Techfugees
Techfugees is a UK-based, 100% volunteer non-profit founded in 2015 that coordinates the global tech community to build digital skills, connectivity, and open-data solutions for the world's 82.4 million forcibly displaced persons across eight regional chapters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Techfugees does
Techfugees is a UK-based international non-profit organization, founded in September 2015 by Mike Butcher initially as a Facebook group, that coordinates the technology community's response to the needs of forcibly displaced persons. The organization operates through a decentralized network of eight active volunteer-led chapters across France (Paris), Germany (Berlin), Canada (Toronto), Kenya (Nairobi, with an operations presence in the Kakuma refugee camp), Lebanon (Beirut, Bekaa, Tripoli), Nigeria (Lagos/Abuja), and Uganda (Kampala), supported by a 100% volunteer model with 1-10 core staff. Its primary beneficiaries are the estimated 82.4 million forcibly displaced persons globally, with particular focus on refugee women via the #TF4Women Fellowship, and its programs have reached 25 countries through hackathons and open-innovation events since 2015.
The organization delivers three core program pillars: Innovation (hackathons, meetups, conferences, working groups, and field surveys), Inclusion (free 4-6 month digital skills training programs covering coding, data analytics, cybersecurity, and design), and Insights (research, live sessions, and data platforms). Its core technology assets include Basefugees, an open-source and open-data platform that catalogs 100+ tech-enabled solutions for displaced persons and connects similar projects for collaboration and scaling; the Techfugees Data Hub, an open platform that maps the impact of COVID-19 and other challenges on refugee communities from health, human rights, and socio-economic perspectives using data from on-the-ground reports, refugee surveys, and online monitoring; Techfugees Live Sessions, a series of bi-monthly online talks; and the 8 Guiding Principles framework, an ethical code developed over nearly four years of hackathon experience and aligned with the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Sub-brands include Basefugees, the Techfugees Data Hub, and the #TF4Women Fellowship.
Techfugees operates as a non-profit funded through donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships from strategic partners including Schibsted Media Group, Cisco, Google, Mastercard, ITU, L'Oréal Fund for Women, GSR Foundation, Kenya Red Cross, Romero House, NRC, ReDI School, PayPal, VillageCapital, Impact Hub Athens, ANERA, StartHer, British Council, Integreat, Antura, Shifra, Taqadam, BuffaloGrid, Learning Lions, Tunapanda, Refugee Innovation Center, and Oracle. All programs and services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries. The organization does not disclose financial information and no funding rounds have been identified. Leadership comprises Mike Butcher as Founder (with Raj Burman listed as CEO and Mike Butcher as Chairman in a separate summary), supported by an extensive volunteer bench including chapter leads Marco Muccini (Berlin), Joanna Kirk (Paris), Mary Munyoki (Kenya), Harout Mardirossian (Lebanon), Mounir Nasri (Canada), Yusuf Mutamba (Uganda), and Tunde Ogunsanya and Brian Oyewole (Nigeria). In 2025, Techfugees announced a planned organizational relaunch.
Techfugees firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Techfugees
- Legal name
- Techfugees
- Website
- https://techfugees.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Techfugees is a UK-based, 100% volunteer non-profit founded in 2015 that coordinates the global tech community to build digital skills, connectivity, and open-data solutions for the world's 82.4 million forcibly displaced persons across eight regional chapters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Techfugees industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Humanitarian technology nonprofit services
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Aid Volunteering (EDAIAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Technical Bootcamps & Accelerated Reskilling (Full-time/Part-time) (BPAEANAE), Digital Inclusion & Public Tech Access Training (Device/Internet/Basic IT) (EDAAAFAE)
Keywords
Where Techfugees is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
Techfugees business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: Techfugees operates as a non-profit organization funded through donations and grants from corporate partners, foundations, and individual donors. Programs include free inclusion programs for refugees to learn digital skills.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free programs for refugees - all services provided at no cost |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Techfugees product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Techfugees is an international non-profit collective that coordinates the technology community to build and deploy solutions for refugees and displaced persons. Its core offerings include the Basefugees open-source platform cataloging 100+ tech projects for displaced persons, the Techfugees Data Hub mapping refugee challenges and COVID-19 impact, the #TF4Women Fellowship providing 4-6 month free digital skills training (coding, data analytics, cybersecurity, design), and a global program of hackathons, meetups, conferences, working groups, and field surveys run through eight local volunteer chapters across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and North America.
Product overview
Techfugees is an international non-profit organization that coordinates the technology community's commitment to building solutions with displaced people. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs: Basefugees (an open-data platform for cataloging tech solutions), the Techfugees Data Hub (for mapping refugee challenges and solutions), the #TF4Women Fellowship (digital skills training for refugee women), and Techfugees Live Sessions (online community discussions). These are supported by Innovation Activities including hackathons, meetups, and conferences. Regional chapters in France, Germany, Canada, Kenya, Lebanon, Nigeria, and Uganda deliver localized programs, with some chapters running specific projects like the Housing Network Pilot in Canada.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Basefugees: A platform that identifies, lists, curates and supports tech-enabled solutions for displaced people across the world.
- Techfugees Data Hub
- #TF4Women Fellowship
Products and services
- Basefugees Basefugees is an open-source and open-data platform that identifies, lists, curates, and supports tech-enabled solutions empowering displaced people across the world. It provides a curated online space to connect projects, gather feedback, and foster scaling through partnerships. It targets displaced persons, humanitarian NGOs, and tech-for-good entrepreneurs.
- Techfugees Data Hub Techfugees Data Hub is a collaborative platform that maps the impact of COVID-19 and other challenges on refugee communities and lists existing potential solutions. The platform aggregates data on challenges faced by displaced persons from health, human rights, and socio-economic standpoints, drawing from on-the-ground reports, refugee surveys, and online monitoring.
- #TF4Women Fellowship Programme The #TF4Women Fellowship is a free inclusion program lasting 4-6 months for refugee women to learn digital skills including coding, data analytics, cybersecurity, and design to land jobs in tech. It was first launched in France in 2018 and expanded to Italy and Greece in 2021.
- Techfugees Live Sessions Techfugees Live Sessions are a series of online bi-monthly talks providing regional and local updates on how displaced communities are coping with situations and what tech solutions are being used. Sessions feature displaced persons sharing insights on challenges and exploring digital technology solutions.
- Innovation Activities (Hackathons, Meetups, Conferences) Innovation Activities are community events and programs including hackathons, meetups, conferences, working groups, research, field surveys, and tool creation that build bridges between the tech, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and academic ecosystems around displaced people.
- The Housing Network Pilot Project The Housing Network Pilot Project is a digital service connecting refugee claimants in Canada to access vacant houses or apartments by sourcing suitable housing providers for refugee settlement organizations and shelters, and developing strategies for community relationship building. It was developed in partnership with Romero House.
Quantifiable outcome
- 82.4 million displaced persons identified as target population globally
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Techfugees
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Techfugees technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Techfugees partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
29 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Schibsted Media GroupflagshipGlobal strategic partnership on events to accelerate creation and development of technological solutions addressing refugee needs, and develop and deploy solutions into camps or as part of refugees' journey.
- GSR FoundationcoreCollaboration on 'Connect the Unconnected' program in Kenya to provide internet connectivity for displaced persons. This partnership addresses the critical need for connectivity in refugee settlements.
- Romero HousecoreTechfugees Toronto collaborating on The Housing Network Pilot Project, developing a digital service connecting refugee claimants to access vacant houses or apartments in the Greater Toronto Area.
- CiscocoreStrategic partner and sponsor supporting Techfugees initiatives including #TF4Women Fellowship and hackathons. Cisco France collaboration on digital inclusion programs.
- GooglecoreListed as strategic partner and sponsor. Google for Startups support for refugee tech entrepreneurs.
- Kenya Red CrosscorePartnership with Kenya Red Cross for hackathons around health in Kakuma refugee camp. Joint initiatives for health and education access.
- iHubcoreiHub hosted the Techfugees Kenya 2019 Hackathon at their innovation hub, facilitating collaboration between tech community and humanitarian sector.
- L'Oréal Fund for WomencoreFoundation partner supporting women-focused programs including #TF4Women Fellowship for refugee women in tech.
- ITU (International Telecommunication Union)coreSector member partnership supporting connectivity initiatives for displaced populations globally.
- MastercardcoreSmart Communities Coalition partnership supporting financial inclusion and digital payment solutions for refugees.
- Samuel HallcoreResearch organization partner providing insights on migration and displacement in East Africa.
- MakeSensecorePartnership with MakeSense for World Refugee Day events and social entrepreneurship initiatives.
- Syria ReliefcorePartnership with Syria Relief charity for educational projects in Syria.
- British CouncilcorePartnership for delivering educational methods to refugees in Syria.
- ReDI SchoolcorePartnership with ReDI School for Berlin Hackathon (2018), providing digital skills training for refugees.
- NRC (Norwegian Refugee Council)corePartnership for Berlin Hackathon focusing on the refugee journey.
- VillageCapitalcoreFintech Solutions for Refugees Berlin Summit 2019 partnership supporting refugee entrepreneurs.
- PayPalcoreCo-organizer of Fintech Solutions for Refugees Berlin Summit 2019.
- Impact Hub AthenscorePartnership for 'In Transit' conference in Athens (2016) on populations and ideas on the move.
- BuffaloGridcoreCollaboration in Kenya and Uganda on connectivity solutions for displaced populations. 'Knowledge is Freedom' program.
- ANERAcorePartner for refugee support programs in the Middle East.
- StartHercorePartnership supporting women in tech through Techfugees France.
- Learning LionscorePartner for tech skills training in Kakuma refugee camp.
- TunapandacorePartner for digital education initiatives in Kenya.
- Refugee Innovation CentercoreEcosystem partner for Techfugees Uganda initiatives.
- AnturacoreProject partner for refugee child literacy solutions, part of #TFChallenges.
- IntegreatcorePartnership to scale largest local information app for newcomers beyond Germany.
- ShifracorePartnership to improve healthcare for women refugees in Europe.
- TaqadamcorePartnership to provide remote work in AI to refugees in the Middle East.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Techfugees competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NetHope: NetHope is a consortium of 60+ global NGOs and tech companies that builds and deploys technology solutions for humanitarian and development work. It is the closest direct peer to Techfugees because both function as coalitions that channel corporate tech capacity into refugee/displaced-persons programs.
- ReDI School of Digital Integration: ReDI School offers free digital-skills training (coding, data, design) to refugees and newcomers, including in Berlin where Techfugees also operates. It is a direct peer through shared inclusion-program methodology, Berlin Hackathon partnership, and identical target beneficiary base.
- TENT Partnership for Refugees: TENT is a coalition of 250+ companies committed to integrating refugees through employment and entrepreneurship. Comparable to Techfugees in its corporate-coalition model focused on refugee economic inclusion (overlap with Techfugees' Berlin fintech summit, employer pathways, and TF4Women).
- Talent Beyond Boundaries: Talent Beyond Borders uses a tech-enabled platform to connect skilled refugees with employers internationally for skilled migration and remote work. Direct peer because both use technology to match refugees to jobs and have corporate partners (overlap with Techfugees' Taqadam remote-AI-work partnership).
- Integreat: Integreat provides a local information app for newcomers and refugees, listing Techfugees as an explicit partner to scale beyond Germany. Direct peer through the same newcomer-tech app category, partnership co-marketing, and overlap in German refugee tech ecosystem.
- Refugee Innovation Center (Uganda): The Refugee Innovation Center in Kampala is an ecosystem partner of Techfugees Uganda that supports refugee entrepreneurs. Direct peer through shared mission, geographic overlap in Uganda, and co-incubation of refugee-founded ventures.
Broad incumbents
- UNHCR Innovation Service: UNHCR's Innovation Service identifies, supports, and scales tech solutions for displaced populations globally. It is a broad incumbent because it is the official UN innovation arm in the same beneficiary space, with vastly greater resources and policy reach than Techfugees.
- Mercy Corps Ventures: Mercy Corps is a major global humanitarian organization running tech-for-development and refugee programs (including Mercy Corps Ventures). Broad incumbent in the same humanitarian/tech space with significantly greater funding, geographic reach, and incumbent institutional positioning.
- International Rescue Committee (IRC): IRC is a major global humanitarian organization running refugee resettlement, education, and digital-inclusion programs (Airbel Impact Lab). Broad incumbent in the same refugee-services space with much larger scale, fundraising capacity, and program portfolio.
Emerging players
- Karma (formerly RefugeeCareer) / Refugee Talent Hub: Refugee Talent Hub and similar platforms connect skilled refugees with employers across Europe. Emerging player with narrower geographic focus but directly comparable mission (tech-enabled refugee employment) overlapping with Techfugees' #TF4Women Fellowship and employment programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Techfugees social profiles
Digital presenceTechfugees financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Techfugees leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Techfugees subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Techfugees funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Techfugees 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 Techfugees
What does Techfugees do?
Techfugees is an international non-profit collective that coordinates the technology community to build and deploy solutions for refugees and displaced persons. Its core offerings include the Basefugees open-source platform cataloging 100+ tech projects for displaced persons, the Techfugees Data Hub mapping refugee challenges and COVID-19 impact, the #TF4Women Fellowship providing 4-6 month free digital skills training (coding, data analytics, cybersecurity, design), and a global program of hackathons, meetups, conferences, working groups, and field surveys run through eight local volunteer chapters across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and North America.
Is Techfugees a public or private company?
Techfugees is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Techfugees founded?
Techfugees was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Techfugees based?
Techfugees is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Techfugees make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Grants.
Who are Techfugees's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NetHope, ReDI School of Digital Integration, TENT Partnership for Refugees, Talent Beyond Boundaries, Integreat and Refugee Innovation Center (Uganda). Broad incumbents are UNHCR Innovation Service, Mercy Corps Ventures and International Rescue Committee (IRC). Karma (formerly RefugeeCareer) / Refugee Talent Hub is listed as an emerging player.
Does Techfugees have an API?
No public API is recorded for Techfugees.
What industry is Techfugees in?
Techfugees's product category is Humanitarian technology nonprofit services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIAGAF, Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, with a secondary code of BPAEANAE, Technical Bootcamps & Accelerated Reskilling (Full-time/Part-time). Its NAICS code is 8133 and its SIC code is 8300.