National nonprofit CodePath announced a $2 million philanthropic investment from Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation to accelerate the number of local college students prepared to participate in Charlotte’s growing technology economy. In just five years, Charlotte’s tech sector has grown nearly 20%, far outpacing the national average, with some of the largest tech companies in the U.S., including Apple, Microsoft, and IBM, opening hubs in the city.
The collaboration will embed CodePath’s courses, career services, and interview preparation in the computing programs at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and HBCU Johnson C. Smith University. Participating students will build in-demand technical skills, including AI, software engineering, cybersecurity, and mobile development, to propel them into employment opportunities in the city’s fastest-growing industries, while the program builds direct hiring pipelines with top Charlotte employers. The courses will serve an initial cohort of 300 students, with the aim of serving up to 2,000 students each year by 2028.
CodePath is a nonprofit dedicated to reprogramming higher education to create the first AI-native generation of engineers, CTOs, and founders, delivering industry-vetted courses and career support centered on the needs of first-generation and low-income students. The organization has served over 40,000 students at more than 1,000 colleges and universities across the country.
KEY QUOTES:
“We believe Charlotte can be a national example of how to prepare students for the future of work.”
“Together with Wells Fargo, this philanthropic investment will unlock pathways to economic mobility for students and their families while strengthening the region’s tech ecosystem.”
Michael Ellison, Co-Founder and CEO, CodePath
“Preparing the next generation for the future of work is essential to helping our communities and our economy grow.”
“Through our support of CodePath and local universities, we are expanding access to high-quality training and career pathways so more students can build in-demand skills and participate in Charlotte’s rapidly growing technology economy.”
Bonnie Wallace, Head of Financial Health Philanthropy, Wells Fargo
“Integrating CodePath’s industry-aligned courses directly into our curriculum will give JCSU computing students the technical foundation, hands on professional skills, and employer connections needed to launch successful tech careers in the AI era.”
“This partnership strengthens our commitment to economic mobility and positions JCSU as a leader in developing AI-ready talent for Charlotte’s, North Carolina’s and the nation’s innovation economy.”
Patrick M. Martin, Ph.D., Provost, Chief Academic and Research Officer, Johnson C. Smith University
“This philanthropic support ensures that all UNC Charlotte students have access to CodePath’s exceptional classes and services, allowing our College to continue offering technical interview prep and iOS development courses as part of our degree programs.”
“This direct investment in our computer science, data science and AI curricula and career readiness services will bring the opportunity to our students to master industry-aligned skills needed to compete and succeed in the rapidly evolving technology workforce.”
Bojan Cukic, Professor and Dean, UNC Charlotte College of Computing and Informatics
