Diversifying the tech ecosystem in entrepreneurship has emerged as a top priority of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) via its announcement this week to establish a $10 million fund that will invest in venture firms and funds that focus on women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups who are entrepreneurs and involved in tech startups.
Diversity in business has been shown to be more effective and profitable, an advantage that the Consumer Trade Association acknowledged as part of its announcement at CES, its global gathering of the multi-billion business industry engaged in consumer technology.
“To continue to evolve and grow, the tech industry needs more equal access to venture funding,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CTA. “Various research reports indicate diverse teams make better decisions and achieve greater profits. At CTA, this is one more tool we are deploying to help promote diversity in the technology industry.”
Following the announcement at CES a session on “The Diverse Workforce Tech Needs to Thrive” was held where speakers asserted the need for the tech industry to continue diversifying. “If you don’t understand them, how can you serve them?” Bernard Coleman, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Uber and one of the speakers, noted.
