Chuka Nweke — Founder of TechBelt Academy

Chuka Nweke

Founder & Lead Instructor — TechBelt Academy

My journey into technology started with cybersecurity and grew into computer science — but the mission was always bigger than code. Technology is the great equalizer, and every child deserves a seat at the table.

🎓 B.S. Computer Science — Rutgers 🛡️ A.S. Cyber Security 📊 Data Science Minor ⚖️ Social Justice Minor 💻 CS Educator 🚀 Entrepreneur

My Story

Every great program starts with a personal journey. Here is mine.

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Where It Began — Cybersecurity

My path into technology started at Hudson County Community College, where I earned my Associate of Science in Cyber Security. Learning how systems are protected — and how they break — taught me to think like an engineer. It also shaped a value that runs through everything TechBelt does today: keeping students safe online is not an afterthought, it is a foundation.

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Deeper Into Computer Science

I continued to Rutgers University, earning my Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with minors in Data Science and Social Justice. That combination was deliberate. Data science sharpened how I solve problems; social justice shaped why I teach. Studying algorithms in one class and inequity in the next made one thing clear: the people who build technology decide who it serves.

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Becoming an Educator

While studying, I began teaching — running digital literacy programs through public library partnerships and later teaching Python, augmented reality, drone programming, and animation as a summer STEM instructor. Watching a student's face light up the moment code they wrote actually works — there is nothing in the world like that feeling. I knew then that the classroom is where my engineering skills matter most.

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The Problem I Could Not Ignore

As an educator, I noticed something troubling: the technology industry is booming, but the people who look like me — people from African, Caribbean, and Latino communities — are chronically underrepresented. Not because of lack of talent or intelligence, but because of lack of access and early exposure. Students from underserved communities were not getting into coding early enough, and purpose-built programs for these communities were rare.

The Birth of TechBelt Academy

TechBelt Academy was built to change that. I designed a program that meets kids exactly where they are — using the platforms they already love like Roblox, Minecraft, Scratch, and Python — wrapped in a belt progression system that makes every milestone feel like a real achievement. The goal is simple: give every child a credible pathway into technology, starting as early as age 6.

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Still Building, Every Day

I practice what I teach. I built TechBelt's website and systems myself, and I am currently developing Bit — TechBelt's own AI tutor — using the same Python skills our students master on the way to Black Belt. When a student asks "can I really build something like this someday?", the answer is sitting right in front of them.

The Mission That Drives Everything

TechBelt Academy exists to expand access to technology education for students from underserved and historically underrepresented communities — giving every child the coding skills, confidence, and credentials they need to thrive in the 21st century economy.

We build a structured pathway that takes a child from their first Scratch animation at age 6 all the way to writing professional Python applications at age 15 — and into college CS programs, internships, and technology careers that will shape their futures.

Every belt earned is a step closer to a future built on real skills.

5 Belt Levels
Ages 6–15 We Start Early
60 Weeks of Curriculum
100% Community Focused

🚀 A Structured Learning Pipeline

By starting with children as young as 6, TechBelt Academy creates a structured pathway that grows with every student — from beginner coder to career-ready technologist.

We are building a structured pipeline from beginner coder to career-ready technologist — one belt at a time.

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White Belt
Age 6+
Yellow Belt
Age 7+
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Orange Belt
Age 9+
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Green Belt
Age 10+
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Black Belt
Age 11+
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Tech Career
Future

From a child's first drag-and-drop animation in Scratch to a teenager's first published Python app — TechBelt Academy walks every step of that journey with them.

What I Stand For

These are not just words on a wall. These are the principles that every class, every belt, and every interaction at TechBelt Academy is built on.

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Access for All

No child should be denied a future in technology because of their zip code or their family's income. Our scholarship fund exists to make sure of that.

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Excellence

We teach real skills using real tools. No shortcuts. No watered-down curriculum. Every TechBelt student learns what it actually takes to succeed in tech.

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Community First

TechBelt Academy is rooted in community. We partner with schools, libraries, and local organizations because we believe transformation happens from the inside out.

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Representation

Every student should see themselves as a future engineer, developer, or founder. We build environments where all children feel they belong in technology.

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Passion Over Perfection

We celebrate every attempt, every bug fixed, and every breakthrough. A child who loves coding will always figure it out. Our job is to keep that love alive.

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Long Game Thinking

We are not building a program for this year. We are building a generation of technologists whose impact will be felt for decades. Every child is an investment in the future.

Early Impact

TechBelt Academy is building momentum from day one

5
Belt Levels
Fully designed & ready
60
Weeks of Curriculum
Week-by-week lesson plans
10
Max Class Size
Personal attention guaranteed
Aug
Free Trial Classes
4 sessions — all belt levels
Sep 8
Fall Launch
2026 semester start date
$0
Cost to Schools
Zero barrier to partnership

Why Schools Partner With TechBelt Academy

Built for school administrators, after-school coordinators, and principals looking for real STEM enrichment

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Standards-Aligned Curriculum

Structured 12-week programs aligned with STEM enrichment and computer science learning goals

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Small-Group Learning

Maximum 10 students per class ensures every child receives individual attention and support

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Live Online Delivery

Live, instructor-led classes over Zoom — flexible for any school setup, anywhere

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Project-Based Learning

Students build real projects every session — games, apps, and animations they own and can showcase

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Community-Centered Enrichment

Scholarship seats available for students who need financial support — no child is left behind

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Zero Cost to Schools

We manage all enrollment, billing, and instruction. The school provides the room — we provide everything else

Credentials & Background

Your child is not taught by a random tutor. They are taught by an experienced, degree-holding Computer Science educator.

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B.S. Computer Science

Rutgers University — with minors in Data Science and Social Justice. Real engineering depth, plus the ethics of who technology serves.

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A.S. Cyber Security

Hudson County Community College. A security-first foundation that shapes how TechBelt protects students in every online classroom.

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Real Teaching Experience

Digital literacy programs through public library partnerships, plus summer STEM instruction in Python, AR, drones, and animation. I know how to make tech exciting for young learners.

Ready to Join the TechBelt Family?

Whether you are a parent ready to enroll your child, a school administrator interested in a partnership, or a company looking to invest in the next generation of technologists — we want to hear from you.

Enroll My Child Free August Trial Get in Touch