A female founders’ hackathon event is set to be staged to overcome the feeling of “not belonging” in the tech industry.
The technical and business-focused event will be organised by Scotland’s national education programme for startups, Techscaler, and AccelerateHER, on October 5.
Female and non-binary founders are encouraged to join the event which will be led some of Scotland’s most successful female founders including Criton founder Julie Grieve, Dialexy CEO Monica Camino Moreno, and Valla CEO Danae Shell.
According to a report from Beauhurst, published in January, it found that just 27 per cent of UK equity deals went to startups where at least one of the founders is a woman.
The hackathon will see participants ‘explore ideas and creative problem-solving, gain expert technical input, engage in product development, and review minimum viable product (MVP) requirements, all in a carefully curated collaborative space’.
Applications are now open to founders from all industries who want to explore how tech can solve problems and present opportunities for their business.
The AccelerateHER-Techscaler partnership is also rolling out meetups across Techscaler’s seven regional hubs – in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling, Dundee, Aberdeen, South of Scotland, and Inverness – between July and November.
Elizabeth Pirrie, CEO of AccelerateHER, said: “AccelerateHER exists to maximise the potential of women and non-binary founders, and we know a big barrier to their participation in entrepreneurship is a feeling of not belonging. The hackathons and tech clinics are just part of the work that we are doing with Techscaler to create a safe space for women to demystify the landscape, build knowledge, and strengthen networks.”
Audrey Opdycke-Barnes, VP of Pathways at CodeBase, which runs the Techscaler programme, said: “We’re encouraging as many women and non-binary founders to apply, and to know that these are not one-off events, rather that they lead to community building, a community where you will have ongoing support, mentoring, peer-to-peer learning, and access to the kind of resources you need throughout the startup journey.”
Janani Prabhakaran, founder of mobile luggage storage company Unbaggaged, who participated in the previous hackathon in March, said: “The hackathon ecosystem was a glimpse into the world of entrepreneurship – where collaboration breeds disruption and innovation.
“The opportunity to connect with fellow women-led companies and experienced mentors was truly priceless. We had the chance to share our stories, discussing the hurdles we’ve overcome and the triumphs we’ve celebrated. Collectively, these shared experiences and insights have fortified our position for the journey ahead. We’re moving forward with renewed strength, thanks to the robust network we’ve established through this experience.”
To apply visit: https://accelerateher.co.uk/about-us/learn/hackathon/