Tech diversity nonprofit shutting down after a decade of training people for software careers
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'As we looked at 2026, we just didn't see a path to providing internships and entry level opportunities for another cohort of 70 to 100 fellows,' Bussgang said. 'We worked a number of different angles and playbooks, but in the end, if there are no jobs, there's no hack, or at least hack is currently constructed.'
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Michelle De La Isla, Hack's chief executive, said she has been telling current participants, who will wind up their internships this summer as scheduled, and alumni that they can continue the program's mission.
'The calling right now is for everybody that has participated in Hack to continue keeping that legacy alive, because the organization will not die,' she said.
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The program arranged mentors for participants, so Hack graduates should become mentors in the future, De La Isla said. And graduates could help students prepare for job interviews and tune their resumes, as Hack helped them.
'Hack the organization may be winding down, but hack the concept lives on within all of you,' De La Isla wrote in a Slack message to program participants.
De La Isla
Hack.Diversity grew out of a conversation between Bussgang and Jody Rose, who was then executive director of the New England Venture Capital Association, seeking to address the tech industry's struggles attracting and retaining a diverse workforce. Together with Tech Connection founder Melissa James, they hatched the idea for a program. De La Isla took over for Rose as CEO in 2023.
The problem Hack was trying to address remains. Black and Hispanic or Latino people each
Sara Fraim, chief executive of the Massachusetts Technology Council, said she was 'devastated' by the news of Hack closing.
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'They played a critical role in shaping a more vibrant, innovative, and inclusive tech community here in Massachusetts,' Fraim said. 'We will honor their impact by redoubling our commitment to supporting tech careers, creating meaningful connections, and advancing diversity and professional development throughout the industry.'
Aaron Pressman can be reached at
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