2027 Tech Start-Up Fellowship

Valid8 Financial, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 3,600 - 4,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Grand prize $4,000

Job summary

Urban TXT invites fellows to mentor high school students, guiding them through hands-on coding, AI, ML, and startup management.

You will learn from leading mentors and work on a teen-led startup project to tackle social issues while building your portfolio for a tech career.

Qualifications

• Attend in-person classes Monday - Friday from 9am - 4pm at USC.
• Undergraduate student at a 4-year university majoring in computer science, business, design, social sciences, or similar fields.
• No experience is required, but the ability to learn fast is a must.

Responsibilities

• Identify, plan, and achieve youth development goals for a team of 4 youth.
• Motivate participants by building an innovative tech community.
• Manage team project priorities, deadlines, and deliverables with technical expertise.
• Connect and build relationships with gurus from top tech startups.
• Work in multiple teams and take on tasks as needed.
• Respond effectively to daily problems, often with creative solutions.
• Prepare team to pitch final products in front of investors.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Fast learner

Coding interest

Emotional intelligence

Education

Undergraduate student in CS/Design/Business/Social sciences

Job description

URBAN TXT: Teens Exploring Technology is an award winning, nationally recognized technology-based start‑up non‑profit organization that focuses on inspiring underserved boys, grades 9th-11th to become confident leaders using technology as a tool to improve marginalized communities. Our focus is to develop young men of color into tech leaders through skills in leadership, entrepreneurship, UX design and code. During the summer, we partner with the University of Southern California (USC) to immerse the youth into our lean start‑up Summer Coding Leadership Academy (SCLA). Teens develop a tech business that focuses on solving a social problem in underrepresented communities during SCLA. The White House, City of Los Angeles, Google, Mashable, Re/code, and Inc. Magazine have recognized TXT as an innovative organization.

Fellows are vital to the success of SCLA. As a fellow you will inspire the next generation of Black and Latino tech entrepreneurs. You will coach teens in solving critical social issues while developing a tech solution. You will have the opportunity to manage a teen tech‑start up and help your team pitch to investors, for a grand prize of $4000. All fellows will have the opportunity to learn from top entrepreneurs, investors, and tech mentors. Our fellows are mentored by professionals from Google, Tinder, Snapchat, and other tech companies. We are looking for self‑motivated individuals who are willing to learn in a fast‑paced environment. Bottom line, we need hustlers, quick learners with the eagerness to change the world. Coaches must have a passion for mentoring high school students and positively impacting their lives.

The Urban TXT Fellowship provides a unique internship experience different than any available in a classroom. We offer fellows the opportunity to learn mobile app coding with Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, start‑up management, and product development, while mentoring deserving, inner‑city youth in our Summer Coding Leadership Academy (SCLA). As a fellow, you will earn valuable experience for your portfolio, and you will be more prepared for a career in technology.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Identify, plan, and achieve youth development goals for a team of 4 youth
• Motivate TXT participants by building an innovative tech community
• Manage team project priorities, deadlines, and deliverables with your technical expertise
• Connect and build relationships with gurus from top tech startups
• Work in multiple teams and take on tasks as needed
• Respond effectively to the daily problems that arise, often with creative solutions
• Prepare team of youth to successfully pitch their final products in front of investors

Coaches will receive training in the following topics:

• Effectively manage numerous projects while simultaneously meeting aggressive deadlines in a dynamic environment
• Architect, design, develop and support a highly scalable mobile app application
• Lead a diverse team from incubation to full‑scale product development
• Network with key hiring managers at tech companies
• Understand fundamentals of launching a startup, including raising money
• Apply design thinking in order to develop products that will disrupt low income communities
• Building smart contracts using blockchain technology

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be able to attend in‑person classes Monday - Friday from 9am - 4pm at USC.
• Undergraduate student at a 4‑year university majoring in computer science, business, design, social sciences, or similar fields
• No experience is required, but the ability to learn fast is a must

Desired Qualifications

• Excellent organization skills and a self‑starter
• Interest in coding, innovation and development with technology
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast‑paced environment
• Excellent communication skills and high emotional intelligence
• Willingness to inspire Black and Latino boys to change the world of injustice
• Interest and/or knowledge in the fields of cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, augmented reality or similar topics

Timeframe

Coaches must attend mandatory virtual training starting in May 2027. Exact date will be determined at a later time. Coaches will also participate in a weeklong retreat from June 16-20, 2027. Core programming will take place from June 17th, 2027 – August 9th, 2027.

Deadline to apply is Friday, April 11th, 2027.

Are you authorized to work in the United States? Are you authorized to work in the United States?

Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B status)? Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B status)?

Do you have a Commercial Drivers License? Do you have a Commercial Drivers License?

What was the latest college or university you attended?

Are you a current undergraduate student at a 4-year university majoring in computer science, business, design, social sciences, or similar fields? Yes No

Will you be living in Los Angeles from June 17th, 2025 – August 9th, 2025 and can attend in-person classes Monday - Friday from 9am - 4pm at USC? Yes No