From Silicon Valley Startup to Growing Movement

2017 marked a pivotal year for WomenHack as we expanded beyond our Silicon Valley origins to bring diversity-focused recruiting to cities across North America and began our international expansion. What started in 2016 as an idea to transform how companies connect with female tech talent began to prove its model at scale.

Highlights from 2017

This year saw WomenHack events in major tech hubs including:

• Minneapolis: Intertech hosted 65 candidates and 12 firms in November, creating one of our largest Midwest events to date
• San Francisco Bay Area: Multiple events in our home region refined the format and built our reputation
• New York City: Our East Coast presence grew with events drawing strong attendance from the city’s diverse tech community
• Los Angeles: Southern California’s growing tech scene embraced the WomenHack format

The Format That Works

Throughout 2017, we refined the speed-interview format that has become our signature. The 5-minute conversation structure proved remarkably effective at creating genuine connections while respecting everyone’s time. Companies appreciated meeting many qualified candidates in a single evening; candidates valued the opportunity to engage directly with multiple potential employers.

The format also helped address unconscious bias in hiring. When conversations are brief and focused, and when every candidate gets equal time, the playing field becomes more level. Traditional interviews often advantage those with existing networks or cultural familiarity with corporate environments; our format creates space for talent to shine regardless of background.

What We Learned

2017 taught us several important lessons:

• Host companies matter: When established companies open their offices for events, it sends a powerful message about their commitment to diversity
• Mix of employers: Events work best with a variety of companies—large and small, established and startup, various industries
• Community building: Participants value connecting with peers as much as with employers; the networking component became central to our model
• Follow-through: Companies that engage thoughtfully after events—not just attending but following up with candidates—see the best results

Industry Recognition

By year’s end, the tech industry was beginning to recognize WomenHack as a serious force in diversity recruiting. Intertech’s blog post about their Minneapolis event highlighted that women represent only 25% of IT employees and 11% of executives—statistics that underscored why our work matters.

Looking to 2018

As we close 2017, we’re planning aggressive expansion for the year ahead. Our model has proven replicable across different cities and contexts. The demand from both candidates and employers continues to grow. We’re committed to bringing WomenHack to more cities, more industries, and eventually more countries.

Thank you to everyone who made 2017 a success—the host companies, the sponsors, the candidates who participated, and the growing community that believes in our mission.