About
Tupu is a non-profit mentorship initiative dedicated to supporting diversity in the tech industry. It provides free, structured 1:1 mentorship to women, people of color, and LGBT individuals at any stage of their tech career — from juniors to C-level executives. The platform covers every role in tech, including software engineering, site reliability engineering, product management, technical writing, design, and marketing. Mentors and mentees are matched based on goals, roles, and availability, and sessions are conducted over Zoom or similar video platforms at a mutually convenient time and in the mentee's preferred language. The recommended cadence is 30-minute sessions every two weeks or 60-minute sessions monthly, spanning a 4-month engagement period with the option to extend for another 4 months. Mentors must have at least 2 years of experience, ensuring mentees receive meaningful, practical advice from professionals who have navigated similar career challenges. The program is run entirely by volunteers and is available to participants worldwide at no cost. Tupu addresses a critical gap in the industry: studies show that close to 56% of women with engineering degrees leave the profession by mid-career, and women quit tech jobs at twice the rate of men. By connecting mentors and mentees across the globe, Tupu aims to improve retention, accelerate career growth, and build a more inclusive tech ecosystem.
Key Features
- Free 1:1 Mentorship: All mentorship sessions are completely free, making career guidance accessible regardless of financial situation or geographic location.
- Diversity-Focused Matching: Tupu specifically supports women, people of color, and LGBT individuals in tech — groups that are statistically underrepresented and underserved in the industry.
- All Tech Roles Covered: The platform caters to every role in tech — software engineers, SREs, product managers, tech writers, designers, marketers, and more — at every career level.
- Flexible Scheduling & Global Access: Sessions are held over Zoom or similar tools, in the mentee's preferred language, at a time that works for both parties — removing barriers of time zone and location.
- Structured 4-Month Engagements: Mentorship is delivered in 4-month cycles with the option to extend, providing continuity and measurable progress toward career goals.
Use Cases
- A junior software engineer from an underrepresented background seeks guidance on career progression, interview preparation, and navigating workplace challenges through regular 1:1 sessions with an experienced senior engineer.
- A mid-career product manager who identifies as LGBT wants to advance to a director-level role and is matched with a VP-level mentor who provides strategic advice and accountability over 4 months.
- A woman returning to tech after a career break uses Tupu to reconnect with industry professionals, rebuild confidence, and find a mentor who helps her navigate re-entry and job searching.
- A company looking to support diversity and inclusion programs partners with Tupu to encourage employees from underrepresented groups to participate as either mentors or mentees.
- A tech writer of color seeking to transition into product management uses Tupu to find a mentor with cross-functional experience who can guide their career pivot and skill development.
Pros
- Completely Free: As a non-profit run by volunteers, Tupu charges nothing to mentors or mentees, making high-quality career mentorship accessible to everyone.
- Inclusive & Mission-Driven: Tupu directly addresses diversity gaps in tech by prioritizing groups that historically face higher attrition and fewer advancement opportunities.
- Flexible and Global: Participants can join from anywhere in the world and schedule sessions in their preferred language and time zone, removing geographic and linguistic barriers.
- Broad Role Coverage: Unlike coding bootcamps or narrow technical programs, Tupu covers the full spectrum of tech roles and career levels, from juniors to VPs.
Cons
- Limited to Underrepresented Groups: Tupu's mentee eligibility is focused on women, people of color, and LGBT individuals, so it is not open to all tech professionals seeking mentorship.
- Volunteer-Dependent Availability: As a non-profit run entirely by volunteers, mentor availability and platform capacity may be limited depending on demand and volunteer bandwidth.
- No AI or Automated Matching Features: The platform relies on human-driven matching processes rather than algorithmic or AI-powered tools, which may result in longer wait times for mentor pairing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can become a mentee on Tupu?
Tupu's mentorship is available to women, people of color, and LGBT individuals working in or aspiring to work in tech, at any career level from juniors to senior executives.
Who can become a mentor on Tupu?
Anyone with at least 2 years of experience in a tech-related role can apply to become a mentor on Tupu. Mentors can work in any tech discipline, including engineering, product, design, marketing, and more.
How much does Tupu cost?
Tupu is completely free for both mentors and mentees. It is a non-profit initiative funded and operated entirely by volunteers.
How are mentorship sessions structured?
Sessions are typically 30 minutes every two weeks or 60 minutes monthly, conducted over Zoom or a similar platform. Each engagement lasts 4 months with the option to extend for another 4 months.
Is Tupu available internationally?
Yes, Tupu is open to participants from anywhere in the world. Sessions are conducted virtually and can take place in the mentee's preferred language.
