When it comes to creating computer programming and Internet start ups, you’re more likely to imagine a socially awkward, gangly white man with unkempt hair and thick glasses than you are a young, black woman from Howard University. But Tiffani Bell is that woman.

One of two black women featured in Black in America 4: The New Promised Land- Silicon Valley, Tiffani was one of eight African American entrepreneurs who took part in the NewME Accelerator Program. The program, which housed the eight entrepreneurs under one roof last summer, was designed to prepare and train African Americans to present and acquire funding for their online businesses.

Madame Noire caught up with Tiffani Bell recently to talk about her start in computer programming, getting along with her housemates, her business and being a role model.

How did you initially get into programming?

It was from when I was a kid, actually. I had the V Tech Pre Computer 1000 that my parents bought me back in first grade.  You could play games and stuff on it but I got tired of the games that got built in. So I was just flipping through the user manual one day and they had directions on how to program that to a computer and make your own games. I started making little simple hangman games. That was kind of my first foray into programming but I was like six, so I didn’t keep up with it. I actually wanted to grow up and be a cartoonist. Probably later, around fourth-fifth grade or so, I started building web pages. Still just tinkering. So that kind of kept up. So around tenth grade, I turned fifteen and my uncle bought me a programming book. And I ended up reading through that. It’s been off and on for a few years but I finally just kept up with it and ended up going to Howard for it. That’s kind of the start.

Did your parents know what you were doing? Many adults today don’t know anything about programming. Did they know that was actually a skill?

Not really. Not at all, really. More of just like, “what is that?” ‘Why are you on the computer so much?” Even today, they really kind of don’t know. But they know, ok, this is important, finally, it’s not just kids playing on the computer and doing absolutely nothing.

So you mentioned you went to Howard, then you graduated and had internships with IBM.  How did you make the transition from a predominately black environment to a predominately white, male environment?

That transition wasn’t that bad for me. I was a military brat so I grew up with a bunch of people around that were diverse. I’ve had white best friends, Asian best friends, black best friends. It wasn’t a stretch to say ‘oh yeah, it’s a bunch of white people now.’ I say going to Howard, from the environment that I came from before, was more of a stretch.  It was like “wait, there’s all these black folks, so you mean an HBCU is mostly black people? I’m like, ‘where’s everybody else at? Is there another campus or something?’ That transition [to IBM] wasn’t all that bad. I joke that I spent more time talking about Porsches and golf. So the end of the summer they were like, ‘you fit in just fine with us.’ I was like, ‘Yup, I know.’

How did you hear about the NewME Accelerator Program and what made you decide to take part in it?

Probably March of this year, they [Angela Benton and Wayne Sutton] e-mailed me and told me what they were doing as far as a start up house. And it turned into an incubator after that. I really didn’t pay much attention to it. I was like, ‘Well I’m at work right now.’ They didn’t have anything official at the time. Then they sent me a bunch of slides two or three weeks later with information on sponsors and housing. They were like you should be a part of it. As an example of a black woman, in technology, who’s actually technical. So from there I was like, ‘Ok, well that’s cool.’ And I left my job.

Because I had the idea for “Pencil You In.” I’d been working on it all that time but I still hadn’t gone full time with it at that point. Because I was like, ‘You’re still not at a point where you’re entirely ready to.’ Apparently, you’ll never be in a perfect spot to do something. I was like, ‘All right, this opportunity presented itself, so let’s take advantage of it.’

Tell us what the experience was like, what was it like living in a house with all those men and Angela?

Me and Angela had our own room. It was funny because it was the biggest room in the house. Plus we had our own bathrooms and separate sinks. The guys would complain a little bit. Like they’re in there in the suite. I was like, ‘You didn’t expect the founder of the program to be sleeping on the couch did you?’ That was fun. There were no conflicts, none of this whole ‘two black women can’t get along.’  We were actually good buddies in the house. I think of Wayne and Hodge as big brothers. They looked out for us and helped us with ideas.

So it wasn’t like “The Real World” house or anything.

It definitely was not at all like fighting… I mean there was… we kind of laugh because the guys had more conflict than we did, by far. It was like, ‘Who are the woman in the house? Us or them? We got along just fine. It was pretty nice.  It wasn’t like “Real World” people fighting or kicking each other’s butts in the backyard. People were there to work and of course make friends. But it was none of this goofing off or somebody’s just here to loaf and be free for the summer.

by Terrance Gaines

There’s no argument that there are a lack of minority entrepreneurs that are engaging in the “startup culture” Even if the above argument can be debated, you can’t deny the fact that while there may be a number of successful minority entrepreneurs that are engaging in the “startup culture”, you may never know it due to the lack of funding and/or publicity they receive from the mainstream startup community.

Angela Benton, Wayne Sutton, and Toby Morning have teamed up to tackle both issues (opportunity and visibility) for minority startups with their joint venture, the NewMe Accelerator program: A nine-week “startup camp” that gives participants assistance with ideas and development, access to leaders and possible mentors, and exposure to the Silicon Valley startup culture.

Over the previous several weeks, NewMe put out a request for minority startups to submit their ideas (regardless of whether or not it was just an idea, in development, or an actual product). As a result, 12 startups were selected and the invitation was extended to spend nine weeks in Silicon Valley (lodging, local transportation, and other accommodations provided by the program) to attend small workshops and sessions, and to network with leaders in the technology startup industry.

In addition to gaining insight into the industry and “rubbing elbows”, the participants are encouraged to fine-tune their ideas/products and find-tune their “pitch” as they move towards “Demo Day” – an opportunity to present their startup in front of an even larger group of technology companies, venture capitalists, and influential members in the tech industry. A very possible outcome could be that one or several of these startups may raise enough eyebrows to receive additional mentoring, or even funding from some of the guests and sponsors invited by NewMe to witness the drive, ingenuity, and talent that minority entrepreneurs have to offer the startup community.

Speaking of which, the clout that the three founders have in their own professions have enabled them to round up a nice list of guests that will support, and cheer on, and possibly sponsor and fund the participants. Some of the leaders, speakers, guests, and sponsors include: Google, Justin.tv, Kapor Capital, Tristan Walker, Business Development lead at Foursquare, MC Hammer (yeah, you heard me correctly), and other venture capitalist looking to invest in the future. Several media outlets will also be in attendance to cover NewMe in hopes to further shine the light on minority talent looking to turn their ideals into a viable, and profitable product.

For more information and updates, visit the NewMe Accelerator website or follow the Twitter handle @NewMeAccel.

by De’Juan Galloway

Wayne Sutton is a self-proclaimed geek, who has been immersed in digital media even before its exponential growth. In fact, he was the 847th user of the micro-blogging platform Twitter, which now boasts millions of users. He has over 30,000 followers, a social media blog and a valued opinion. His transition from gadget blogger to social media blogger proved to be the right move for Sutton as his website SocialWayne.com is now a popular social media destination. His firm grasp on social media and emerging technologies are not only beneficial to him online but also conducive to his business-building activities offline.

He consults for start-ups and speaks at the nation’s top tech events. According to Pulse2.com, he is one of 100 Social Media Experts to follow on Twitter. In this interview, the ubiquitous Mr. Sutton shared his prospective on digital diversity and the urgency for African-Americans to use the space for business and brand building.

Favorite website: Techmeme.com

Favorite read: Bible

Recent read: ReWork

2010′s ultimate goal: Provide valuable services and have current startup projects be successful.

Quote Governing Wayne’s Mission: “Make it happen!”

Twitter: @waynesutton & @socialwayne

What attracted you to the digital world?

I am a geek! In high school, I was an artist who liked to draw. I was one of the people that figured out how to draw on a computer. I went to The School of Communication Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina and then became a computer graphic designer. My life story in one sentence is; I was a graphic designer, network administrator, internet marketer turned social media leader.

What prompted the creation of SocialWayne.com?

I have been blogging since blogging’s beginning.  I had blogs on Blogspot, Typepad and WordPress, when they first began. I started with Wayne-Sutton.com, which was a tech blog where I focused on gadgets. Afterward, I began my test blog that emerged around the time Gizmoto, InGadget launched.  I used to call myself the ‘Unofficial Web 2.0 Beta Tester’–every time a new site came out, I would get an account.

I got a job at a television station doing social media and community management work for them. However, I saw the direction social media was going and I wanted something simpler and more focused.  In 2007, I transitioned the tech blog into a blog about social media and that’s when I launched SocialWayne.com.

What is the purpose of SocialWayne.com?

It is a place where I can use my voice to discuss what is happening in the industry and talk about various tools. I like that online and offline, people say, ‘I enjoy your blog.’ If there is one person who tells me that, then I am happy.

How would you characterize the growth of SocialWayne?

The growth of SocialWayne has been more about what SocialWayne has allowed me to do versus its traffic. It’s nowhere near the traffic numbers I would like. However, when I combine my Twitter followers, presence on Friend Feed and other sites, my blog can reach thousands. Without those channels, I couldn’t have had all the opportunities it has created for me.

What makes SocialWayne outstanding compared to other blogs on the digital conversation?

If people see me online and they like my web presence and know I have been doing it for awhile, they begin to value my opinion. When visitors ask questions, I try to answer those questions by blogging about it–I am very humbled that they value my opinion.

If you take a my experience and distinctiveness, then there is value in for someone looking for information on various web tools, on platforms such as Google Buzz, iPad, online marketing and online etiquette.

Each day this past February you profiled minority figures impacting the social web.  How was #28daysofdiversity born and what is the purpose of spotlighting these individuals?

It started by being an African-American in the tech space and noticing the increased presence of African-Americans in the technology scene in the last six to eight years. I remember in the late nineties, Microsoft TechNet would have regional conferences and I would be the only African-American there. I still go to web conferences and there may be only  2% African Americans there.

I don’t blame it on anyone. I look at it like it is a two part thing. First, conference organizers have to reach out and make sure people of diversity know about your events. Secondly, minorities [need to] better educate themselves. You have to go and get it – no one is going to give you anything.

Why is it important for African Americans to immerse themselves in new digital media?

We should immerse ourselves because it is the future. It is a part of learning and preparing for what is next. People don’t talk about the digital divide enough. It’s important that we participate in the digital space because everything is going online, everything.

by De’Juan Galloway

Wayne Sutton is a self-proclaimed geek, who has been immersed in digital media even before its exponential growth. In fact, he was the 847th user of the micro-blogging platform Twitter, which now boasts millions of users. He has over 30,000 followers, a social media blog and a valued opinion. His transition from gadget blogger to social media blogger proved to be the right move for Sutton as his website SocialWayne.com is now a popular social media destination. His firm grasp on social media and emerging technologies are not only beneficial to him online but also conducive to his business-building activities offline.

He consults for start-ups and speaks at the nation’s top tech events. According to Pulse2.com, he is one of 100 Social Media Experts to follow on Twitter. In this interview, the ubiquitous Mr. Sutton shared his prospective on digital diversity and the urgency for African-Americans to use the space for business and brand building.

Favorite website: Techmeme.com

Favorite read: Bible

Recent read: ReWork

2010′s ultimate goal: Provide valuable services and have current startup projects be successful.

Quote Governing Wayne’s Mission: “Make it happen!”

Twitter: @waynesutton & @socialwayne

What attracted you to the digital world?

I am a geek! In high school, I was an artist who liked to draw. I was one of the people that figured out how to draw on a computer. I went to The School of Communication Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina and then became a computer graphic designer. My life story in one sentence is; I was a graphic designer, network administrator, internet marketer turned social media leader.

What prompted the creation of SocialWayne.com?

I have been blogging since blogging’s beginning.  I had blogs on Blogspot, Typepad and WordPress, when they first began. I started with Wayne-Sutton.com, which was a tech blog where I focused on gadgets. Afterward, I began my test blog that emerged around the time Gizmoto, InGadget launched.  I used to call myself the ‘Unofficial Web 2.0 Beta Tester’–every time a new site came out, I would get an account.

I got a job at a television station doing social media and community management work for them. However, I saw the direction social media was going and I wanted something simpler and more focused.  In 2007, I transitioned the tech blog into a blog about social media and that’s when I launched SocialWayne.com.

What is the purpose of SocialWayne.com?

It is a place where I can use my voice to discuss what is happening in the industry and talk about various tools. I like that online and offline, people say, ‘I enjoy your blog.’ If there is one person who tells me that, then I am happy.

How would you characterize the growth of SocialWayne?

The growth of SocialWayne has been more about what SocialWayne has allowed me to do versus its traffic. It’s nowhere near the traffic numbers I would like. However, when I combine my Twitter followers, presence on Friend Feed and other sites, my blog can reach thousands. Without those channels, I couldn’t have had all the opportunities it has created for me.

What makes SocialWayne outstanding compared to other blogs on the digital conversation?

If people see me online and they like my web presence and know I have been doing it for awhile, they begin to value my opinion. When visitors ask questions, I try to answer those questions by blogging about it–I am very humbled that they value my opinion.

If you take a my experience and distinctiveness, then there is value in for someone looking for information on various web tools, on platforms such as Google Buzz, iPad, online marketing and online etiquette.

Each day this past February you profiled minority figures impacting the social web.  How was #28daysofdiversity born and what is the purpose of spotlighting these individuals?

It started by being an African-American in the tech space and noticing the increased presence of African-Americans in the technology scene in the last six to eight years. I remember in the late nineties, Microsoft TechNet would have regional conferences and I would be the only African-American there. I still go to web conferences and there may be only  2% African Americans there.

I don’t blame it on anyone. I look at it like it is a two part thing. First, conference organizers have to reach out and make sure people of diversity know about your events. Secondly, minorities [need to] better educate themselves. You have to go and get it – no one is going to give you anything.

Why is it important for African Americans to immerse themselves in new digital media?

We should immerse ourselves because it is the future. It is a part of learning and preparing for what is next. People don’t talk about the digital divide enough. It’s important that we participate in the digital space because everything is going online, everything.