WHY NORTHSTAR?

America is changing.

We are experiencing a dramatic demographic shift in America alongside a growing wealth gap.

Wealth is growing rapidly for a select few while others struggle to earn a living wage. This is particularly evident in communities of color. It is a moral and economic imperative that we change this.

Technology and the innovation economy offer the greatest opportunity to create and grow wealth today, especially in diverse communities, but there are many barriers to entry. We believe that the key to a thriving economic future for America is enabling tech innovation in ways that everyone can participate. 

In our partner city, Philadelphia, 55.5% residents are Black and/or Latinx. This population also makes up 72.6% of the city’s poor. At the same time, the city has the fastest growing tech sector in proportion to total job growth after the San Francisco Bay Area. The city is poised to become a beacon for tech done right, with inclusivity front and center.

Working together with the City of Philadelphia, Mayor Jim Kenney, and other aligned organizations, Black & Brown Founders sees an opportunity to establish a framework that can help Black and/or Latinx people create a path to economic security.  

Project NorthStar is here to help more Black and/or Latinx people take part in the innovation economy and make money. It's not meant to be a final solution, but a step toward creating a prototype for success.

WHAT IS THE INNOVATION ECONOMY? AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?

The way society operates is changing, too.

The "innovation economy" pushes the idea that in order to expand wealth and resources into the future, our society cannot solely focus on making valuable things to buy and sell, but we must also improve the human experience. 

The growth of global wealth and business is increasingly dependent on enhancing people's productivity and quality of life. Technology, knowledge and entrepreneurship are essential tools to deliver the products of the innovation economy, and we are already seeing it shift the focus of societies around the world.  

Every industry is, or will be, changed in some way by the innovation economy, and we are in the early stages of those changes. That means that there is an opportunity for folks to create profitable solutions to the challenges of our new world.  

You can make a choice today about what role you will play in our technology-driven future. At most, will you be a leader of change? At the least, will you be able to keep up?