Every great career in the trades begins with a first proud piece of work—and a first believer. Thurgood exists to make skill visible, to put opportunity in reach, and to help the next generation of technicians turn talent into a life they’re proud of. We’re building the place where a student’s first lab project can open the door to a first job—and a lifelong craft.
Think “LinkedIn meets a work portfolio” for people who weld, wire, tune, fabricate, fix, and build. Visual portfolios, AI skills tagging, community challenges, smart job matching, and school integrations — all built to show real work first.
We partner with schools, employers, and sponsors to make skill visible and measurable, so the right talent meets the right opportunity sooner.
We’re building a proof-first ecosystem: living digital portfolios + a sponsor-powered NFC Skills Card that meets students in the real world.
The result: faster discovery, clearer signals, and fairer access to opportunity — for students, employers, and partners.
In the essential economy, skills power everything. Thurgood is the connective tissue between classrooms, job sites, and brand sponsors—turning proof of work into real pathways.
It’s a connected pipeline: school → student → employer. Proof flows from the lab to the jobsite, and momentum flows back — creating a living network that advances people, programs, and the trades that keep everything running.
Build a living portfolio; get matched to jobs; learn from peers; and grow a professional identity that’s proof-based, not just text. Your progress fuels visibility — from the first lab project to your first hire, every skill you post moves you forward.
Scout talent like an “NFL combine for the trades”: see the work first, message directly, and hire with confidence. Freemium → subscription unlocks full access and CRM tools as the user base scales.
"You make the case compellingly and I could not agree more. As the CHRO of a big defense and aerospace company, I know firsthand how hard it is to find prospective employees who are willing to learn a skilled trade. I therefore hope Thurgood Industries thrives and scales."Senior executive in aerospace & defense
"We work with companies all the time that are hiring skilled workers—and ‘finding’ them online is often difficult because they are not on LinkedIn. That’s why I think it is great you are building an online platform and community to connect with them."Owner, StaffBuffalo
"Practical hands-on knowledge is a key ingredient to successful innovation. While we hire a lot of PhDs in engineering, one of our highest-paid employees is a tech school grad. I started my journey as a carpenter—it was invaluable to me."Founder & CEO, Endeavour
