Apple Entrepreneur Camp
developer.apple.com
developer.apple.com
Calling it Entrepreneur Camp reflects better on what I assume is its goal: get more diverse entrepreneurs into Apple’s platforms. There’s many folks out there that would derive value from the confidence boost and community of like-people succeeding.
Seems like a good idea to me.
But they don’t target (or allow really) non-binary or lgbt (except trans women are allowed). Or don’t allow Arab/middle-eastern persons. Etc etc.
I think it’s cool that an org as large as Apple is working to improve representation but am interested in what criteria are used to specify underrepresented.
They choose which underrepresented groups to target based on the resources they have. If Apple didn’t have any non-binary people qualified to provide counselling, then they can’t offer support to them.
Hopefully they source experts externally in the future and expand this offering to more underrepresented groups.
Can I come in from the cold?
It does seem odd that there are no sessions open to anyone.
Is there a similar program that a white male would qualify for? It looks interesting, but it’s apparently closed to me unless I lie by claiming to be something I’m not.
I say that as a “brown” minority, whose immigrant family were the minority even in their own country, who is apparently supposed to self-identify as Caucasian and would not qualify for this program because I’m not Black or Hispanic or Indigenous.
It’s racist.
It's a matter of portions and percentages. Few people of color are rich, much less born rich, and far below their percentage of the population as a whole.
Also, that you lump poor whites who grew up in the inner city with those who grew up wealthy in Palo Alto is shocking. That Palo Alto native likely has far more in common with their black neighbor.
You are advocating for racist policies. No matter how you slice your identitarianism, you will never reach total inclusion, perpetually marginalizing and discriminating against minorities you may not even be aware of. Fight on, brother.
After a quick glance here’s what’s being offered in this program: - 1 year free of apple dev program (laughably little time in my view btw) - seemingly 1 on 1 support with experienced devs to help you build your first app(s)
Yes, it’s good that being provided for underrepresented devs. But also, and I think this is what GP comment is asking, why isn’t this offered in a larger capacity?
As someone who paid Apple 400$ just to keep my dev license so people around the world could download my free apps while I was super poor in college.. I kinda feel where this person is coming from.
What GP is misunderstanding is that this isn’t a “here’s how to write good code” programme. This is a “what to do when you get told ‘a woman could never run a successful business’ in a VC meeting” programme.
That’s an odd choice of words. Sometimes folks just need access to education on a new topic… don’t know that it’s exclusively due to their “struggle” of being a person of gender X and race Y.
For what it’s worth, I’d be willing to pay for it. Perhaps even a substantial amount.
Maybe a better approach would be to charge like $5k for the program, but have a “scholarship” system in place for these communities. Give them their own space to discuss issues important to them that aren’t relevant to those outside that community even.
As it is, I feel like this is creating separate systems for underrepresented groups. Regardless of how those groups are defined, we already know that “separate but equal”… isn’t.
You can Google "startup communities" and find thousands. Often, a local startup community (like San Diego's istartupsd.org) will help you find your local programs and events. If your startup scene is nascent or non-existent, start with Meetup and/or start your own monthly event for like-minded people.
FWIW, underrepresented attendees can bring a colleague. I see no requirement that the colleague must also be underrepresented.