Google commits $1mn to bring more women into technology sector

Search engine giant Google has committed USD one million (over Rs 6 crore) to 40 startup-focused organisations, including Nasscom 10,000 Startups and Jagriti Yatra from India, to promote participation of women in the technology space.

The efforts, a part of '#40 Forward' programme under Google for Entrepreneurs', are aimed at finding new ways to advance female entrepreneurs, the Internet giant said ahead of International Women's Day.

Google is committing USD 1 million in aggregate to 40 startup-focused organisations, challenging them to increase the representation of women in their respective tech communities, it added.

 "From simply changing the times of events to accommodate busy moms to teaching young girls to see themselves as entrepreneurs, 40 of our partner communities will soon launch new programmes and outreach initiatives to encourage women founders," it said.

Some of the selected organisations include 1871, American Underground and Galvanise (US), Campus for Moms (Israel), Club Kidrepreneur (Australia), Cc Hub (Nigeria), Jagriti Yatra and Nasscom 10,000 Startups (India) and Outbox (Uganda), among others.

"Along with our 40 partners, we hope to create more inclusive networks and to move the needle for entrepreneurs like my mom and young women like me who aspire to be like her," Google Global Entrepreneurship Manager Bridgette Sexton Beam said in a Google Blogpost.

According to the National Association of Women Business Owners, women make up 30 per cent of US business owners and employ nearly 7.8 million workers.

Even though women-owned enterprises operate with far less capital, in the venture-backed tech industry, they produce 12 per cent higher returns.

"That means that not only is supporting women in business the right thing to do, it's also the smart thing to do," Beam said.