#CodeWithMike in Lagos, Nigeria
Welcome to the GoFundMe for a coding and entrepreneurship initiative, that I've founded, called #CodeWithMike. I am extremely grateful that you are viewing this!
If you are not interested in reading the background story to my initiative, feel free to scroll down to the bottom of the page to get the general idea of the #CodeWithMike program and reason for needing funds.
My name is Michael Westbrooks. I am a 26-year old New Jersey native who now resides in Atlanta, GA. I graduated from Morehouse College with my bachelor’s degree in marketing; however, my passion shifted from marketing and branding to entrepreneurship. I am intensely passionate about technology startups and sharing my knowledge and/or educating other individuals and communities to pursue their passion.
With the help of my friend and now business partner, Ron VanPelt, I was able to teach myself how to code from an online course that cost $200.
I have now been coding and working with local entrepreneurs for 3 years. Ron and I started a company called RedRooster Technologies, where we shifted from building our own products to helping local entrepreneurs go from an idea to a minimal viable product, and offer efficiently priced and effective development services. From this new focus, the #CodeWithMike initiative was born.
I theorized that anyone with an interest to bootstrap their startup had a propwensity to learn how to code.
During the summer of 2016, I impacted more than 30 people by using social media to invite people to meet me at local coffee shops around Atlanta to impart resources and mentorship, necessary to learn how to build a minimal viable product (MVP) level application. As the program began to grow, I realized I couldn't just have the events at Starbucks, Chick-fil-A and other locations so I had to temporarily postpone the summer series.
Through a series of great conversations and networking events, I met Michael Street, a fellow Morehouse Man and founder at Black Men Code, who allowed the #CodeWithMike initiative to partner with them to introduce the development boot camp to the Atlanta University Center (AUC) through the Morehouse College Entrepreneurship Center.
My team and my impact grew. All of this led up to why I am posting this GoFundMe today.
The #CodeWithMike initiative is proud to publicize its official partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Lagos, Nigeria. Through this partnership, the #CodeWithMike team was invited to perform a 13-day iOS Development Boot Camp and Entrepreneurship Workshop in the beautiful city of Lagos, in April 2017.
Lagos is becoming an early melting pot for technology startups, innovation and investing; making this opportunity extremely important and timely.
The #CodeWithMike team is excited about this opportunity and is hoping to raise a total of $75,000 USD by the end of March, in corporate and crowdfunding dollars. We understand that this is a huge undertaking, but we strongly believe in our mission to serve underserved communities domestically, and this opportunity will take our mission and vision global.
The funds raised will be used to transport and lodge the 8-person team to perform this work, as well as, enable us to host a 1 day TED Talk inspired event where we will be hosting a pitch competition and infusing American capital with Nigerian infrastructure.
The impact of this 2-week long event is set to impact 20,000+ people.
We are hopeful that through this crowdfunding campaign we will receive the support necessary to make this experience everything that it needs to be and more.
We are grateful for any contribution(s), shares, or introductions!
Be great. Inspire. Pay it forward.
Cheers!
Michael Westbrooks II
CoFounder & Lead Instructor at #CodeWithMike