<h3>We are delighted to highlight the companies in our network with BIPOC founders, who are working to fix problems affecting their communities.</h3>
<p>Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) are among the most underrepresented in tech, making up just <a href="https://www.cio.com/article/193688/professional-organizations-focused-on-diversity-in-tech.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">29 percent of the tech industry</a>, with white people comprising the <a href="https://www.cio.com/article/193688/professional-organizations-focused-on-diversity-in-tech.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">vast majority at 68 percent</a>.</p>
<p>According to the <a href="https://www.eeoc.gov/special-report/diversity-high-tech" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Diversity in High Tech report</a>, African Americans make up a mere 2  percent of tech executive roles, with Asian Americans accounting for 11 percent of supervisory roles in the tech industry.</p>
<p>Here are five BIPOC-founded startups in our network who are defying these trends and making an impact both on society and the tech industry at large:</p>
<h3><a href="https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/wambi/id1592188364" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Wambi</a></h3>
<p>Wambi is a social network that aims to connect users with friends, family and members of the community. The application offers customers the opportunity to create product listings through their unique marketplace, chat directly with their contacts and post photos and videos to personal feeds to interact with their communities.</p>
<p>Founded in 2020 by Romuald Esdras Wandji, Wambi offers customers total control over what they share along with full ownership of their content and data.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.trysamar.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Samar Technologies</a></h3>
<p>Samar is a digital travel wallet for tax-free shopping, using customized digital solutions to simplify travel and retail experiences. Founded in 2020 by Yomi Folami and based out of Dubai, Samar captures, calculates, and digitizes users’ tax-free coupons while traveling to track refunds in real-time.</p>
<p>Using an engine of real-time transactions data and event-driven automation and reimbursements, Samar aims to build a more transparent, sustainable and seamless VAT refund system for the tourism sector.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.bodyscratch.academy/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Body Scratch</a></h3>
<p>Co-founded by Alvin Arthur and Phan Anh Tu, Body Scratch is an immersive game that empowers youths to learn computer programming through dance. Body Scratch integrates physical movement to help reduce screen time and engage youth groups, making learning more interactive and community-based.</p>
<p>By adopting alternative methods to teaching coding, the Body Scratch team aims to empower the youth and help schools and cultural organizations foster more balanced education away from screens.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.skyewallet.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Skye Wallet</a></h3>
<p>Skye Wallet is a Pan-African crypto wallet and cross-border payment platform that aims to give users an avenue to carry out cryptocurrency activities. Built to facilitate and redefine the use of digital currency, Skye Wallet&#8217;s vision is to connect Africa to the global financial services economy through digital currency.</p>
<p>Their mission is to create a seamless and secure platform to individuals, businesses and communities to drive financial accessibility and inclusion across Africa.</p>
<h3><a href="https://ahdireyo.webflow.io/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BoostU</a></h3>
<p>Founded in 2018 by Sharif York and headquartered out of Atlanta, Georgia, BoostU is a professional training and consulting company focused on leveraging the power of digital media to inspire entrepreneurs and individuals to start their own businesses.</p>
<p>What began as a college podcast has morphed into a company focused on providing industry production examples, teaching, and keynote talks to empower individuals to succeed in their industries.</p>
<h4>To find out more about the startups in our network, click <a href="https://websummit.com/startups/featured-startups" rel="noopener" target="_blank">here</a>. Looking forward to seeing you in Lisbon this November. <a href="https://websummit.com/tickets/attendees" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Book your tickets</a> now.</h4>
<p><em>Main Image: <a href="https://websummit.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Web Summit</a></em></p>


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