Google is making new commitments to diversity with the launch of two startup programs aimed at jump-starting growth for business owners, specifically for women and Black founders.

These are the latest in a long list of programs the tech giant has created to empower businesses seeking adequate resources for success, said Google's head of first startups, Jewel Burks Solomon. Furthermore, she added that the tech giant is specifically adding resources to help companies succeed in the unprecedented business climate brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. 

"We think that giving these founders the best resources that Google has to offer is a great way for us to really be helpful and to just also make sure that these businesses succeed and grow," she told Cheddar.

Google isn't just offering help because it's a trend on Twitter, said Jason Scott, head of startup developers ecosystems at Google. The company is committed to ensuring businesses continue thriving in the future.

"One thing we're really, really, really passionate about is continuing to support diverse founders and representations across all of our programs," he said.

Continued support isn't always measured in monetary terms, Solomon mentioned, but it can also be defined by the tools that can be used to make a product or idea more complete. The new programs offer "additional services" that provide unique access to personalized mentorship and technical workshops.

"We're really excited that Google has taken the stand to say, 'We're going to not just do a one-time thing, but we're going to do something that will really stand the test of time and continue to invest in these businesses,'" Solomon said.

Lasting success for the startups is not Google's sole priority, noted Solomon. The company is also committed to ensuring fair business practices so smaller companies are not simply overrun by larger entities. 

"This is our entire team mission: to level the playing field for underrepresented startup founders. And it didn't just start this week or last week. It's been something that we've been doing for many years," she said.

For Solomon, participating in the launch of these new startup initiatives is personal and one she's happy Google fully stands behind.

"I started a tech company back in 2013, so I really understood the challenges, frankly, that Black and brown founders faced," Solomon said.

Share:
More In Business
Doctors Join Forces to Urge Investors to Hold Meta Responsible for Misinformation
Ahead of the Meta shareholder meeting, more than five hundred doctors have jointly sent a letter to investors to hold the Facebook parent accountable for the risks its platforms have posed to the public and mental health. Dr. Rob Davidson, a West Michigan ER physician and executive director of the Committee to Protect Health Care, joined Cheddar News to discuss how medical professionals are coming together to highlight the social media giant's spread of misinformation, especially during the pandemic. "We've seen the direct impacts of misinformation and disinformation that spreads like wildfire on the social media platforms," he said. "Our goal with this letter is to try to get the shareholders of Meta to convince leadership that they need to do a better job."
Expert Offers Tips to Deal With Debt
Regine Muradian, clinical psychologist and National Debt Relief Financial Wellness board member, joins Cheddar News to discuss how debt impacts our mental health.
Snap Warning Sends Other Stocks Spiraling
Snap downgraded its earnings and revenue expectations for the second quarter, saying the "macroeconomic environment" has deteriorated faster than the company anticipated. The warning sent shockwaves through the digital ad industry, dragging down a handful of other tech stocks, including Pinterest, Meta, and Twitter. Daniel Cobb, CEO and Chief Strategy Officer of Daniel Brian Advertising, joined Cheddar to discuss the reason behind this warning, and why it's bringing so many social media stocks down.
Why it Pays for Businesses to Prioritize Sustainability
Pamela Rucker, CIO Advisor and Instructor for Harvard Professional Development, joins Cheddar to discuss how perceptions of Environmental, Social, and Governance–or ESG–changed over the past couple of years, and how using machine learning and artificial intelligence could pave the way to a more sustainable future.
Load More