Prominent Australian entrepreneur and CEO of Hatching Lab, Christie Whitehill, has announced the launch of Tech Ready, an 8-week accelerator program that connects female entrepreneurs with highly regarded industry experts to mentor and support them. They will develop skills and confidence to validate their business idea and to select the appropriate technology platform to build their Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
The creation of Tech Ready was in response to a significant demand for a fast track program that addressed a lack of confidence in technology knowledge among female entrepreneurs and business leaders. Currently only 22% of tech startups have a female founder or co-founder while only 25% of IT positions are taken up by women. Deloitte believes there may be fewer women in IT today than there were in 2015.
What is the story behind Tech Ready?
It was also as a result of Christie’s own experience as a female founder of not one but two technology platforms. In 2012 she launched Fancy My Friend followed by the acclaimed Fancied dating app. As a non-tech founder, with no guidance, Christie made a number of ‘wrong turns’ that resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of dollars in development costs and third party consultancy fees. With Tech Ready she wants to share her key learnings with female founders upfront and help them avoid similar pitfalls.
“It’s a fantastic time for women in technology right now,” Whitehill exclaimed. “High profile business leaders like Sheryl Sandberg (Facebook), Susan Wojcicki (YouTube), Meg Whitman (HP) and Naomi Simson (RedBalloon) are smashing the glass ceiling, but not enough is being done at the beginning of the pipeline, particularly for women who don’t have the support of a big company or want to start something up for themselves.
“With only 22% of startups being run by women, there is an enormous amount of great talent and ideas being lost for no good reason. A large part of that is a lack of confidence from women in their technology knowledge and a lack of time to catch up. That is where Tech Ready steps in. In eight short weeks we can bring them up to speed, help them to develop an idea and market test it, prior to spending the money, and give them all the tools they need to be successful in business. It’s the program I wish I had access to early on in my tech startup journey.”
What exactly will the Tech Ready program entail?
The Tech Ready program will run over an eight-week period for three hours in the evening once per week. Starting in Sydney, it will be led by some of the most well-known tech entrepreneurs and leaders in Australia including Taryn Williams (TheRight.Fit & WINK Models), Fiona Anson (Workible), Brad Delamare (Tank Stream Labs) and Shelley Laslett (Australia Post Accelerator). It will also include insights from industry leaders including Rob Lancuda (former CFO, Nestle), Craig Penfold (Seek) and Adam Faulkner (UX Director, Blue Egg).
The course will include modules on idea development, validation, intraprenuers, software development, hiring technology talent, market testing and more. Participants will also receive $10,000 worth of hosting and services from Amazon Web Services, an account with LawPath, discounted desk space at Tank Stream Labs and access to its meeting rooms, as well as ongoing support from experts.
“Women in technology face an undeniable uphill battle,” said Taryn Williams, founder and CEO of TheRight.Fit. “There is so much opportunity in the sector but women need to be able to find the key to open the front door. That comes with the right education that will provide them with the tools to gain acceptance in the industry. Sadly, the acceptance is not as forthcoming as it should be. A solution like Tech Ready is the right education. I’m proud to be involved in a program like this and have no doubt it will result in some great ideas and some future technology sector leaders.”
Tech Ready is enrolling now for its first program and already has 10 future founders signed up. Women interested in participating should visit the website techreadyprogram.com. The course includes a range of business benefits well in excess of the value of the course. It will be held at EY’s Sydney offices with the multinational professional services firm onboard as a venue host.
