Supporting undergraduates from underresourced backgrounds to be exceptional candidates for graduate jobs in tech
Young people entering the tech workforce in the US are contending with an entry-level labour market in flux as AI transforms organisations, facing strong competition for fewer opportunities. This uncertainty is likely to disproportionately impact those from less advantaged backgrounds, who have less access to the financial resources and career guidance that could support them to secure roles.
SEO Tech Developer is a free immersion programme that supports first- and second-year college students majoring in Computer Science and Software Engineering. Through hands-on training, mentorship, and career preparation, students gain the technical and professional skills needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive tech industry.
The Hg Foundation is the seed-funder of the programme and has been heavily involved in its development, which draws on SEO’s 40+ years of experience of running programmes in education and other competitive professional sectors, such as law and finance.
Tech Developer is centred around a six-week virtual summer residency, which includes 300+ hours of technical and soft-skills training. Participants also have exclusive access to tech internships through SEO’s partner employers. The programme focuses on experiential learning, team and project-based work, along with sustained exposure to tech industry professionals and educators through curriculum delivery, seminars and mentorship. Those who cannot make the time commitment required for the core programme have the option to apply for a ‘LITE’ stream with lighter-touch, asynchronous support.
The Foundation seed- funded the programme with their first grant in 2021 and has been a programme partner ever since.
“I’m very grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in the SEO Tech Developer programme because everything we were learning was completely new to me, and I feel more confident in my programming skills now. I also feel like I have some projects that I can add to my resume that I can talk about during interviews. Thank you for providing us with this opportunity because I now feel ready to apply to other internships!”
SEO is deeply grateful to The Hg Foundation for their longstanding partnership and commitment to the SEO Tech Developer program, which prepares talented, underexposed college students for careers in software engineering through intensive training, mentorship, and hands-on experience. Beyond funding, The Hg Foundation has been a trusted strategic partner: supporting an independent impact study, helping shape program strategy, and working with us to integrate AI into the curriculum. Their collaborative approach has strengthened our outcomes and expanded what’s possible for the hardworking young people SEO serves. It’s a privilege to build this work together.
