Learn more about how this organization is queering the tech sector!
We can’t believe summer’s almost over! Before we shut down for our summer break, we have another spotlight post to share. If you’ve been following our series, we’ve been highlighting organizations across Canada who are involved in menstrual equity or gender justice work in various capacities. This is an opportunity to shed light on the incredible work being done and to increase your capacity to engage in more advocacy work. This month, we’re highlighting QueerTech.
QueerTech, a national nonprofit dedicated to queering the tech ecosystem in Canada, was founded in 2016 by Naoufel Testaouni and Andy Saldana. Both co-founders had experienced the tech industry’s lack of representation for queer individuals firsthand and recognized that many other queer tech workers across Canada felt the same. To address these barriers and the isolation often felt by 2SLGBTQIA+ tech professionals, they initially established QueerTech as a community meetup group. Over time, this initiative grew into a registered nonprofit organization committed to creating meaningful and impactful programming for all Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ tech workers. Since its inception, QueerTech has hosted over 200 events, engaged more than 10,000 community members, and partnered with over 125 organizations. In 2024, the acquisition of the technology accelerator Gradient Spaces marked a significant milestone, expanding QueerTech’s programming for queer tech entrepreneurs.
QueerTech’s core values— inclusivity, helpfulness, accessibility, and pride—are the bedrock of all its initiatives. These values ensure that the organization’s programs foster a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone feels seen and respected. Inclusivity and accessibility drive QueerTech’s commitment to intersectionality, ensuring that its programming caters to diverse communities and addresses the unique experiences of multiple oppressed individuals. Helpfulness and pride fuel QueerTech’s proactive community model, which celebrates 2SLGBTQIA+ excellence and belonging in the tech industry.
As QueerTech looks to the future, the organization is focusing on its flagship events—QT Qonference and QT Connect Meetups—and the expansion of the QT Digital Platform. The QT Qonference brings the 2SLGBTQIA+ tech community together for an experience designed to help queer tech professionals advance their careers, identify business opportunities, and celebrate their collective QT power. Meanwhile, QT Connect Meetups continue to create safe spaces for regional QueerTech communities to connect, share experiences, and access opportunities in the tech industry. The QT Digital Community, a free and secure platform, allows members to engage with forums, participate in events, and discover opportunities within the 2SLGBTQIA+ tech space. Additionally, QueerTech is planning to launch three cohort-style programs in 2025, designed to support individuals at different stages of their tech careers.
QueerTech is committed to ensuring that community feedback is central to all its initiatives. Satisfaction surveys are regularly distributed to program participants and event attendees to collect actionable data, which helps the organization iterate and improve its offerings. Beyond individual program success, QueerTech also measures the broader social and economic impact of its work within the Canadian tech ecosystem. This includes tracking the recruitment and placement of queer talent in the tech sector, assessing the number of queer individuals in leadership positions, and conducting research on the lived experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ tech workers.
QueerTech’s events, particularly the QT Qonference and QT Connect Meetups, continue to garner significant community support and engagement. The QT Qonference has become a pivotal event for the national queer tech ecosystem, fostering a sense of belonging and creating opportunities for professional development and business growth. The QT Access program, launched in 2024, has also seen significant success, empowering queer and trans individuals with the skills needed to break into the digital innovation economy and boosting participants’ confidence and employment prospects in the tech sector.
QueerTech exists for and because of the 2SLGBTQIA+ tech community, and the organization ensures that the voices and experiences of those it serves are at the forefront of its storytelling efforts. Initiatives like the QT Podcast amplify individual stories, providing visibility and recognition to community members. Additionally, QueerTech’s participatory approach to event planning ensures that themes and speakers resonate with the diverse experiences of the community. This commitment to community-driven content is central to QueerTech’s mission to responsibly amplify the voices of 2SLGBTQIA+ tech professionals across Canada.
Here are a few ways to get involved with QueerTech:
Stay tuned for more updates as our partnership continues to grow and evolve!
