Technovation Girls
British Columbia Chapter
Build and leverage technology to make an impact on your community & solve real-world problems.
Technovation GirlsBC is a non-profit tech entrepreneurship competition where young women and girls* aged 8-18 work in teams to develop a mobile app or AI project that tackles real-world problems in their community.
Our aim is to empower young women* to become technology leaders, real-world problem solvers, entrepreneurs and innovators. Mental health, domestic violence, climate change, accessible education, and the impact of COVID-19 — are just a few problems 1,500 Technovation Girls teams around the world tackled.
Start with a problem, learn programming basics to develop a working prototype and learn how to pitch and market a mobile app.
You'll have the opportunity to work with volunteer mentors, complete weekly curriculum, and attend workshops and other events.
The top (selected by Technovation judges) will travel to an international pitch competition in San Francisco. One team will win $10,000 in seed funding to help them launch their app.
Why Should You Learn to Code? 👩💻
1) Coding and programming careers are in demand
One of the strongest and most obvious draws of learning to code is the earning potential and job security for coding and programming professionals.
Of the top 10 high-opportunity occupations identified by Work BC, 5 are computing and technology-focused. With predicted industry growth rates and gaps in the labour force, BC Tech predicts 262,290 to 362,071 job openings over the next 10 years - higher then any other industry in BC.
2) Coding and programming Industries need more diversity
The STEM fields play a significant role in shaping the world we live in, and it is essential that a range of perspectives and experiences are represented in the development of new technologies. This leads to more creative and innovative work environments, can help create more inclusive, accessible products and services that benefit a wider range of people, and ultimately improves our societal well-being!
In BC women make up 18% of the workforce in tech, far less than the national average.
According to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the likelihood of a girl enrolled in Grade 1 in Canada going on to receive a Ph.D. in science or engineering is just 1 in 223, compared to 1 in 112 for boys in the same age group.
We want to work towards correcting this imbalance by building a community of professionals willing to invest their time, expertise, and resources in supporting the next generation of women in tech.
3) Coding Is more than math & science
Coding ability gives new perspectives & skills. Knowing how to code demonstrates an ability to learn new technologies and showcase strong problem-solving skills.
Even in fields that do not directly require coding, programming indicates transferable skills. If you work in a people-focused career, learning to code can strengthen your reasoning and logic skills. And if you're in an analytical field, coding can sharpen your ability to work with data.
On the design side, coding can nurture a curious and creative spirit and give the power to affect social change.
Ready to Learn More?
Find out more about joining Technovation GirlsBC and what to expect from the program.
Identify a problem that matters to your community
Build a mobile app or AI prototype that solves the problem, and develop other skills along the way!
Collaborate with peers and learn from industry mentors
To help make our programs a success, we are currently seeking volunteers to fill a variety of roles.
Support one or more teams as they learn about coding, AI, and real-world problem-solving
Develop skills while inspiring girls to lead and make change
Network and share best practices with peers from Salesforce, Google, Cisco, Adobe, HSBC, GM, AT&T, & more
This program is run in partnership with UBC Geering Up and BCIT Computing.
Technovation GirlsBC is made possible with support from: Actua, TD Bank, and Shopify.
We acknowledge that our programming takes place on traditional unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Səlí lwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nations.
*While the terms "women" and "girls" are used, our events invite participants who identify as women, girls, trans, genderqueer, non-binary, two-spirit, and gender questioning.
If you do not identify with any of the above and are interested in similar programming, we highly encourage you to explore Geering Up and UBC Engineering events