TEC Leimert

Name

TEC Leimert

Legal name

TEC Leimert

Website

https://tecleimert.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TEC Leimert is a 501c(3) non-profit organization in South Central Los Angeles that delivers free workforce development programs and an annual tech and entertainment conference to bridge the digital divide for communities of color.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development and Community Education

akta.pro primary industry

Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK)

Keywords

• Workforce development programs
• Digital divide initiatives
• Community education
• Creative economy training
• Youth mentorship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

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 Contributions: TEC Leimert operates as a 501c(3) non-profit organization that relies on charitable donations from individuals and organizations to fund programming. The organization encourages community members to contribute to support their mission of bridging the digital divide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TEC Leimert is a black-owned and operated 501c(3) non-profit organization that provides free workforce development programs in South Central Los Angeles to bridge the digital divide facing communities of color. It operates four signature training programs — NXT LVL (social media/digital marketing), Design TEC (sneaker and apparel design), Audio Affect (music production), and Game Wizards SoLA (video game development) — complemented by the annual Black to the Future technology and entertainment conference. Programs include paid internship placements, industry mentorship, and pitch competition opportunities.

Product overview

TEC Leimert operates as a non-profit workforce development organization offering a portfolio of free training programs focused on bridging the digital divide in South Los Angeles communities of color. The core programs include: NXT LVL (12-week social media/digital marketing incubator), DESIGN TEC (15-week sneaker and apparel design lab), Audio Affect (music production workshops in partnership with Serato), and Game Wizards SoLA (16-week video game development program). The organization also produces the annual Black to the Future technology and entertainment conference. All programs emphasize mentorship from industry professionals, hands-on skill development, and pathways to paid internships or entrepreneurial opportunities in the creative economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NXT LVL: Social media incubator program providing digital marketing training for under-resourced youth
• Design TEC
• Audio Affect
• Game Wizards
• Black to the Future

Products and services

• Black to the Future Conference Annual community conference on the intersection of technology and entertainment, aimed at South Los Angeles residents interested in navigating the digital economy. Free for attendees.
• NXT LVL Social Media Incubator Free 12-week workforce development program for under-resourced youth covering digital marketing and social media skills, paired with industry mentorship and a paid internship upon completion.
• Design TEC: Apparel & Sneaker Lab Free 15-week hybrid (virtual + in-field) product design training lab for aspiring sneaker and apparel designers and entrepreneurs, culminating in a pitch competition offering seed funding to winners.
• Audio Affect Music Production Series Free music production workshop series featuring LA-based producer mentors and Serato Studio software, enabling South LA youth to develop production skills and submit original tracks for compilation release.
• Game Wizards SoLA Video Game Development Program Free 16-week video game development incubator program teaching Game Art, Game Design, Game Production, and Game Programming, culminating in a pitch competition judged by industry leaders from Riot Games and Activision.

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants receive paid internship placements with partner companies upon program completion
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Riot GamescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate supporter and partner supporting TEC Leimert's workforce development initiatives. Riot Games judges the Game Wizards pitch competition and provides industry expertise.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationCorporate Community supporter providing technology resources and expertise to support TEC Leimert's mission of bridging the digital divide.
• CiscocoreTechnology or IntegrationCorporate supporter providing technology infrastructure and expertise to help keep programs at the forefront of industry standards.
• SeratocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology partner for the Audio Affect music production program. Serato Studio software is used in the music production training lab.
• UndefeatedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Audio Affect Series collaboration, bringing fashion and streetwear culture to the music production program.
• WaymominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate supporter in TEC Leimert's Corporate Community, contributing to diversity and inclusion workforce initiatives.
• AmazonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate supporter in TEC Leimert's Corporate Community supporting diversity and inclusion workforce development.
• BCG (Boston Consulting Group)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate supporter providing expertise to support efforts toward a more diverse and inclusive environment.
• SquareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate supporter in TEC Leimert's Corporate Community.
• CashmereminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting TEC Leimert's programs.
• HOORAEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate supporter in TEC Leimert's Corporate Community.
• Gamers GuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate supporter in TEC Leimert's Corporate Community.
• The MatchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate supporter in TEC Leimert's Corporate Community.
• OneOpp (Ephicient)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization helping bring top industry companies to South Central Los Angeles.
• Why Not? FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRussell Westbrook's foundation that partnered with TEC Leimert for the Inclusive Innovation workshop at Sony Studios and sponsored the Young Professionals Brunch at the Black to the Future conference. Also welcomed an intern from TEC Leimert's NXT LVL program to work with the Honor the Gift brand.
• Ralph Agency (2020INC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization bringing top industry companies to South Central Los Angeles.
• The Paak (unfold)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in TEC Leimert's ecosystem.
• Pipelinx.co (TVGla)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in TEC Leimert's ecosystem.
• Clever EndeavourcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Game Wizards SoLA video game design and production program, supporting workforce development in the gaming industry.
• SupercellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Game Wizards SoLA video game design and production program, contributing to career pathways in the video game industry.
• UCLA (Innovation, Culture and Creativity Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with UCLA and National Science Foundation for the Inclusive Innovation workshop at Sony Studios, exploring how South Los Angeles talent can thrive in the creative economy.
• Sony StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for TEC Leimert's Inclusive Innovation workshop as part of UCLA's Innovation, Culture and Creativity Project.
• Otis CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented creative economy insights and breakout sessions during the Inclusive Innovation workshop.
• FYI AI (Will.I.AM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInteractive breakout session presenter during the Inclusive Innovation workshop.
• Party in My Living Room (PIMLR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInteractive breakout session presenter during the Inclusive Innovation workshop.
• ActivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry judge for the Game Wizards pitch competition, evaluating student work in video game development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Code2040: Code2040 is a non-profit focused on increasing representation of Black and Latinx software engineers through fellowships, career pathways, and corporate partnerships. Comparable to TEC Leimert's workforce development mission for tech careers in underserved communities, though more concentrated on software engineering specifically.
• Hidden Genius Project: Hidden Genius Project provides Black male youth with intensive training in technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership through mentorship-driven cohort programs. Highly comparable to TEC Leimert's mission of bridging the digital divide for communities of color via cohort-based tech training, though based in Oakland rather than LA.
• All Star Code: All Star Code prepares young men of color for careers in technology through coding education, mentorship, and intensive summer programs. Comparable to TEC Leimert's tech training and creative-economy focus for young people of color, with a similar emphasis on mentorship and corporate pathway exposure.
• Black Girls CODE: Black Girls CODE provides technology education for girls of color, covering programming, game design, and digital creativity through workshops and cohort programs. Comparable to TEC Leimert's tech training programs for communities of color, though focused on a younger female demographic and broader national footprint.
• The Knowledge House: The Knowledge House provides tech workforce development in underserved NYC communities, offering training in web development, data analytics, and digital skills through cohort-based programs. Directly comparable to TEC Leimert's cohort + corporate pathway model, though geographically concentrated in the Bronx rather than LA.
• https://www.tecleimert.org/dev/color: /dev/color supports Black software engineers through community, mentorship, and career advancement programs at major tech companies. Comparable to TEC Leimert's focus on building tech career pathways for the Black community, though it targets professionals already in the industry rather than entry-level youth.
• Pursuit: Pursuit trains low-income adults for tech careers in NYC and guarantees apprenticeships at major tech companies upon completion. Closely comparable to TEC Leimert's free training + paid internship placement model, with the same corporate-partner-driven placement engine for underserved populations.

Broad incumbents

• Genesys Works: Genesys Works provides high school students from underserved communities with technical skills training and paid corporate internships at Fortune 500 companies. Directly comparable cohort + corporate-internship model, but operates nationally at much larger scale than TEC Leimert and focuses on general IT/corporate pathways rather than creative-economy verticals.
• Year Up: Year Up is a national workforce development non-profit providing young adults from underserved communities with skills training, internships, and corporate placements. Operates at significantly larger scale (~10,000+ participants/year, ~$200M revenue) with the same cohort + corporate-internship model TEC Leimert uses, but with a broader technology and business-services focus.

Regional players

• LA Promise Fund: LA Promise Fund is a Los Angeles-based non-profit focused on college access and career readiness for underserved students. Directly comparable regional peer serving similar populations in the same LA geography as TEC Leimert, though oriented around K-12 college access rather than creative-echnology workforce training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tecleimert
• Facebookfacebook.com/TECYOSELF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tec-leimert
• Instagraminstagram.com/tecleimert

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 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 TEC Leimert