While there are hundreds of programs designed to help minorities get established in burgeoning fields, many companies still fail to deliver a diverse workforce. Fortunately, Felecia Hatcher, founder of Code Fever and Black Tech Week, is committed to fueling this needed change. Hatcher is on a mission to rid our communities of innovation deserts by working with community leaders and government officials to create inclusive and diverse startup ecosystems through her work with Code Fever, an initiative connecting minority led startup founders to the resources they need to succeed. They provide everything from capital and training to accelerator programs and showcase opportunities, like Black Tech Week. And that, says Hatcher, is more rewarding than anything. Tech.Co’s own Tishin Donkersley caught up with Felecia at SXSW to talk with her about how diversity impacts the bottom line, founding Black Tech Week and learning to code. Austin has a city motto of “Keep Austin Weird.” In that spirit, we asked Felecia about how she keeps it weird and authentic and in doing so stays true to herself.
