Technology training for underserved youth
TouchUp Inc. is a Los Angeles nonprofit breaking the cycle of justice involvement through hands-on technology training, industry-led instruction, mentorship, and tangible pathways into gaming, film, AI, and cybersecurity.
WHAT WE DO
We believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. TouchUp bridges that gap with four core pillars.
Direct training in AI prompts, cybersecurity fundamentals, 2D/3D game design, and film editing using professional-grade tools.
Working engineers, game developers from Askiisoft, USC film instructors, and civic tech leaders in the room guiding every session.
Community Tech Weeks in Compton and Watts, plus In-Facility Tech Weeks inside LA County juvenile halls for youth who cannot yet leave.
Paid internships, portfolio reviews, hackathons, and company visit days connecting youth directly into tech employers and training pipelines.
About TouchUp Inc
TouchUp Inc bridges the digital divide by empowering youth and communities through technology education, hands-on learning, and innovative programs. We create opportunities for students to explore emerging technologies, develop practical skills, and build confidence for a brighter, more connected future.
FOUNDER & CEO
Caryn Brandon, Founder and CEO of TouchUp Inc, is dedicated to empowering youth and underserved communities through technology education and digital opportunities. Her vision is to bridge the digital divide, inspire innovation, and equip the next generation with the skills and confidence to succeed in an evolving digital world.
“When you give young people real access and real resources, they do extraordinary things. Technology changes what they can see for themselves.”
CEO & Founder, TouchUp Inc. · PowerUp LA
FOUNDER & CEO
Caryn Brandon’s path to founding TouchUp Inc was not born from academic theory or professional ambition—it was forged through the most painful experience a mother can endure: watching her oldest son enter the criminal justice system.
As a career accountant pursuing a Master’s degree from the University of Maryland and holding Bachelor’s in Psychology from California State University Northridge, Caryn had built a successful professional life. She understood numbers, systems, and processes. But nothing in her accounting career prepared her for the devastating realization that her own son—bright, talented, and full of potential—was caught in a system designed more for punishment than redemption…..
CEO & Founder, TouchUp Inc. · PowerUp LA
CEO & Founder, TouchUp Inc. · PowerUp LA
Q1 —
“My vision for Compton Tech Week 2026 goes beyond a five-day event. What I want every young person to carry out of that room on Saturday is a new story about themselves — one that says: I belong in these spaces. Not someday. Right now. Tech has historically been built by a very narrow slice of the population, and the communities most affected by technology have had the least say in shaping it. When a 16-year-old from Compton sits across from an engineer at Disney or a developer at Riot Games and realizes they can have a real conversation — that is the shift. That is the moment we’re engineering.”
Q2 —
“There’s a very common narrative that says: if you want opportunity, you have to go get it. Move. Network. Hustle your way into rooms that weren’t built for you. We reject that. Our young people should not have to leave their community to prove their worth. So we went to Disney. We went to Riot Games. We went to Snapchat and William Morris Endeavor and we said — come to Compton. Not as charity. As a talent pipeline. Because the next generation of creators, engineers, and entrepreneurs is already here. They just haven’t had the
Q3 —
“Compton Tech Week is one expression of a much larger vision. This September, we’re launching a six-week technology training program inside LA County juvenile detention facilities — because access to tech education shouldn’t stop at the facility door. Young people in the justice system are some of the most motivated learners I’ve ever seen. They deserve a pathway, not just a sentence. Beyond that, we’re actively exploring how to bring the Compton Tech Week model to other cities — because the gap between ambition and access exists everywhere, not just here. And we’re continuing to grow our corporate partnerships because sustainable change requires sustainable investment.”
Tech Highlights
We believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. TouchUp bridges that gap with four core pillars.
Students testing VR hardware and game mechanics during hands-on design lab at the Douglas Dollarhide Center.
Compton, CA
July 2026
Professional mentors working one-on-one with young adults on web fundamentals and digital design logic.
South LA
Fall 2026
Tech leaders sharing personal career trajectories, salary expectations, and practical portfolio advice for underserved youth.
Dollarhide Center
July 2026
Caryn Brandon, Founder and CEO of TouchUp Inc, is dedicated to empowering youth and underserved communities through technology education and digital opportunities. Her vision is to bridge the digital divide, inspire innovation, and equip the next generation with the skills and confidence to succeed in an evolving digital world.
“When you give young people real access and real resources, they do extraordinary things. Technology changes what they can see for themselves.”
CIVIC & CORPORATE PARTNERS
From county agencies to major tech studios, our programs run on true collaboration.
TESTIMONIALS
Discover how TouchUp Inc is inspiring youth, expanding access to technology, and creating opportunities through digital education, hands-on learning, and community engagement.
“TouchUp Inc opened new doors for our youth, helping them explore technology, build confidence, and discover exciting opportunities for their future.”
“The hands-on learning experience encouraged students to think creatively, develop digital skills, and see themselves as future technology leaders.”
“TouchUp Inc is helping bridge the digital divide by connecting young people with technology education and valuable learning experiences.”
“Programs like these inspire the next generation to embrace technology, strengthen their skills, and prepare for a rapidly changing digital world.”
GET INVOLVED
Whether you want to sponsor a signature event, teach a workshop, mentor justice-involved youth, or offer tech internships, your support transforms lives.
Saturday, November 14, 2026 · 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Children’s Institute Watts Campus. Registration is 100% Free!
“I watched my son disappear into a system that saw him as a statistic, not a person,” Caryn reflects. “And I knew he wasn’t alone. There were thousands of young people in communities like Compton who needed someone to believe in them, to invest in them, and to show them a different path forward.”
That pain became purpose in 2017 when Caryn founded TouchUp Inc, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing technology education and workforce development for underserved and at-risk youth. Drawing on her background in psychology, she understood that transformation requires more than just skills training—it demands holistic support, mentorship, and genuine human connection.
Caryn chose to focus on Compton deliberately. While many saw a community defined by its challenges, she saw untapped potential and a critical need for rebranding and opportunity creation. “Compton has been written off by too many people for too long,” she explains. “But this community is full of brilliant young people who just need someone to invest in their potential. Closing the digital divide isn’t just about technology—it’s about dignity, opportunity, and belief.”
Under Caryn’s leadership, TouchUp Inc has achieved remarkable outcomes that reflect her personal commitment to redemption and second chances. The organization’s work with probation-involved youth has resulted in zero recidivism during 12-month follow-up—a testament to what happens when young people receive comprehensive support rather than condemnation. Her coding program at Job Corps Los Angeles achieved a 78% completion rate, with 60% of graduates pursuing additional technology education.
Today, Caryn serves as CEO of TouchUp Inc while working as a financial controller, bringing financial expertise and community connections to both roles.
For Caryn, this work is not just a professional calling—it is deeply personal mission. “Every young person we serve reminds me of my son,” she says. “They deserve the same thing every parent wants for their child: a real chance to build a meaningful life. That’s what we’re creating at TouchUp Inc—not just training programs, but genuine pathways from incarceration to innovation, from poverty to possibility.”
Her message to funders and partners is simple but powerful: “When you invest in TouchUp Inc, you’re not funding a program. You’re investing in redemption, in second chances, and in the belief that every young person—no matter their circumstances—deserves the opportunity to thrive.”