10 Years of Impact: How BOT Founders Josh & Mike Ignited Change in the Tech Community
Josh & Mike Photo
Every movement begins with a spark and the passion to transform into a thriving, life-changing community. This week’s special impact story meets the braintrust behind BOT. Meet Josh and Mike, the founders of Building Our Tech, formerly Black Orlando Tech. The duo explains how BOT turned from a formal tech meetup to an organization that empowers tech professionals. We go beyond the surface and sit down with our founders to uncover the real story behind the mission. If you’ve ever wondered how a single idea can grow into a powerful force, this is your chance to hear it firsthand. Their journey isn’t just inspiring, but it’s a blueprint for what’s possible when purpose meets action. Preview the late nights, bold risks, and the unwavering belief that access to tech can change lives, and then watch the full video interview for yourself.
Why did you take the initiative to start BOT?
“We were fortunate that all of the founders were kind of that personality of be the change you want to see and a lot of people will see a problem and say oh someone else will solve that but we’ve always been like well if I can solve that, I should solve it... ”
“...we’ve always been inclusive but we realized that hey like there are some folks we really need to connect those dots for a lot more. We started to see the impact really when we realized that hey like if we connect this, this is the world that we can create that could make it better for everyone involved.”
What is a memorable impact story from someone BOT supported?
“Outside of the skill building, the programs, the opportunities, what I hear a lot is just people feeling like they are coming home or they feel like home when they are around folks in BOT...”
What does life look like after starting BOT?
“...It’s like a mix of it feels the same and past all of my wildest dreams. So I would say what makes it feel the same is that we’ve always just focused on the journey of just how many folks we can help versus like accolades and numbers...but I think for me now it’s more of figuring out how we continue to keep growing and make it another 10 years so that we can continue to make bigger and bigger impact...”
“the challenges have evolved and we’ve been able to evolve with it, so hence one of the reasons we were able to rebrand...”
“... I would say one of the secret sauce of BOT was that you continue to take the journey with me too Mike, keeping that institutional knowledge for ten years but then also not halting prgress as well so, making sure that all the new faces that came made it so that we could continue to scale... so I really apprectiae you sticking around”
What organizational accomplishments are you most proud of?
“... the word passion comes from the word passio which actually stands for struggle and so when you have passion for something it’s not because you love it, it’s because you are willing to endure the pain needed to take it through...”
“... there’s a time when we said we wanted to impact at least 10,000 you know net new people through tech and then our great executive director which you guys will hear from somewhere in this segment was able to verify that we actually hit that number of impacting 10,000 people...”
Watch The Full Video Interview Here
The future of tech isn’t something we wait for; it’s something we build together. In this candid conversation, our founders share where BOT began, where we’re headed, and how access to the right resources and opportunities can change a person’s trajectory. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale your career, their insights will challenge you to think bigger and move with intention. Welcome home, and don’t miss the full story! Watch the complete interview and see how your next chapter in tech could begin today.
