The Entrepreneurs Paving New Paths to Technology Careers
JFFLabs features a new cohort of entrepreneurs at the cutting edge market trends and business-aligned social impact.
JFFLabs Entreprenur Acceleration
We work with mission-aligned entrepreneurs and companies to accelerate and scale new models and technology-based solutions.
New technologies are constantly on the horizon and digitalization will be a source and driver of transformational change across all industries. To prepare all workers and learners to develop the emerging skills and experiences that will help them succeed in this landscape, Jobs for the Future (JFF) has partnered with Cognizant Foundation to launch a new cohort of entrepreneurs focused on developing innovative ways for people to enter and succeed in technology careers.
This latest cohort of entrepreneurs is rethinking accessibility and inclusion, and finding unique ways for people from all backgrounds to build skills and connect with career opportunities.
Current Innovators
Meet our newest innovators who are building companies to help people find and thrive in technology careers.

Rod Danan
Founder & CEO, Prentus

Rod Danan
Founder & CEO, Prentus
Every day, highly qualified people—many of whom lack representation in the tech industry, such as people of color and women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds—graduate from bootcamps with the skills to succeed. To connect these jobseekers and their training programs with eager employers, Rod Danan started Prentus: a marketplace for companies to discover and recruit from bootcamps, and a platform for job seekers to get the support they need to be hired.

Khiry Kemp
COO & Co-Founder, Oppti

Khiry Kemp
COO & Co-Founder, Oppti
For young people, internships are often a valuable initial step for skill-building and launching a career in technology. Oppti, cofounded by COO Khiry Kemp, is a platform for students to apply for and get matched with internships. Focusing on real-world experience and work-based learning, Oppti has partnered with academic institutions to develop a system that bridges the gap between students, interns, and employers.

Jennifer Robertson
Co-Founder, Qwasar

Jennifer Robertson
Co-Founder, Qwasar
Jennifer Robertson founded Qwasar to create remote software engineering training that meets rigorous Silicon Valley corporate standards. The company offers affordable, part- and full-time training programs, and boasts a 95% employment rate within six weeks of completion for learners who complete the program.

Naomi Thomas
Founder & CEO, infinity.careers

Naomi Thomas
Founder & CEO, infinity.careers
To help jobseekers identify and obtain the skills and credentials needed for their dream jobs, Naomi Thomas founded Infinity Careers, a tech career training marketplace that turns “brands into universities” by identifying custom micro-certifications and community-based recruiting for specific corporate opportunities. Career seekers learn through a curriculum focused on tech jobs, while brands build proprietary educational pipelines for vetting talent currently underrepresented in the tech industry.

Lawrence Wagner
CEO & Founder, Spark Mindset

Lawrence Wagner
CEO & Founder, Spark Mindset
Apprenticeships help workers master the knowledge, skills, and competencies they need for the job at hand, while setting them up for long-term career success. Spark Mindset, founded by Lawrence Wagner, uses the power of pre-apprenticeships and Registered Apprenticeships to help communities and learners with low incomes find high-wage careers and pathways to postsecondary education. The virtual registered pre-apprenticeship program and apprenticeship program provides access to quality cyber-security and professional training, providing an innovative workforce solution to the technology industry.

Taylor Shead
Founder & CEO, STEMuli

Taylor Shead
Founder & CEO, STEMuli
Immersive learning technology can provide students with tools and platforms that provide relevant styles of learning. Taylor Shead is the CEO and Founder of STEMuli Studios, an educational metaverse with personalized, immersive academic and career exploration experiences. STEMuli Studios provides a pathway to an intellectually and economically fulfilling career for all by leveraging the power of online communities, AI, and game-based learning.
The JFFLabs’ Entrepreneurs in Residence program is designed to be a launchpad for social entrepreneurs who will generate and validate solutions to address persistent workforce, education, and learning challenges. The program coaches entrepreneurs and helps them highlight their value proposition, build an effective sales strategy, and connect with JFF subject matter experts who can help them achieve next level success.
For years, JFFLabs has worked with mission-aligned entrepreneurs and companies to accelerate and scale new models and technology-based solutions. Past cohorts have focused on work-based learning, assessment technology, immersive learning, and career navigation.