Meet CherryOnTech, Startups of the Year 2024 Nominee

Hey Hackers,

🍒CherryOnTech has been nominated in HackerNoon's annual Startups of The Year awards in Vancouver, Canada.

🗳Please vote for us here:

• Vote by our city, Vancouver here
• Vote by industry here
• Or here too ✅

Read more about us below to understand why we deserve your vote 🙏

Meet CherryOnTech

🍒 At CherryOnTech, we’re transforming professional development through tech squads—small, collaborative teams where individuals from underrepresented genders (women, non-binary, and trans folks) gain hands-on experience in UI/UX design, product management, and web development. Our multiple programs foster a supportive environment, helping participants build skills, confidence, and lasting connections while working on real-world projects. We’re not just growing talent; we’re building a more inclusive tech industry, one squad at a time.

How CherryOnTech achieved product-market fit

We believe CherryOnTech has achieved product-market fit because we’ve tapped into a real need for inclusive, community-focused professional development for underrepresented genders in tech.

• Key signs include:

  1. Growing Participation: Our programs are consistently attracting more participants, with many returning for additional workshops and tech squads. This shows the value we’re offering is resonating.
  2. High Retention and Referrals: Over 70% of participants either come back for more programs or refer others, a clear sign of satisfaction and trust in our approach.
  3. Positive Feedback: Participants regularly share how CherryOnTech has helped them grow, feel supported, and even land new roles.

  
  

Milestones and achievements

CherryOnTech has reached several key milestones that reflect our growth and impact:

• 16 Tech Squads formed, providing hands-on collaboration opportunities.

• +120 Participants have joined our programs, gaining skills and experience.

• +30 Mentors have guided participants through personalized mentorship.

• 30 Guest Speakers have shared valuable industry insights and knowledge.

• 16 Live Projects completed, offering real-world experience for our participants.

In Spring 2023, we opened our doors to even more tech squads and members through our Cohort Program, expanding opportunities for collaboration and professional development.

In addition to these achievements, we offer a range of ongoing programs:

• 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺: A 15-week program offering hands-on experience in building tech products through tech squads, with mentorship and professional development.

• 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: Ongoing support to help participants create and maintain self-empowered tech squads after completing the cohort program.

• 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺: A continuous program that connects participants with experienced professionals for career guidance.

• 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: Job readiness assistance, including resume reviews, interview prep, networking opportunities, and career workshops.

• 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Regular events where industry experts share the latest trends, tools, and career advice.

What Startups of The Year means to us

We’re participating in HackerNoon’s Startups of the Year because CherryOnTech is on a mission to empower underrepresented genders in tech, and we believe this initiative aligns perfectly with fostering diversity and innovation in the industry. As we transition into the nonprofit space, securing grants will allow us to create even more powerful opportunities and resources for our community, expanding the impact we can make.

By being part of this, we hope to elevate our visibility, attract more mentors and participants, and build strong partnerships to help us scale our efforts. This is also an incredible opportunity to share our story, learn from other forward-thinking startups, and gain the insights needed to further our growth. Ultimately, we aim to inspire others to champion inclusive tech ecosystems while positioning CherryOnTech for its next phase of growth and impact.

🍒 Conclusion

In conclusion, CherryOnTech is all about putting the “cherry on top” of the tech industry—combining collaboration, innovation, and the voices of underrepresented genders in a fun and empowering way. We know that when diverse perspectives come together, they spark the most powerful ideas and solutions.

As we transition into the nonprofit space, we’re focused on amplifying our impact and creating more opportunities for our community to thrive. Participating in HackerNoon’s Startups of the Year is an exciting opportunity to share our mission, build meaningful connections, and continue driving real change in the tech industry.

Right now, we’re building our new website 😜, but if you’d like to learn more about us, please visit our LinkedIn and explore our latest program summary (https://shorturl.at/4J0wD) .

We’re excited about the future and look forward to building a more inclusive and innovative tech world!

💘 Vote for us today, do it here! ⬅️