First Tech Fund

Thank you to WinWon for partnering with us last summer to provide an incredible internship experience for our alumni, Anum! As a sports technology company transforming the way sports programs operate, WinWon gave Anum hands-on exposure to the marketing world. Shoutout to Alex Hanley and the WinWon team for their mentorship and support! We love seeing our interns thrive in meaningful, career-building opportunities. ???

?? We are so thankful to Joshua Gandy, one of our incredible Junior Board members & mentors, for his dedication to building social capital and equipping our students with tangible skills for success! As a Lead Solution Engineer at Salesforce, he brings a wealth of expertise in technology, problem-solving, and innovative solutions and is passionate about paying it forward. From mentorship to career conversations, he’s helped empower our fellows with the knowledge and connections they need to navigate their futures. Thank you for your commitment to First Tech Fund’s mission and for making a lasting impact on our students!

Our fellows and alumni had an amazing time at STREB, Inc. in Brooklyn, experiencing the high-energy world of PopAction! ?? From dynamic movement sequences to apparatus work, they embraced the challenge in a space designed for all physical backgrounds. Huge thanks to Mary and the STREB team for creating such an inclusive and empowering environment for our students! ??

A few weeks ago, First Tech Fund was honored to receive The Surprize from The David Prize—a $5,000 no-strings-attached microgrant designed to pay it forward to New Yorkers who are nominated by past David Prize winners. I'm extremely grateful to Talia Scott for the nomination + the entire David Prize team for the support and for creating the video below about our work ?? ???? If you've ever been curious about us and wanted to learn more, check out the video below!!

Congratulations to Ariadna on earning a QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship to Columbia University! ???? Her passion for medicine and cancer research is truly inspiring. As a future Orthopedic Oncologist, she’s determined to improve the lives of patients battling bone cancer. We can’t wait to see all that she accomplishes on this journey!

We're grateful for mentors like Catherine who provide guidance to our students from their professional careers. Catherine brings perspective from her role as a nurse to our students aspiring to enter a healthcare career in the future! Thank you to our mentors for making a difference and helping our fellows reach their full potential!

?? Shoutout to Nicola, one of our incredible Junior Board members and mentors, for her unwavering dedication to our students! From leading Elevator Pitch workshops to sharing her journey in tech, she’s invested so much energy and time into empowering our cohort of 50 high school seniors. With a Master’s in Applied Analytics from Columbia University and over 5 years of experience in technical program management, Nicola helps teams use data to drive impactful software and hardware solutions. She’s passionate about AI, machine learning, and product management—and just as passionate about helping students break into tech! ??? Thank you, Nicola, for your commitment to mentorship and for bringing your energy, expertise, and insight to First Tech Fund!

We want to say a heartfelt thank you to our incredible mentors! Your guidance and support empower our fellows to navigate academic and professional opportunities with confidence and purpose. While last month celebrated National Mentoring Month, we’re grateful for our mentors' dedication year-round. From college application to career exploration, they are integral to our students’ success. Thank you for inspiring the next generation of leaders! ??

We're immensely grateful for our team of mentors! Lara is one of the wonderful individuals dedicating time outside of her career to support our students. From scholarship recommendations to college application support, her guidance has been impactful. Thank you to our mentors for making a difference and helping our fellows reach their full potential!

Shoutout to Antoinette for her fierce dedication to First Tech Fund’s mission! From speaking at Mentor Connect sessions and scheduling 1:1 career conversations with alumni to mentoring Chyanne with personalized guidance on 5- & 10-year plans, scholarships, and internships, her impact is immeasurable. Thank you, Antoinette, for volunteering with us to empower our students and alumni to dream big and take actionable steps toward their goals!