Black Kids Code (Girls)

What Black Kids Code (Girls) does

Black Kids Code (Girls) is a Canadian nonprofit initiative operated under the Black Boys Code Society, delivering free STEM education programs to Black girls aged 8–17. Founded by Bryan Johnson in Vancouver, Canada in 2015 as part of the broader Black Boys Code Society, the girls' program emerged after parents requested inclusion of daughters alongside sons; it now operates five chapters across Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver, and Windsor, hosted on university and college campuses including York University, the University of Calgary, NorQuest College, the Centre for Digital Media, and the University of Windsor. The organization delivers three integrated program lines — in-person Technology Workshops, virtual multi-week After-School Programs, and immersive Summer Camps — all free to participants and taught or supported by Black women in technology who serve as instructors and mentors.

The core technology is a STEM curriculum covering coding (Scratch, Python, HTML/CSS, micro:bit), robotics (LEGO SPIKE Prime), and AI/ML literacy (emotion-recognition models, chatbot development, fundamentals of how models learn from data), augmented by integrated math-proficiency content through coding. Programs are delivered via a hybrid model combining in-person Saturday workshops at partner post-secondary campuses with virtual Zoom-based after-school sessions, and registration is managed through Eventbrite. Reach metrics cited by the organization include 18,000+ Black youth reached nationwide, 30+ educational partners, 4,800+ volunteer hours contributed, and a reported 50% reduction in math fail-rates among participants.

The business model is a donation- and sponsorship-funded nonprofit with no fees charged to participants. Revenue streams comprise corporate sponsorships (Government of Canada, TD Bank's TD Ready Commitment, Scotiabank's ScotiaRISE, Interac, and the Black Business Initiative), individual donations, and government and foundation grants. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: volunteer-driven outreach through schools, community organizations, and social media channels drives participant recruitment, while partnerships with universities and colleges provide established venue infrastructure. The Toronto/GTA chapter, launched in June 2023, is the most recent geographic expansion, and the organization has stated intent to extend operations into the United States.

Name

Black Kids Code (Girls)

Legal name

Black Boys Code Society

Website

https://blackkidscode.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Black Kids Code (Girls) is a Canadian nonprofit that delivers free coding, robotics, and AI education programs to Black girls aged 8–17 across five Canadian cities, hosted on partner university campuses and funded by corporate sponsors, government grants, and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth STEM Education

NAICS

Computer Training (61142), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Coding & Programming Learning Platforms (EDAFANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Introductory Coding (Block-Based & Beginner) (EDAMACAA), Text-Based Programming (Python, Java, C/C++) (EDAMACAB), AI/ML Learning Platforms for Students (EDAFANAE), AI & Machine Learning (Foundations & Applied) (EDAMACAG)

Keywords

• Youth STEM education
• Coding workshops
• Robotics programs
• AI literacy training
• Girls in tech

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors fund program delivery including workshops, equipment, materials, and expansion to underserved communities. Sponsors receive recognition including logo placement, social media mentions, event acknowledgment, and opportunities to engage with students as mentors or speakers.
2. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to support programs and specific events like Show & Tell. In-kind donations of snacks, supplies, and prizes are also accepted.
3. Government and Foundation Grants: Funding from government programs and foundations to support educational programming and organizational growth in Canada and the United States.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Black Kids Code (Girls) delivers free STEM, coding, robotics, and artificial intelligence education to Black girls between the ages of 8 and 17 through structured Technology Workshops, After-School Programs, and Summer Camp Programs. The organization uses a MacBook-equipped learning lab and a curriculum spanning Scratch, Python, HTML/CSS, LEGO SPIKE Prime, and AI/ML concepts, taught primarily by Black women mentors. Programming is offered at no cost to participating youth and is funded by corporate sponsors, donors, and grants.

Product overview

Black Kids Code (Girls) operates a unified STEM education platform with three interconnected programs: Technology Workshops (in-person Saturday sessions), After-School Programs (virtual weekly sessions), and Summer Camp Programs (intensive campus-based experiences). All programs are free and specifically designed for Black girls aged 8-17, delivered by Black women in technology, covering coding, robotics, AI, and digital literacy skills.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Technology Workshops Free, structured technology workshops that introduce Black girls aged 8-17 to coding (Scratch, Python, HTML/CSS), robotics (LEGO SPIKE Prime), and artificial intelligence fundamentals, taught by Black women mentors at university campuses and partner venues.
• After-School Programs Free recurring after-school STEM programs for Black girls aged 8-17 delivered at schools and community centers, providing ongoing coding, robotics, and AI instruction with culturally responsive pedagogy and Black women mentors.
• Summer Camp Programs Free intensive multi-day summer camps for Black girls aged 8-17 that deliver immersive coding, robotics, AI/ML, and math-through-coding instruction at partner venues, using the organization's MacBook-equipped learning lab.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% reduction in math fail-rates
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• York UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYork University's Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence hosts Toronto chapter programs. Partnership exposes Black girls to post-secondary academic environments and engineering education. Programs held at the campus help students see themselves pursuing higher education and tech careers.
• University of WindsorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWindsor chapter hosted at University of Windsor's Erie Building. Partnership provides access to university facilities including computer labs and supports exposure to academic environments in engineering and computer science.
• NorQuest CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdmonton chapter hosted at NorQuest College, which is dedicated to inclusive learning with focus on practical skills and digital literacy. Partnership provides welcoming environment for tech education.
• University of CalgarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalgary chapter hosted at University of Calgary's School of Computer Science. Partnership places students in high-tech learning environment that fosters curiosity, confidence, and exploration in computing.
• Centre for Digital MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVancouver chapter hosted at Centre for Digital Media, a collaborative graduate school focused on digital technologies, media, and innovation. Provides interdisciplinary tech learning environment for students.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Canada Learning Code: Canadian nonprofit delivering coding and digital literacy workshops across Canada for youth and adults. Comparable in delivery format and Canadian geography, though not identity-focused on Black girls.

Direct peers

• Technovation: Global nonprofit running an AI/coding curriculum for girls aged 8-18 with capstone app-building projects. Comparable in target age, AI focus, and free delivery model, though it operates globally and is not identity-specific.
• Black Girls CODE: US-based nonprofit teaching coding and technology skills to girls of color, with the most directly comparable mission to Black Kids Code (Girls) - both focus on Black girls' STEM representation and offer free programs through community chapters.
• All Star Code: US nonprofit preparing Black and Latino young men for careers in technology through coding and professional development. Comparable model serving underrepresented youth in tech, with summer intensive and year-round programs.
• Black Boys Code: Parent organization and Canadian nonprofit founded in 2015 by Bryan Johnson, delivering coding workshops to Black youth. Operates as the umbrella for Black Kids Code (Girls) and shares chapters, sponsors, and curriculum infrastructure.
• Kode with Klossy: Free coding camps for young women and girls aged 13-18, focused on web development and emerging technologies. Direct peer in the free-coding-for-girls category with similar age range and curriculum philosophy.

Broad incumbents

• Girls Who Code: Large US-based nonprofit offering coding clubs, summer programs, and college-loops for girls in grades 3-12. Comparable product (coding education for school-age girls) but operates at much larger scale with a broader demographic mandate.

Emerging players

• Black in AI: Nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing representation and visibility of Black researchers in AI. Comparable in identity-focused AI education mission and overlap with Black Kids Code's AI curriculum, though focused on academic and research community.
• DIY Girls: US nonprofit increasing girls' interest and success in STEM through hands-on engineering, programming, and maker projects. Comparable in targeting girls in STEM with project-based curriculum, though not specifically race-focused.
• Code2040: US-based nonprofit focused on activating, connecting, and mobilizing the largest racial equity community in tech. Comparable in mission around Black and Latinx representation in tech, with programming for college students and early-career talent rather than K-12.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/blackkidscodeca
• Facebookfacebook.com/blackkidscodegirls
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackkidscode
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bkcgirls

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Black Kids Code (Girls)