planning process.

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

As we continue to grow this movement, we hope to onboard additional students, community partners, funders, volunteers, and thought partners to ensure that we create a long-term network of highly motivated, ambitious, and community-driven students that creates economic opportunity for generations to come.

Everyone at First Tech Fund is incredibly excited about this next chapter of growth for our organization as we continue to illuminate pathways and catalyze futures for our participants in NYC and beyond – but we can’t do any of this work without you. As you read the pages that follow, we hope that you’ll consider joining our team in one form or another. We tell all of our students at the beginning of our fellowship that a rising tide lifts all boats – we hope that you’ll help us create the next wave of future leaders across industries.

In community,

Josue De Paz

CEO & co-founder First Tech Fund

Hana Seligman

COO & co-founder First Tech Fund

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Our Vision

Our Mission

First Tech Fund is working to uplift the next generation of young leaders through seed investments and exposure to pathways that allow them to discover, pursue, and succeed in attaining their educational, personal, and professional development goals.

First Tech Fund is dedicated to closing the digital divide by providing low-income and underserved communities with access to technology, connectivity, and sponsorship that allows them to pursue educational, personal development, and career opportunities.

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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Team B OA RD

Jerome Sanders

Jamal Adams

Rodney Cruz Pizarro

Emerging Technologies & Incubation, Cisco

Principal, La Salle High

Legal, Airbnb

Nakia Alston-Hendrickson

Nicole Chin-Lyn

Alicia Baksh-Ousman

Development Director, Community Voices Heard

Senior Director of Communications & Marketing, NYC Kids RISE

Associate, Credit Controllers Group, Apollo Global Management

A DVISOR S Branden Crouch Fernando Snowden-Lorence

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

Howie Seligman Jamie Novak

Megan Eiss Ricardo Pedrorias

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J U N IOR BOARD Andres Gonzalez Anjelica Kempis Benjamin Marinelli Carlos Martinez Cristel Gomez Dani Siansky Emma Hong Farheen Mukarram Gloria Lin Johanna Valencia

Joshua McKie Jerry Tsui Kayla Berrios Keyonne Session Keyra Galvan Kiku Shinfuku Langston Williams Lisa McMonagle Louis Oprisa Max Nguyen

Norhan Elbermawy Sara Azoulay Sarah Gurbach Stacy Magallon Tahjai Conkerite Tiffany Odeka Tristan Paguio Zehra Mirza

Gloria Lin Hayley Mojica Jake Wright Jamie Redman Johanna Valencia Joshua McKie Kayla Berrios Ketrah Mugambe Keyra Galvan Kristi Kiku Shinfuku Langston WIlliams Lisa McMonagle Max Nguyen Norhan Elbermawy

Olivia Fowora RaeChelle English Ro Wilson Ryan Treppedi Sally Helmi Sara Azoulay Shelby Wilson Soophia Ansari Tahjai Conkerite Taiwo Akande Tien Lu Tiffany Odeka Tristan Paguio

M E N TOR S Alex Henson Alice Chou Aly Wood Amol Patel Andres Gonzalez Anjelica Kempis Benjamin Marinelli Bethany Wong Christian Rodriguez Corey Torpie Dani Siansky Danielle Hayes David Lyons Ellen Henrion

VO LUNTEERS Amanda DeRosa Andie Villanueva

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

Gina Liu Julie Nguyen

Kimberly Richardson Sarah Weiss

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Programming FE LLOWSHIP OVERVIEW Our year-long fellowship puts low-income, NYC students on a trajectory for success in college and careers, provides them with free access to technology, and creates a community of support.

The program runs remotely from September to June on weekday evenings where students receive digital skills training, personalized mentorship, and career exploration and networking opportunities. We hold

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

workshops on various topics including navigating the college admissions process, resume writing, brand building, and more.

Fellows meet with their mentors on a monthly basis and attend networking and professional development events with our corporate partners and volunteers throughout the year.

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Fellowship Structure Our fellowship meets 3-4x a month on Zoom to provide students with skills, career exposure, individualized support, and connections to future opportunities. Fellows can opt in to participate in a variety of additional programming based on their individual interests.

KEY C O M M IT M E N T S

Career Workshops MONTHLY FROM SEPT - JUNE • •

Candid structured dialogues Wide variety of careers and experiences

Skills Training Workshops MONTHLY Targeted skills training around financial literacy, loans, public speaking & more

Opt In Mentor Check-Ins MONTHLY Focused on helping you achieve your top priorities

COM M U NI TY Opportunities to build a strong network of support through 1:1s and personal introductions

P R OGR A M M I NG Optional workshops led by expert speakers on topics like writing a college essay and financial wellness

Opportunity Emails MONTHLY We search for and send scholarships, jobs, internships & more

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

A ND M OR E… • • •

Office hours Corporate & networking events Social gatherings

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Featured Speakers In order to show our students the number of possible pathways that exist and to ensure they feel seen, heard and represented, we highlight speakers who are working in industries of interest for our students, as well as professionals that they have limited exposure to. We create a safe space and ask speakers to share concrete examples of how they achieved success in their respective careers, so students know the journey that speakers went through, and not just the end result.

Scott Syroka Deputy Director of Communications Biden-Harris Administration, U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Haris Khan Special Assistant to the Commissioner. Schwarzman Scholar ‘22 NYC Department of Small Business Services

Alaa Al-Barghuthi Director, Social Impact Gerson Lehman Group

Danielle Hayes Seconded Attorney Amazon

Victoria Alvizurez Software Engineer Priceline

Vanessa Williams Sr. Creative Marketing Manager Prime Video

Keyonne Session Enablement Trainer Better

Sarita Ram Product Management Consultant & Owner PinkPen LLC

Emma Hong Product Marketing Manager Teachers Pay Teachers Jasmine Aragon Creative Project Manager Noggin Catherine Okafor Coach & Founder Elevate 30 Coaching & Consulting Chelsea Popper-Narvaez Associate Producer 48 Hours - CBS News Marc Burnett Product Designer Gusto Vanessa Luna Co-Founder & Chief Program Officer Immschools

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

Tracy Ogbunamiri Global Studies Manager, Oncology Genentech Tahjai Conkerite Enterprise Customer Success Manager Doma Kati Fernandez Director, Content Development & Integration ESPN+ & ESPN Films Keyra Galvan People Operations Program Manager Robinhood Emmanuel Hiram Amaud Assistant Professor of Law Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Pierre Bouzi Development Scientist - Optics Corning Incorporated Andrea Wright-Macedo Talent Researcher, M&A Robinhood Mason Williams Production Assistant Rockbridge Lauren Gardiner Data Scientist Etsy Branden Crouch Private Equity Investor North Equity Aly Wood Manager, Diversity & Inclusion Informatica Kaivalya Gorla GRC Analyst II, Risk and Governance Vimeo Sayo Kamara Senior Associate Cushman & Wakefield Ilhan Ahmed Senior Accountant Netflix Emily Lee Product Support Manager Google Talia Scott Law Student NYU Law 10

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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Overview of Fellows AGGR EGATE STUDE N T DE MOS 2020 & 2021

2.92%

Middle Eastern or North African

0.73%

White, Caucasian or European American

137

12.41% Multiracial

E TH N ICITY

31.39%

African American or Black

Fellows

22.63%

29.93%

Asian or Asian American

Hispanic / Latinx

2.19%

Staten Island

13.14% Manhattan

BO R O U G H

34.31%

22.63%

Queens

Brooklyn

27.73% Bronx

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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1.46%

14.60%

Prefer not to answer

2.19%

9th Grade

37.95% 12th Grade

Other identity

29.93% Male

G E N DE R

GRADE

18.98% 10th Grade

66.42%

28.47% 11th Grade

Female

937

137

Applications

Seats

I N C O ME L E V E L

81%

Extremely Low

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

14% 5% Very Low Low

* Income measure according to NYC HPD 2022 Thresholds ** As we were trying to deploy services rapidly, we did not collect household size in 2020 but the average household income of our participants was $29,361

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Our goal in the admissions process is to create a complementary and balanced cohort of individuals who will work together to lift each other up. In order to accomplish this, we evaluate applicants based on their aspirations, involvement in their communities, and willingness to learn.

We do not take standardized test scores or GPA into consideration because we believe there are many systemic factors that prevent students from performing their best in traditional settings. Rather than admitting

students who are academically top performers, we focus on an equitable selection process for ambitious and capable students who may get automatically ruled out in other programs’ competitive processes.

We work with a volunteer selection committee who reviews applicants through a double blinded process to combat unconscious bias. Applicants are selected based on a rubric that puts emphasis on need for the program, effort, and thoughtfulness, without taking into account spelling, grammar or sentence structure.

Selection Process

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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Fellow Spotlights Aissatou B R O O K LY N

Fellow 2020 / Columbia University 2026

My time with First Tech Fund prepared me for college by exposing me to multiple career paths, making my choices much more informed and less stressful. With FTF, I developed organizational skills that allow me to be productive and responsible with my tasks. Also, I developed networking skills that have helped me build meaningful relationships with many people both in and out of my campus.

Amadou B R ONX

Fellow 2021 / Manhattan Hunter Science High School 2023

Through the panels hosted by First Tech Fund, I was able to find the career that I’m planning to pursue - Finance.

I’ve always had a love for math and numbers but didn’t know what I could do with it; the program showed me how this passion can be applied to business and how I can grow not only as a student but as a person who self-advocates for my goals.

Obianuju BRONX

Fellow 2021 / University Heights High School 2024

First Tech Fund is the backbone I needed to pursue my dreams. Giving me strength and courage, they’ve constantly pushed me to strive for greatness while also giving me the resources needed to do so. From mentoring, to tips on email etiquette & networking, and supporting my various aspirations, First Tech Fund is the foundation to my stability of success.

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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Fellow Spotlights Juky

S TAT E N IS L A N D Fellow 2021 / Susan E. Wagner HS 2023

First Tech Fund opened multiple doors for me through the resources they offer since my junior year of high school. I was able to get college application support and became a QuestBridge Finalist due to the guidance provided through mentorship and the workshops.

Through the different industry panels, I better understood emerging job opportunities.

Viktoria M A NHATTAN

Fellow 2021 / University of Albany 2026

FTF feels like more than a fellowship, it feels like a family and I know I can always turn to the staff if I ever encounter any obstacles or need help achieving my future goals.

Sabina QUEENS

Fellow 2020 / Fordham University Class of 2025

First Tech Fund helped me build foundational skills like resume building, internship searching, networking, and how to present myself professionally in settings like job interviews - something I didn’t have access to in the community I grew up in. Without First Tech Fund, I wouldn’t have received any internships or job opportunities and am grateful for their support.

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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Overall Impact

131

laptops distributed

40+

hours of digital skills training

30+

career panels hosted

20 20

100%

of students stated they were “able to participate more effectively in school and remote learning because of access provided by FTF.”

91.4%

of students stated that “Having access to FTF’s program and technology allowed me to apply to extracurricular activities or summer programs”

80%

of students stated that the WiFi access provided through the program benefitted not only them, but also their families in accessing educational, social, and health services, among others.

88.6% First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

of students were accepted to college, career readiness, and/or other extra-curricular programs

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20 21

80+ 98% 65+

college acceptances and scholarship offers (28 seniors) 86% seniors attended 2 or 4 year college post graduation; compared to an average of 62% of students citywide

of students stated that FTF increased their awareness of a wide range of career paths and opportunities available to them

career readiness and/or extracurricular program acceptances

P RE-PROGRAM

P O S T-P RO G RA M

40%

100%

38%

95%

of students said they had community support

of students said a lack of tech negatively impacted their ability to participate in remote learning

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

of students said they found support through the FTF community

of students said they were able to participate in remote learning more effectively because of the tech provided by FTF

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Pilot Programming SU MME R FOTO PROGRAM In 2020, we piloted a career exposure and digital photography access program for 8 NYC teenagers who were all interested in growing their creative skills and understanding how the skill of photography could be leveraged for future opportunities.

“This organization helped me start my career in photography. Because of them I got my first camera and had my photos featured in a gallery!! This organization is full of amazing people who changed my life for the better.”

This 7-week program provided students with lessons on foundational photography skills & theories, insight into career pathways, individualized mentorship, and a safe space for constructive art critiques.

- RENELL E

Photography Knowledge

Support

•

Students’ knowledge of photography techniques increased by +3 pts out of a scale of 10

•

Average rating before program: 3.4 // Average rating after program: 7

S T U DENT’S RATING O F PHOTOGRAPHY K N OWL E DG E 0

•

Students feelings of connection and support by a community or mentor increased by +3.2 pts out of a scale of 10

•

Average rating before program: 4.9 // Average rating after program: 8.1

ST UD ENT ’ S RAT ING O F F EELING SU PPORT 10

0

10

3.4

7.0

4.9

8.1

Before

After

Before

After

DISCLAIMER: Program not continued due to lack of funding First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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Partnerships F O U NDATION & COMMUN ITY PARTN E R S , C O R PO R AT E PA R T N E R S & IN - K IN D PA R T N E RS

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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PAR T N E R S H I P CASE STUDY

First Tech Fund partnered with A Book Apart on their buy one, get one free promotion.

As a result, we received 90 free books, which we distributed to our students. Titles that we disseminated covered a range of topics including public speaking, design, and business.

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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Financials YE AR 1 : R EVENUE & EXPENS ES

$47,364

50K

Individual Contributions In-Kind Contributions

40K

Program Operational

30K

96% 20K

$12,989 10K

77%

4%

Revenue

23%

Expenses

Y E AR 2: REVENUE & EXPE N S E S

200K

$181,667

160K

29%

In-Kind Contributions Corporate Support

120K

$102,379

24%

Foundation Support Earned Revenue Public Funding

80K 40K

Individual Contributions

23% 7%

16%

Revenue First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

84%

Program Operational

2%

16%

Expenses 23

Continued Impact O UR VISION FOR T H E FUT U RE The first two years at First Tech Fund were full of excitement, hard work, stress, student success, and many learnings.We’re reflecting on our past experience as we think about our long-term future and how we want to continue to drive impact in our communities.

Our north star is to create a national network of highly skilled Fellows from low-income communities that can support each other’s growth, share workforce opportunities with each other, and can one day

sustain the First Tech Fund community by becoming mentors, volunteers, staff, advisors, board members, and more. The goal we started with remains the same – create pathways and pipelines of youth of color into professions that help them break generational cycles of poverty.

We’ve outlined below a couple of areas that we’re focused on in the near term and we’d love your help in bringing this vision to life:

SH ORT TE RM

Hire the Right Team We’re working towards massive goals and we need the right people with the necessary skills and experience to get us there – our team is looking to hire staff on our programs team, create an alumni success team, an expansion team, and start building out the foundations for our national team.

Increase Program Seats First Tech Fund has received over 1,200+ applications for 240 spots in our program – we know that we need to grow the number of seats available for our community. We envision growing our program’s bandwidth, once we grow our team, in NYC and beyond.

Formalize Workforce Partnerships As our alumni move on to college and the start of their careers, we’d like to expand our corporate partnerships to provide students with opportunities to grow and make trajectory-shifting starts to their careers.

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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LON G TERM PLANS Over the next decade, First Tech Fund is positioned to continue being a holistic support system for lowincome and first generation students of color by: guiding students from high school to college and careers; providing them with access to opportunities to get their foot in the door; and supporting a vast network of potential employers, colleagues, friends, mentors, and co-founders.

By 2027, we expect to disseminate 10,000 laptops to students across the country and hope to be serving thousands of students per year in cities across the United States.

FirstTechFund.com

Join Us Partner with us on our mission to support students by donating new or used technology, sponsoring our work, partnering with us, volunteering as a mentor, or donating office space for fellowship events.

DONATE TO OUR MISSION

instagram.com/firsttechfund twitter.com/firsttechfund

DONATE LAPTOPS

facebook.com/firsttechfund linkedin.com/company/first-tech-fund

SPONSOR AN EVENT

BECOME A WORKFORCE PARTNER

VOLUNTEER & MENTOR

DONATE SPACE

First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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First Tech Fund Impact Report 2020-2022

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First Tech Fund 2020-2022