Indigenous Tech Circle celebrates becoming a non-profit to help more Indigenous leaders

Last week, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Indigenous Tech Circle (ITC), a community of over 200 members, announced it’s now a non-profit to further support current and future Indigenous leaders.

“By formalizing our collective efforts as a non-profit entity, we can now create structured pathways for members to engage and lead in the tech industry,” wrote Alejandro Mayoral Banos, an ITC board member, in a post on LinkedIn. “This initiative will provide invaluable opportunities for mentorship and community support, ensuring that the next Seven Generations are not only heard but also integral in shaping the future of the tech industry.”

ITC’s mission is to achieve equitable outcomes for Indigenous people through tech, given its power to drive change and create opportunities. The board of directors consists of accomplished leaders, including:

• Jeff Ward, founder of Animikii, a tech company with products and services focused on website and software development.

• Alejandro Mayoral Banos, founder of Indigenous Friends Association, a tech non-profit focused on education, tech development, and research.

• Anita Pawluk, founder of RaceRocks, an aerospace and defence training company.

• Candice Loring, director of Indigenous relations initiatives at Genome BC, a not-for-profit supporting world-class genomics research and innovation.

• Althea Wishloff, general partner at VC firm Raven Capital.

• Josh Nilson, founder of indie game studio Eastside Games and angel investor at pre-seed investment and mentorship firm Maskwa Investments.

The ITC was founded by Ryan St. Germaine, a serial entrepreneur who co-founded and exited BCjobs, the largest job board in Western Canada, and Jobcast, a recruitment marketing platform. St. Germaine is also an investment committee member at Raven Capital and entrepreneur-in-residence at not-for-profit New Ventures BC.

“Being Indigenous in tech can be lonely,” shared St. Germaine. “The ITC provides a safe space for current and future leaders, offering an underground network of Indigenous technologists working together to support future generations. This includes helping them found their own companies with increased access to venture funds, join big tech companies, and secure more board positions.”

Initially, the ITC was a casual get-together between founders and CEOs from Indigenous-led tech companies during the COVID-19 pandemic. St. Germaine said these meetups grew through organic connections and a shared commitment to celebrating Indigenous identity and accomplishments in tech. 

St. Germaine shared the ITC is excited to break down silos and work with tech companies and communities across Turtle Island to grow the Indigenous tech ecosystem while building bridges between Indigenous-led organizations and the tech community at large. 

For anyone looking to partner with the ITC, St. Germaine noted he can be reached at [email protected]. As for Indigenous tech professionals looking to join the community, they can sign up online here.