Black Boys Code

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.

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

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

• Stem education programs
• Youth coding workshops
• Robotics education
• Ai literacy training
• Nonprofit stem programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Government Grants: Funding received through government programs including CanCode (Canadian government digital skills training initiative) which supports programming for youth across Canada.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Morehouse CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2025Historically 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2024Host 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 CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost 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 UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost 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 CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost 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 StationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost 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 DetroitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost 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 AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEtech 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/blackboyscode
• Facebookfacebook.com/blackboyscode
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackboyscode
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/black-boys-code1

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Black Boys Code