When it comes to having women and girls in tech, representation is only one part of the puzzle. Women and girls need more than just to see themselves in the roles that they desire – they need the opportunities to get there.
AOL is working to address this need, with the launch of #BUILTBYGIRLS – an initiative in support of Let Girls Learn and First Lady Michelle Obama. Starting July 19th, the challenge “calls for young women to use the power of technology to conceptualize tech-enabled solutions to the problems facing the #62million girls without access to education”.
Chosen finalists could not only receive a trip to San Francisco to pitch their project in front of tech moguls and changemakers, but selected winners will get the funding and mentorship necessary to take your project to the next level.
There are two ways to participate in the #BUILTBYGIRLS Challenge, from the #BUILTBYGIRLS initiative team:
- Future Founders Track: for girls building a technology product that has potential to succeed in the business world. Have a brilliant future tech business in the works? The Future Founders Track is for you. We’re tapping some of the best startup founders and venture capitalists to act as mentors and advisors. This track is for mobile apps, hardware devices, robotics projects, or research in the works: judges will review designs, lines of code, or a working prototype.
- Let Girls Build Track: for girls who want to use tech to help girls around the world get an education. Want to use technology to address barriers to girls’ education globally? The Let Girls Build Track is for you. We’re collaborating with Michelle Obama’s Let Girls Learn initiative to encourage US girls to ideate tech-enabled solutions to the problems facing the #62million girls without access to education. This track requires a well-researched and detailed concept that’s feasible to implement on the ground; no code needed—we’ll help you.
Judges will pick finalist teams in both tracks to join us for a live #BBG Challenge Pitch Day in front of tech influencers, entrepreneurs, VCs, and education activists. All finalists get the chance to participate in the TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon in San Francisco and work alongside some of the world’s best developers. Submissions for applications to the competition close on midnight on August 12, allowing for girls in tech to have a space to produce their best work.