Be A Geek App

Our Organization

Be A Geek, Inc.

What is the name of your solution?

Be A Geek App

Provide a one-line summary of your solution.

The Be A Geek app allows parents and educators of K-12 students to find and register for vetted STEM programs based on age, interest, and location.

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

In what country is your solution team headquartered?

• United States

What type of organization is your solution team?

Nonprofit

Film your elevator pitch.

What specific problem are you solving?

The lack of representation of Black people in STEM is a global issue rooted in systemic racism and a lack of access to and knowledge of high-impact STEM programs and resources.

Research shows African American youth are just as interested in STEM as any other race. However, interest wanes as external forces, such as racism and bias within education and the media, convince them they lack the aptitude or attitude to become STEM professionals.

In the US, Black college students earn just 7% of all STEM bachelor's degrees and Black adults represent only 9% of the STEM workforce. Globally, only 18% of STEM graduates are from Sub-Saharan Africa, despite being home to over 1 billion people. According to a 2019 study, only 3% of Black students in the US had access to a computer science course in high school. 

Additionally, the 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found only 41% of fourth and eighth-grade students and 21% of twelfth-grade students could be considered “proficient” in mathematics. In 2015, the NAEP found that 38% of fourth-grade students, 34% of eighth-grade students, and 22% of twelfth-grade students could be considered “proficient” in science. Based on the data, proficiency levels decrease as students progress through the education system.

According to our research and user interviews, while there is a growing number of free, low-cost, and accessible STEM programs for K-12 students in African American communities across the country, many parents, guardians, and educators of K-12 youth, STEM experts who wish to volunteer their time, and potential donors/funders, find it difficult to find, share and register for these programs.

The consequences extend beyond just individual career trajectories. A lack of diversity and representation in STEM means that a limited set of perspectives and experiences shapes technological innovations. From sustainable infrastructure to medical advancements, a workforce with more varied backgrounds would amplify the creativity and problem-solving abilities required to tackle major challenges facing humanity.

What is your solution?

Be A Geek is the first organization to develop a comprehensive, searchable, easy-to-use database of STEM programs, accessible via a native iOS and Android mobile app, that bridges the divide between STEM programs and participants, volunteers, and donors. We will pilot the Be A Geek app in the Atlanta metro area, in partnership with local STEM programs, K-12 schools, and community centers and programs. A demo of the app can be found here. 

Parents and Educators

Using the Be A Geek app, parents and educators can easily search for, read reviews, and register their K-12 youth with STEM programs using the Be A Geek app. Key features include: 

• Recommendations for nearby STEM programs based on as age, location, and STEM interest. 
• In app notifications for new program opportunities
• Search and filter options to find the perfect program
• Share program profile pages with friends and family
• Direct messaging with program organizers

STEM Experts

STEM professionals can use the Be A Geek app to discover and sign up for volunteer opportunities in their community that align with their expertise, availability, and location. 

Donors/Funders

Funding is required for STEM programs to sustain and maximize operations and impact. By using the Be A Geek app to read reviews and ratings, donors and funders can easily see which STEM programs drive meaningful change in their community. Furthermore, they can see where gaps may exist. For example, data may show a lack of STEM-specific programming in a region, leading to challenges in building a healthy pipeline of future employees with a certain skill set.

STEM Programs

Lastly, STEM programs, which are at the center of the Be A Geek network, can use the app to directly connect with their target audience. Features include:

• Send in-app promotions and notifications
• Direct message program participants
• View participant lists for past and future STEM programs
• Create and share volunteer opportunities
• Share program profile pages with potential donors and funders

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

The mission of Be A Geek is to encourage and enable Black students and professionals to pursue and excel in STEM careers. Black youth aspire to become STEM professionals as much as any other race. Yet, too often, systemic racism and bias within education and the media prevent those dreams from becoming reality. Furthermore, the lack of awareness of community STEM programs or the resources required to participate, such as transportation, time, or money, prevents Black students from accessing the programs that would propel them toward a STEM career.

Black STEM professionals face racism in the workplace and are often one of the only Black people in their respective departments, increasing the chances of burnout and feelings of alienation. Like parents and educators, they too find it challenging to identify community STEM programs, decreasing their likelihood of volunteering.

Starting in the Atlanta metro area, we will partner with local STEM programs, K-12 schools, and community centers to pilot the Be A Geek app. We aim to gain meaningful feedback while increasing STEM program participation by making those programs more accessible to find and register for.

Following the pilot's success, we will use user feedback to improve the app, build out additional features, such as the ability for STEM experts to register for volunteer opportunities and a dashboard for STEM program organizers, and begin scaling the app to other cities across the country.

How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?

I grew up in a predominately Black neighborhood on the north side of St. Louis, MO where opportunities to explore my passion for technology were sparse. As a child, I took apart every gadget I could in the house, much to my mother's dismay, to learn how they worked. It wasn’t until my early 20s, while serving in the US Navy, that I discovered the tech industry and realized what kind of career path I wanted to pursue.

With the ideal job now in mind, I earned my Bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in information technology management. Within a couple of years, with a bit of hard work and luck, I was recruited to work at one of the largest systems integrators in the country. Five years after graduation, I led a team of engineers and software developers. I have since led the development of a multi-million dollar software product, co-managed a billion-dollar partnership and go-to-market strategy, and I’m the only person to have worked directly for the two wealthiest Black people in the country, both of whom lead large tech companies that earn billions per year.

During my ascension, I remained aware of where it all started: a little Black boy taking apart TV remote controls in my bedroom. As my responsibilities grew and I led meetings worldwide, including at the Pentagon, I couldn't help but notice how few people in the room looked like me. I was often the only Black person in the room. I then decided to make it my life’s mission to create as many opportunities as possible for Black kids to learn about and pursue their STEM dreams. 

I started by volunteering at local STEM programs, such as hackathons, learning first-hand the positive impact of these types of programs and the importance of being a mentor to young Black girls and boys. However, I also noticed gaps; parents unaware of nearby programs, struggles to find age-appropriate offerings, and a lack of culturally-relevant curriculum. After interviewing dozens of parents, educators, STEM program organizers, and STEM professionals, I created the idea for Be A Geek.

My lived experiences, technical expertise, and numerous connections with STEM experts and programs across the country make me uniquely positioned to bring the Be A Geek app to the market. Our app, and ideas like it, are very much needed, and now is the perfect time to pursue this vision.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?

• 4. Quality Education
• 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
• 10. Reduced Inequalities

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Please share details about why you selected the stage above.

We have defined requirements, conducted user interviews, completed the design of the Be A Geek app, and created a high-fidelity, functional prototype, which is viewable in the elevator pitch video.

Why are you applying to Solve?

I am applying to Solve to receive financial support, access to a network of social enterprise leaders, and increase exposure to potential supporters and users of the Be A Geek app. 

Financial and in-kind support

I am currently bootstrapping the design and development of the app and the overall stand-up of the organization. With in-kind support, donations, and grants, I will be able to accelerate the development and testing of the mobile app and bring on support to assist with back-office, legal, and marketing-related tasks, such as filing annual state and tax returns and creating graphics for social media.

Network access

Solve attracts some of the brightest minds aiming to eradicate social issues across the globe. Becoming a member of that community is invaluable and would allow me to seek out advice from social enterprise leaders more experienced than me, as well as offer guidance and mentorship when I'm capable of doing so.

Increased media exposure

The Be A Geek app will be piloted in Atlanta, GA, but our goal is to scale nationwide, and potentially globally. Exposure in the media and at conferences allows us to market to potential users and supporters.

In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?

• Financial (e.g. accounting practices, pitching to investors)
• Product / Service Distribution (e.g. delivery, logistics, expanding client base)
• Public Relations (e.g. branding/marketing strategy, social and global media)

Who is the Team Lead for your solution?

Wendell Layne, Founder & CEO