AMERICA ON TECH INC

AI-INTEGRATED NEXT GEN TECH TALENT PIPELINE

Founded in 2014, America On Tech’s mission is to bridge the talent gap and transform the workforce by creating pathways for underestimated students into technology degrees and careers. 

After successful expansion throughout NYC and into LA (2019), AOT introduced its program model in Miami in 2022 that has served more than 500 high school students to date. 

We begin with TECH360 – a three-week intensive during which students learn the fundamentals of web design and development and create a functional web application. Students then advance to Tech Flex Leaders, a year-long Out of School Time program. During the first semester, students learn how to code through web development, mastering tech programs such as HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap. In the second semester, students choose a tech track [UX Design, Product Management, Digital Marketing Data Science, or Advanced Web Development] to gain an additional technology skillset they can leverage when pursuing future tech opportunities. 

With your support, AOT will further innovate its Miami programming as follows:

1. Enroll 100 students in TECH360 and 100 students in Tech Flex Leaders.
2.  Place 10 AOT Alumni in paid, external internship opportunities.
3. Hire 12 AOT alums as teaching assistants and peer mentors.
4. Integrate Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning into program curricula and operations, preparing all students, for the future of work

Student outcomes will include:

• At least 80% will

  • graduate with a functional portfolio of projects

  • report an increased understanding of skills taught

  • be more interested in learning about degrees/careers in tech

  • feel more prepared to pursue a degree/career in technology

• 85% of graduating seniors will enroll in college computer science/technology programs and/or secure a job in tech

Pre-pandemic, the World Economic Forum noted the rise of automation and new technologies was transforming the world of work, resulting in an urgent need for large-scale upskilling and reskilling of more than half of all workers by 2025. The growing ubiquity of these technologies exacerbates disparities in advancement across career paths, with AI-driven wealth distribution expected to widen the Black-White wealth gap by $43 billion annually by 2045 - forecasting a trajectory that runs counter to the goal of an inclusive economy. 

Over the past decade, AOT has trained 5,000 students through a program delivery model that has demonstrated long-term economic impact. We are now revisiting our offerings to ensure that both students and alumni stay competitive in the future workforce.

As AI becomes integral across all sectors, it's essential that students from underestimated communities gain the skills to remain competitive. To meet this need, AOT is integrating AI training into its core programs—web development, cybersecurity, data science, UX design, product management, and digital marketing. These project-based programs, which currently teach coding languages and tools like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Jupyter Notebooks, and SQL, will now embed AI tools to enhance students' efficiency in building projects. In addition, AOT is transforming our TECH360 program from a web development and coding bootcamp into a fundamentals of AI bootcamp. AOT will also expand its Tech Flex Leaders Program (9 months) and Alumni Fellowship Program (10 weeks) by adding new tech skills tracks, including a forthcoming AI/Machine Learning track. AOT is also exploring partnership expansion to sectors experiencing growth in AI, such as energy, healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, climate and government technology. 

To support these efforts, AOT has developed a comprehensive and responsible AI framework, ensuring that proper policies are in place for effective implementation. This strategy will keep AOT at the forefront of educational innovation, meeting the evolving needs of both students and industry stakeholders as AI continues to reshape the future.

Our curriculum expansion aims to: 1) ensure all students are positioned thoughtfully and meaningfully in the world of work, (2) meet the evolving talent needs of the workforce and (3) cultivate a diverse pool of students positioned to drive innovation and technological advancement. In the next year, across the  national program pipeline, AOT will provide 1,200 students with critical skills training and preparation for careers that will yield a combined earning potential of nearly $159.5M (based on the average salary of $132,930 - software developers). 

To hear directly from our founders and young people, watch here: