The Hayat Brown team was engaged to develop a Technology Inclusion Strategy that investigated the current state of inclusion within the technology industry in the City and set goals and recommendations for a variety of stakeholders, including public agencies, business leaders, educators, technology evangelists, and real estate owners/operators. We collected and analyzed relevant employment, education, demographic, and industry data by gathering quantitative sources. Additionally, our team conducted interviews and focus groups with key participants in the innovation economy in the District, such as entrepreneurs, educators, government agencies and non-profit entities. The Strategy provides a roadmap and recommendations to create an inclusive ecosystem where the District’s tech and innovation economy can grow to expand opportunity for underrepresented workers and entrepreneurs and, ultimately, serve as a national model for inclusion and diversity.

Project outcomes were as follows:

The District of Columbia has pursued 19 of the strategy’s recommendations, resulting in the:

• Launch of DC’s Inclusive Innovation Fund in partnership with professional investment managers, which provides capital to companies led by underrepresented entrepreneurs.
• Opening of an Inclusive Innovation Incubator in partnership with Howard University.
• Introduction of Inclusive Innovation Grants for underrepresented tech and tech-enabled entrepreneurs seeking to participate in an Innovation Accelerator or engage with out-of-state investors