Black Boys Code
Black Boys Code is a Canadian-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering free STEM, coding, robotics, and AI literacy workshops and after-school programs to Black youth aged 8-17 across U.S. and Canadian chapters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Black Boys Code does
Black Boys Code is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 86-1210929) founded in 2015 by Bryan Johnson, a technology professional with over 20 years' experience at UPS and Aeroplan. The organization delivers free STEM, coding, robotics, and AI education programs to Black youth aged 8-17 (with a Reskilling in Tech Program for ages 18-29) across North America. Beginning in Vancouver, Canada, it expanded into the United States in 2018 via an Atlanta chapter and now operates 6+ American chapters (Atlanta, Chicago, DeKalb, Detroit, Gwinnett County, Los Angeles) and multiple Canadian chapters, reaching over 18,000 Black youth through a network of 30+ educational and community partners.
The core offering comprises in-person Technology Workshops held on Saturdays across U.S. chapters and virtual After-School Programs delivered weekly via Zoom, with curriculum covering Scratch, Python, HTML/CSS, micro:bit, and AI/robotics concepts. Robotics instruction is delivered through structured modules using LEGO SPIKE Prime kits, where students program sensors and motors for autonomous behaviors including line-following, color detection, and obstacle avoidance. The organization operates Black Boys Code Academy, a proprietary Learning Management System developed with Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) grant support to handle curriculum delivery, student progress tracking, volunteer faculty tools, and program scaling. AI literacy is taught through the February 2025 ImaginIAtion workshop, which covers machine learning fundamentals and digital storytelling.
The business model is donation- and grant-driven. Programs are free to participants; funding flows from federal government grants (notably the Government of Canada's CanCode and CanCode 4.0 programs, the latter allocating $39.2 million across 22 organizations in 2025), corporate sponsorships (Salesforce, Jacobs), foundation grants (CIRA), and individual donations. Distribution relies on chapter-based in-person workshops hosted at university and college campuses — including USC, Morehouse, Emory, Georgia Gwinnett College, Atlanta Metropolitan State College, TechTown Detroit, and Southside STEM Station — supplemented by virtual Zoom delivery and showcase events. A 2022 spin-off, Black Kids Code, extends the model to serve Black girls.
Black Boys Code firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black Boys Code
- Legal name
- Black Boys Code
- Website
- https://blackboyscode.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Black Boys Code is a Canadian-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering free STEM, coding, robotics, and AI literacy workshops and after-school programs to Black youth aged 8-17 across U.S. and Canadian chapters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Black Boys Code industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth STEM Education
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Coding & Programming Learning Platforms (EDAFANAA), Introductory Coding (Block-Based & Beginner) (EDAMACAA), Text-Based Programming (Python, Java, C/C++) (EDAMACAB)
Keywords
Where Black Boys Code is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Black Boys Code business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Sponsorships: Non-profit organization funded primarily through individual donations and corporate sponsorships. Sponsors support local and national workshops in coding and robotics, program expansion, equipment, software, learning materials, and leadership initiatives.
- Government Grants: Funding received through government programs including CanCode (Canadian government digital skills training initiative) which supports programming for youth across Canada.
- Foundation Grants: Grant funding from organizations such as CIRA (Canadian Internet Registration Authority) Community Investment Program used for specific projects like LMS development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Programs for Black Youth |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Black Boys Code product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black Boys Code is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers free hands-on STEM education — including coding, robotics, AI literacy, and math proficiency — to Black youth aged 8-17 (with an additional reskilling track for ages 18-29) through Saturday in-person workshops, virtual after-school programs, and chapter-based operations across the U.S. and Canada. Programs are taught by Black STEM professionals serving as mentors and role models and are hosted on university and college campuses to demystify higher education.
Product overview
Black Boys Code is a nonprofit educational organization offering a multi-format portfolio of STEM programs for Black youth. The core offerings consist of in-person Technology Workshops (Saturday sessions covering coding, robotics, and AI) and virtual After-School Programs (weekly progressive sessions for ages 8-14). These are supported by Black Boys Code Academy, a Learning Management System that enables program scaling and instructor efficiency. Robotics programs include structured modules like Building Smart Responsive Robots, Robo-Race Challenge, Pathfinders: Navigation & Innovation, Command & Control, and Idea to Reality showcases. The organization recently introduced ImaginIAtion workshops focused on AI literacy and digital storytelling. All programs are delivered by Black STEM professionals and are completely free to participants.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Black Kids Code (Girls): STEM and technology education programs for Black girls, launched in 2022
- Black Boys Code Academy
Products and services
- Technology Workshops
- After-School Programs
- Robotics Workshops (Building Smart Responsive Robots)
- Idea to Reality: Robotics
- Robo-Race Challenge
- Pathfinders: Navigation & Innovation
- Command & Control: Direct Your Robot
- ImaginIAtion Workshop
Quantifiable outcome
- 18,000+ Black youth reached across North America
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Black Boys Code
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Black Boys Code technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability7 records
Feature3 records
Black Boys Code partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Morehouse CollegecoreHistorically Black college in Atlanta, Georgia partnering with Black Boys Code Atlanta chapter. Morehouse will host the Atlanta chapter and ImaginIAtion workshop, providing space and mentorship to participants.
- University of Southern California (USC)coreHost venue for Black Boys Code Los Angeles inaugural workshop on January 20, 2024. USC campus provided space for launch event with Black tech professionals.
- Atlanta Metropolitan State CollegecoreHost partner for Atlanta chapter workshops. Provides campus venue for Black youth to explore coding and technology while gaining early exposure to post-secondary education environment.
- Emory UniversitycoreHost partner for DeKalb chapter workshops. Provides campus setting at 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA for Black youth to explore coding and technology with strong connections to research and interdisciplinary learning.
- Georgia Gwinnett CollegecoreHost partner for Gwinnett County chapter. Located at 1000 University Center Lane, Lawrenceville, GA. Emphasizes innovative use of technology and active-learning environments with School of Science and Technology programs.
- Southside STEM StationcoreHost partner for Chicago chapter at 1520 East Harper Court, Chicago, IL. Provides community-based setting where youth can engage with STEM in an accessible and relevant environment.
- TechTown DetroitcoreHost partner for Detroit chapter at 440 Burroughs Street, Detroit, MI 48202. Hub for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community-based economic growth providing inspiring environment for Black youth.
- WeTech AllianceminorWEtech Alliance featured and celebrated Windsor chapter turning one in 2021. Organization supports tech ecosystem development in Windsor area.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Black Boys Code competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Black Girls Code: Nonprofit providing technology education to Black girls; most direct mirror of Black Boys Code's mission and operating model. Operates workshops, after-school programs, and hackathons for underrepresented youth in tech, with comparable sponsorship and chapter structures.
- Girls Who Code: Nonprofit focused on closing the gender gap in computing through club programs, summer immersion, and college-loops. Directly comparable as a youth coding nonprofit with similar age targeting, free programs, and corporate-sponsor funding model.
- AI4ALL: Nonprofit expanding AI education access for underrepresented students including Black, Latino, and Indigenous youth. Closely comparable on AI-literacy curriculum focus and university partnerships, though broader in demographic scope than Black Boys Code.
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE): Largest student-governed organization supporting Black engineers and STEM students from K-12 through professional levels. Comparable on mission to grow Black representation in STEM, though operates more as a membership society than a direct coding-instruction provider.
- All Star Code: Nonprofit preparing Black male high-school students for careers in technology through summer intensive programs and year-round mentorship. Closely comparable demographic and mission overlap with Black Boys Code, though narrower age focus (high school only).
Broad incumbents
- Code.org: The largest US-based nonprofit promoting computer science education in K-12 schools through free curriculum, Hour of Code, and teacher training. Comparable as a free K-12 STEM education provider but operates at much broader population scope without Black-specific mission focus.
- Year Up: Large workforce-development nonprofit providing skills training and internships to young adults from low-income communities including underrepresented minorities. Comparable on tech-skills-training mission for underrepresented youth/young adults, though broader demographic scope and older target age.
Emerging players
- Kode With Klossy: Nonprofit offering free coding camps for young women and non-binary teens aged 13-18. Comparable on free summer-camp delivery and corporate-sponsor model, though demographic focus differs.
- Black in AI: Nonprofit increasing representation of Black researchers in AI through workshops, mentorship, and community. Comparable on AI-literacy and Black-representation focus, though primarily academic/researcher-facing rather than K-12 youth.
Others
- Reboot Representation: Coalition of tech companies funding CS education for Black, Latina, and Native American women. Comparable as a funder of Black-women-focused STEM programs and a potential partnership/sponsorship counterpart rather than a competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Black Boys Code social profiles
Digital presenceBlack Boys Code compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Black Boys Code financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black Boys Code leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Black Boys Code subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Black Boys Code funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black Boys Code M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Black Boys Code
What does Black Boys Code do?
Black Boys Code is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers free hands-on STEM education — including coding, robotics, AI literacy, and math proficiency — to Black youth aged 8-17 (with an additional reskilling track for ages 18-29) through Saturday in-person workshops, virtual after-school programs, and chapter-based operations across the U.S. and Canada. Programs are taught by Black STEM professionals serving as mentors and role models and are hosted on university and college campuses to demystify higher education.
Is Black Boys Code a public or private company?
Black Boys Code is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Black Boys Code founded?
Black Boys Code was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Black Boys Code based?
Black Boys Code is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Black Boys Code make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are government Grants and foundation Grants.
Who are Black Boys Code's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Black Girls Code, Girls Who Code, AI4ALL, National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and All Star Code. Broad incumbents are Code.org and Year Up. Emerging players are Kode With Klossy and Black in AI. Reboot Representation is listed as an others.
Does Black Boys Code have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black Boys Code.
What industry is Black Boys Code in?
Black Boys Code's product category is Youth STEM Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAG, STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAFANAA, Coding & Programming Learning Platforms. Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.