GET Cities

After years of collaborative work toward equity in tech, we have bittersweet news to share about our initiative. The current iteration of GET Cities is coming to a close as we transition this impactful work into the broader community with a focus on sustainable, long-term impact. When we launched GET Cities, powered by SecondMuse Foundation, we had an audacious mission - to increase the power and influence of historically excluded people in tech, with a focus on gender equity. We wanted the industry to truly reflect the diverse lived experiences in our society. Our vision for how to get there was by harnessing collective efforts across cities and sectors to center gender in the conversation, to discover and disseminate best practices, and to use the learnings from on the ground to accelerate national change. With deep collaboration across our ecosystem partners in Chicago, DC, and Miami, GET Cities achieved remarkable milestones. We deployed over $3.2 million into equity-focused programs, hosted 204 events, piloted 37 innovative interventions, facilitated the raising of $22,656,000 by founders across our three cities, and engaged over 3,600 stakeholders. Together, we've laid the groundwork for a more equitable tech future and we are proud of the impact we’ve made. And even though we are sad to say goodbye, we are overflowing with gratitude for the transformative work we achieved together and the vital groundwork we laid. We’re also thrilled to share we will be passing the torch to three of our partners through a Transition to Community. Last Mile Education Fund, Radical Partners, and World Business Chicago will carry forward our mission of fostering gender equity in tech. Transition to community is a proactive and intentional step, fostering resilience within communities and encouraging strong relationships with other ecosystem innovators and funders. We are so proud of the catalytic groundwork we have activated across our cities and networks and for our partners to continue and expand upon the work of building a tech industry that reflects and addresses the needs of all lived experiences. These organizations will build on a portfolio of work piloted here at GET Cities; continue the work of convening the ecosystem and engaging power holders, bring on board some of our team members; and expand a gender lens to their ongoing work to achieve equity in tech. So stay tuned, as we share details on final GET Cities activations and investments over the coming months. #GETTransition

How can we effectively address the pervasive gender and racial inequities affecting historically excluded tech founders? GET Cities has found success through the formation of our Tech Equity Working Group, an alliance of accelerators, incubators, funds, and mission-aligned ecosystem supporters designing city-wide solutions and collective infrastructure to address these inequities. By pulling companies out of their silos and instead fostering collaboration toward a shared goal, TEWG acts as a collective launchpad for experimentation and validation of city-wide interventions. This approach has accelerated impact and driven innovation. Now, we’re sharing what we’ve learned and how others can form their own working group in a new guide. Download it here: https://shorturl.at/OcA9g

We are thrilled to share a powerful new resource designed to help tech professionals and organizations replicate our Tech Equity Working Group (#TEWG), a successful alliance designing city-wide solutions and infrastructure to address gender and racial inequities affecting historically excluded tech founders in Chicago. Learn how to form your own network through which to pool resources, foster innovation, and accelerate impact toward a more inclusive and diverse tech industry. Get started today: https://shorturl.at/OcA9g This guide will be one of our last publications as we wind down operations over the next month as part of our Transition to Community. Our Tech Equity Working Group will be taking new shape under World Business Chicago, make sure to follow them for updates!

GET Cities provided an invaluable platform for attendees like Alexandra DeLuca to connect, share experiences, and foster a sense of community in the tech industry. GET Exploration has been instrumental in empowering individuals across different career stages to navigate their tech journey effectively. Over the years, it has facilitated professional development, community engagement, and networking opportunities, enhancing inclusivity and retention in the workforce. The Tech Equity Network (TEN), which powers #GETExploration, will continue on at World Business Chicago, so follow them for future events! Check out our recap from GET Exploration here! https://bit.ly/4bT6z0f

Today, we spotlight one of our remarkable partners, Radical Partners, a Miami-based social impact accelerator. As part of our Transition to Community, Radical Partners continues the impactful work of GET Cities by advancing our mission. In particular, Radical Partners empowers local tech leaders to better hire, retain, and support individuals in the tech sector. Additionally, Radical Partners hosts recurring free virtual Office Hours to mentor women, trans, and nonbinary tech professionals. Their commitment to investing in people, strengthening communities, and fostering collaboration made a significant impact, and we're proud to have had their support as a partner. Thank you! #GETTransition

📘 New Resource Alert! 📘 Learn how to replicate the success of Chicago’s Tech Equity Network in your city. This comprehensive guide contains all the information you need to establish your very own network of organizations designed to create and amplify city-wide opportunities for a more inclusive tech workforce, with a focus on gender and race. You’ll learn how to set up an effective process to share learnings, best practices, and resources to accelerate systemic change. Get started today: https://shorturl.at/yOhgD

Former Senior Program Manager, Christina L. Glancey, reflects on entrepreneurship's challenges and triumphs. Trust-building, especially for the startup founders within our #GETSeed initiative, was crucial for fostering equity in the tech industry. As GET Cities transitions, we continue to emphasize the importance of supporting entrepreneurs to ensure a more inclusive future in technology. Check out the documentary to learn more about these vital efforts and the resilience of our founders shaping tech's future. #GETTransition

GET Cities is excited to share a new resource designed to help tech industry leaders and companies create a more inclusive and diverse tech workforce. By working together, we can ensure that historically excluded individuals and groups have the support and resources they need to thrive, making the tech industry more equitable and dynamic for us all. This guide offers a step-by-step approach to replicating our Tech Equity Network, a space where historically excluded tech professionals feel supported, where it’s all about community over competition and organizations share best practices and resources, and where collective action drives real change. Learn more: https://shorturl.at/yOhgD This guide will be one of our last publications as we wind down operations over the next month as part of our Transition to Community. Our Tech Equity Network will be taking new shape under World Business Chicago, make sure to follow them for updates!

Why should you replicate our Mentorship Learning Lab? This collaborative initiative was designed to enhance the impact and effectiveness of existing mentorship programs, foster collaboration among like-minded companies, and drive systemic change toward greater equity and inclusion in the tech industry. Mentorship is key to promote and retain historically excluded people in tech. The MLL model emphasizes collaboration, shared learning, and collective problem-solving, making it a powerful tool for addressing systemic inequities. Check out our new methodology resource today and learn how to develop your own Mentorship Learning Lab https://shorturl.at/bm4Jc

Elle's words highlight the power of research and collaboration in driving change. The recent research focused on key areas like campus-to-corporate transitions and diversity in leadership roles, shedding light on challenges faced by minority students and the underrepresentation of women investors and founders. This valuable knowledge, shared with stakeholders from local universities, startups, and major companies like Google and Verizon, sparked meaningful discussions and paved the way for collaborative solutions. Read the rest of our report highlighting our legacy and congrats to Elle, who will now be leading World Business Chicago new Gender Equity Office as part of this transition. We are excited for her to continue the foundational work we've built together!