Queering
the Tech Ecosystem
Our Mission
QueerTech strives to Queer The Tech Ecosystem by breaking down barriers, creating spaces, and connecting communities to support and empower 2SLGBTQIA+ people to thrive.
Our Vision
- Advance queer people to represent 20% of Canada's tech industry
- Advance queer people to 5% of leadership and executive roles in Canada's tech industry
- Advance queer founders to 15% of total funding opportunities in Canada's tech industry
Our mission defined
Queering Tech means more than just increasing representation—it’s about systemic transformation. We empower queer professionals with the skills and confidence to claim space, equip companies with the knowledge to create truly inclusive & innovative workplaces, and influence policies that drive industry-wide change.
Through career development, leadership programs, entrepreneurship support, and employer engagement programs, we’re breaking down barriers and building opportunities at every level of the tech ecosystem.
Values
Inclusivity
We create and sustain a diverse, welcoming community where every 2SLGBTQIA+ person feels valued, respected, and empowered.
Accessibility
We break down barriers, ensuring that everyone—regardless of ability or circumstance—has equal opportunities to thrive in tech.
Helpfulness
We believe in lifting as we climb, fostering a culture of mentorship, resource-sharing, and mutual support.
Pride
We champion authenticity, celebrating the power of queer identities and the strength that comes from showing up as your true self.
Collective Impact
We are stronger together. By building connections and collaborating with individuals, companies, and organizations, we create lasting change in the tech ecosystem.
Inclusivity
We create and sustain a diverse, welcoming community where every 2SLGBTQIA+ person feels valued, respected, and empowered.
Accessibility
We break down barriers, ensuring that everyone—regardless of ability or circumstance—has equal opportunities to thrive in tech.
Helpfulness
We believe in lifting as we climb, fostering a culture of mentorship, resource-sharing, and mutual support.
Pride
We champion authenticity, celebrating the power of queer identities and the strength that comes from showing up as your true self.
Collective Impact
We are stronger together. By building connections and collaborating with individuals, companies, and organizations, we create lasting change in the tech ecosystem.
History
Founded in 2016 in partnership with MontrealNewTech, QueerTech started as a meetup group to connect 2SLGBTQIA+ tech professionals in Montreal. As a grassroots initiative, QueerTech began with a simple yet powerful mission: to uplift and connect queer voices in the tech industry. This grassroots approach continues to drive everything we do. We grow by listening to our community, building with intention, and collaborating closely with the people we serve.
In two years, we became QueerTech, a non-profit organization committed to building a more inclusive tech ecosystem. From career development and entrepreneurship acceleration to workplace inclusion and policy advocacy, our programs and partnerships empower 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals and businesses to succeed. We champion inclusivity, elevate voices, and build a tech industry that reflects the diversity of the world around us. We believe that innovation can be unlocked through inclusion.
Today, we are expanding our impact across Canada and beyond, with a clear goal: to make tech more queer.
Key dates
First meetup event organizized by our co-founders in Montreal
QueerTech is incorporated as a national non-profit
Organizational growth with the virtual pivot
From volunteering to employment, the first staff members are hired
Published "Queering The Tech Ecosystem: Barriers and Opportunities," the first-ever research on 2SLGBTQIA+ experiences in Canadian tech, shaping national inclusion efforts.
QueerTech: A safe, inclusive, and proud space.