NEW GENERATION OF INNOVATORS

CloudFest Builds Future Tech Talent

The CloudFest community proudly supports Groundbreaker Talents, a transformative full-time residential program in Software & AI Engineering designed for young women facing economic barriers in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This program empowers participants to build sustainable careers in the digital economy while actively shaping the next generation of African tech leadership.

Meet Groundbreaker Talents on-site at CloudFest!

$65,360⁺

Raised

Projects

716

Beneficiaries

Classrooms (+lavatories)

Strategic Partnership for the Future of IT Workforce

With 70% of its population under 30, Sub-Saharan Africa holds enormous untapped tech potential. Yet systemic barriers—especially limited access to education and professional networks—continue to exclude young women. Only 7% of women in Africa can afford university after secondary school, while the global tech sector urgently needs skilled, diverse talent.

Groundbreaker Talents bridges this gap. Our fully residential program covers all living costs, allowing participants to focus entirely on intensive Software & AI Engineering training. Within 12 months, they graduate as job-ready engineers prepared for the global tech workforce—building sustainable careers and breaking the cycle of poverty.

The CloudFest community has played a key role through sponsorship and mentorship, contributing to strong employment outcomes for our graduates.

100% of your donation goes to the Groundbreaker Talents program.

Our School-Building Projects

Our partnership with Groundbreaker goes way back! This community has helped build schools to change the course of the future for financially constrained communities.

2019 – Guatemala

Thanks to generous donations from companies and individuals in the cloud computing industry and some fantastic construction work by our local partners, over 500 kids get a better shot at a brighter future. In October 2019, the newly-renovated Escuela Oficial Urbana Mixta San Antonio in Sololá, Guatemala opened its doors.

It was important to design the new classrooms with the students in mind. It´s not just about a safe learning environment, but also about space where the teachers have the opportunity to provide their students with a quality education.” said school architect Luis Alberto Palacios.

2021 – Senegal

Senegal’s educational system faces many challenges. While the country offers free, compulsory education up to age 16, many students drop out due to poverty and a lack of resources. Female students in particular are disadvantaged by the system.

In 2018, EFK facilitated the construction of a school in the tiny, remote village of Soupa Sérère, which currently serves around 150 students from across the region in three combined-year classrooms. As the student population grew, there was an urgent need to create more space. With help from Cloudfest attendees and partners, we raised enough funding to make the extension of the school in Soupa Sérère possible! As of November 2021, construction is complete and region’s students are enjoying their new space.