We had the good fortune of connecting with George Hofstetter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi George, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
GHTech serves as a software and curriculum development company that builds at the intersection of technology and social justice. We’re developing a global ecosystem of Black, Brown, and Indigenous engineers who want to build toward collective liberation. We bring a deep understanding of how social and psychological factors influence technology adoption, engagement, and its impact on marginalized communities. As an organization we strive to challenge the biases behind algorithms, ensuring that technology development benefits all communities. Through leveraging our expertise, partnerships, and educational initiatives, we are creating a more equitable technology landscape that empowers underrepresented communities. We also offer high school, undergraduate, and postgraduate software engineering internships designed for students from historically marginalized communities to gain professional experience.

Please tell us more about your career. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
When I was 16 years old I started GHTech Inc. to help close the digital divide, combat systemic oppression, and develop programs that organize us toward collective liberation. I guest lecture at universities and schools around the world and consult for organizations interested in mitigating the bias in their work with technology. Currently, I’m a student at Columbia University.

I come from a family of educators, entrepreneurs, and spiritual leaders so I was lucky enough to have some blueprints to follow. Joining The Hidden Genius Project at 14, and becoming a Jr. Fellow at 15 for Qeyno Labs, were key parts of my socialization into the tech industry. Both of these organizations exposed me to mentors and veteran engineers in the industry who gave me ‘the game’ necessary to set my own pace for creativity and maintain my motivation.

I’d say I’m most proud of the impact our company has been able to have over the past seven years we’ve been operating. Our digital divide vol. 1 curriculum has been adopted by a few middle and high schools across the states, our team has traveled to England and lectured at the Intellectual Forum, Jesus College at The University of Cambridge, and worked with industry giants like Capital One Bank, Reddit, and The University of Cambridge ThinkLab. This year we went on tour for our HBCU Lecture Series on Black Creativity and Hacktivism where we donated nearly $20,000 to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I try to maintain a plant-based lifestyle as much as I can. Some must-visits would be Tassili’s Raw Reality Café, Life Bistro, and Slutty Vegan. I also have to recommend visiting Piedmont Park, it’s beautiful, especially the botanical gardens.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Gerri Saint Germain. Her mentorship has been instrumental in my professional and personal success. From navigating my business to interviews, lecture presentations, and quite frankly critical thinking. I have the privilege to call her my mom. I grew up in a very Black revolutionary household. I remember whenever I failed classes in school my F’s were reframed for me being a ‘Free thinker’. I was not allowed to ever go to detention when I was assigned it. My mom would explain the school-to-prison pipeline, and how detention was preparing me for prison. She’s instilled in me the core values of curiosity, education, and love. She holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology and early childhood development. From as early as I can remember she’s encouraged me to follow my passions and positively impact the world. She’s always told me I was meant to be a trailblazer.

Website: https://g.framer.media/ | https://www.georgehofstettertechnologies.com/

Instagram: @hyphy_g @ghtechinc

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ghtech

Twitter: @ghtechinc

Youtube: https://youtu.be/n7mrhkTtqlg?feature=shared

Image Credits
(Feature Photo: George delivering a lecture at North Carolina A&T State University) (Photo one: George in a blue GHTech Inc. t-shirt alongside South LA students and Google employees after a tour of Google that was organized in collaboration with Mula, GHTech Inc., and SoLA I Can Foundation) (Photo two: George and the CEO of KitsCubed, Ahmed Muhammad presenting the Inaugural Transforming Education Award to the CEO of StreetCode Academy, Olatunde Sobomehin at GHTech Inc. and KitsCubed’s Juneteenth Tech Summit 23’) (Photo three: Organic Harvest Digital’s CEO Oluwaseyi Olaleye in a blue GHTech Inc. sweatshirt in conversation with Juneteenth Tech Summit 23’ attendees) (Photo four: Grow Love Collective’s CEO Dezmond Frazier welcoming the community at GHTech Inc. and KitsCubed’s Juneteenth Tech Summit 23’) (Photo five: George on stage passing the microphone during the Trailblazer Dialogue at GHTech Inc. and KitsCubed’s Juneteenth Tech Summit 23’) (Photo six: A collage of four photos from GHTech’s HBCU Lecture Series visit to Grambling State University) (Photo seven: A full class of Fisk University computer science students holding up blue GHTech Inc. t-shirts)

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.