We are on a mission to change the path to power and influence in a tech-enabled world.

Break Through Tech, an initiative of Cornell Tech, empowers, trains, and connects undergraduate students from different lived experiences to influential tech opportunities. We are focused on launching a generation of previously overlooked tech talent into the workforce because those who break into today’s tech jobs will be writing the rules that will shape the future for all of us.

We envision a world where women are fairly represented in every room where tech decisions are made.

Founded in 2016 by Dr. Judith Spitz, former CIO of Verizon, Break Through Tech believes that there are enormous untapped talent pools of high potential tech workers with limitless potential to define the future. Our innovative programs offer undergraduate students, who we call fellows, the technical skills training, professional readiness support, and real-world project experiences to break into influential tech roles. We cultivate a network of early career tech talent and industry professionals so all Break Through Tech fellows can succeed in enduring tech careers–enabling them to write the rules that will shape the future for all of us.

As technology has evolved, so have we. Our flagship programs, Sprinternships and the AI Program, provide over 1,000 early career technologists each year with real-world technical projects to add to their resumes. We understand that career readiness extends to learning beyond the classroom; that’s why we continue to cultivate a network of industry professionals dedicated to mentoring the next generation of tech talent. 

In addition to our network of mentors and industry partners, we are expanding our network of instructional hubs. Since our founding, academic institutions have played a key role in recruiting undergraduate students and delivering instruction for our Machine Learning Foundations course. With support from the National Science Foundation, we are on track to triple the number of academic institutions partnering with us to deliver our Machine Learning Foundations curriculum to undergraduate students from across the country.

Thanks to generous support from funders and sponsors, we can offer our courses and resources at no cost to Break Through Tech fellows nationwide. Some of our funding partners include Melinda French Gates’ Pivotal Ventures, the Cognizant Foundation, Verizon Foundation, Ken Griffin, Citadel and Citadel Securities, Hopper-Dean Foundation, Google, Reboot Representation, Strada Education Foundation, Cadence Systems, Mastercard, the Estée Lauder Charitable Foundation, New Ventures Fund and Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation.

Learn more about our programs and how you can join an expansive community of tech professionals shaping the future of technology.

Hear from Our Fellows

“Professionally, the program has provided me with valuable exposure to companies actively seeking machine learning engineers, which has broadened my career aspirations in the AI field. Overall, this experience has accelerated my growth, enabling me to build stronger technical and interpersonal skills that will be essential in my future career.” – Dineshman Bajracharya, UT Dallas

“Break Through Tech’s AI Program has helped boost my confidence in myself and my ability to succeed. The program provided a safe and supportive environment where I felt comfortable asking questions and learning from others.” – Chanel McGee, Cal State Fullerton

“The Break Through Tech program not only gave me the chance to apply the skills I already had, but it allowed me to learn new skills and see the day-to-day of someone working in tech. I also got to make lasting friendships with my fellow Sprinterns™ as we collaborated on the challenge project, learning more about each other.” – Break Through Tech Fellow