Community
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Rytek Technology – Community Reinvestment Project Spotlight
Rytek Technology is one 30 By/For Black, Latine, and Indigenous Kin organizations in Pierce County who were recommended by the Pierce County Local Advisory Team to receive funding through the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Community Reinvestment Project.
GTCF contracted with Commerce to convene the Pierce County Local Advisory Team and deliver funding based on their recommendations. You can read more about this partnership here.
GTCF reached out to Rytek Technology Founder, Ryan Wright, to learn more about their organization and how this Community Reinvestment Project funding is helping accelerate their work in Pierce County.
What inspired the creation of your organization/movement?
Rytek Technology was born from a deep frustration with how underserved small businesses and nonprofit organizations are when it comes to cybersecurity. I’ve spent my career in IT and security, and I saw firsthand how many local organizations simply couldn’t afford the protections that larger companies take for granted. We built Rytek to level the playing field—to provide affordable, scalable cybersecurity support to those who need it most.
What is a challenge – or opportunity – your organization/movement is addressing or trying to create solutions for?
We’re tackling the digital divide in cybersecurity. Most small businesses and nonprofits don’t have the staff, budget, or time to manage proper security infrastructure. They’re vulnerable to breaches, ransomware, and compliance issues—and often don’t even know it. Rytek offers sliding-scale cybersecurity and IT services designed to empower these organizations with the tools, training, and support they need to operate safely in a digital world.
What is an example of the actions, programs, or projects of your organization/movement?
This summer, Rytek is donating 70 laptops to low-income families in Pierce County. We’re also currently working on securing a physical location to launch in-person cybersecurity awareness and basic computer skills training for seniors and underserved communities. On top of that, we offer managed IT and cybersecurity services to nonprofits at below-market rates to ensure their limited budgets go further.
How can funding – like what was delivered through the Community Reinvestment Project – help accelerate the work of Rytek Technology?
Community Reinvestment Project funding will help us to expand our technology donation programs, secure a permanent training and service facility, and scale our sliding-scale MSSP services to reach more small businesses and nonprofits. With the right support, we can train more people, protect more organizations, and build digital resilience in the communities that need it most.