BUILD & LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON YOUR COMMUNITY & SOLVE REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS!

Technovation GirlsBC is a non-profit tech entrepreneurship competition where girls* aged 13-18 work in teams to develop a mobile app or AI project that tackles real-world problems in their community.

Mental health, domestic violence, climate change, accessible education, the impact of COVID-19 — are just a few problems 1,500 Technovation Girls teams around the world tackled.

Credit: CodeGirl documentary on Technovation Girls

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 the 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 then 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 GET STARTED?

PARTICIPANTS

Find out more about joining Technovation GirlsBC and what to expect from the program.

VOLUNTEER

To help make our programs a success, we are currently seeking volunteers to fill a variety of roles.

Technovation GirlsBC BCIT Regional Sponsors

This program is run in partnership with UBC Geering Up.
The BCIT branch of Technovation GirlsBC is made possible with support from:

*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.