Apple Inc. is set to host a series of free, multi-day entrepreneurship camps aimed at enhancing the quality of participants' apps.
However, the tech giant has set a specific criterion for application: the primary leadership or software development representative of the applying company must be Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, or female. Interestingly, this criterion also extends to males who identify as women.
As reported by The Post Millennial, the entrepreneurship camp's website reveals that those who secure a spot in the camp will be privy to "one-on-one code-level guidance from Apple engineers," a complimentary one-year membership to the Apple Developer Program, support from Apple Developers, and the opportunity to interact with a "world-class group of inspiring ambitious leaders."
Apple's "How to apply" page for this year's camps discloses that the camps are divided into three categories. The first, labelled "Underrepresented founders," is scheduled for late October. The second, "Female founders and underrepresented founders," will take place in mid-November, while the final camp, "Female founders," is slated for December.
To be eligible for the underrepresented founders camp, the applying organization must have a Black, Hispanic/Latinx, or Indigenous founder, cofounder, or CEO, or a Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Indigenous, or female developer proficient in Swift or Objective-C, and a functioning app. Interestingly, Apple allows organizations led by males who identify as women to apply, stating that "Apple believes that gender expression is a fundamental right. We welcome all women to apply."
For the female founders camp, the applying organization must have a female founder, cofounder, or CEO, a female developer proficient in Swift or Objective-C, and a functioning app.
However, Apple's eligibility criteria have sparked debates among users on X, questioning the legality of the tech giant's decision to exclude certain sexes or races from applying to the camp. They cite the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, suggesting that if Apple's underrepresented founders camp and "female" founders camp are considered forms of training or educational opportunities, excluding organizations led by certain races could potentially violate the law.
Apple's camp, besides being a potential educational opportunity and form of training, is also linked to career opportunities and future employment. It offers participants the chance to "collaborate one-on-one with Apple engineers and experts who will offer valuable critiques and recommendations to elevate your app."
Excluding certain organizations based on the race of their leaders could be interpreted as a refusal "to hire or discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual" on the grounds of their "race, color, religion, sex, or national origin," as per the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This raises questions about the legality and fairness of Apple's eligibility criteria for these camps.
Login