Our History

Image of past event

Hack4Her originated in October 2021, established by Isabella Venancia (Bella) and Mylène. They founded the first Diversity Committee within the BETA student association, STORM, at VU Amsterdam. This initiative was in response to encountering racist and sexist comments among classmates and identifying a lack of clear channels for reporting and seeking assistance.

Bella served as the Co-founder and Chair of the Diversity Committee, with Mylène as the Vice Chair, up until their graduation. Their efforts were directed towards fostering an environment of inclusivity and respect.

During Mylène’s time as the AAPCie committee secretary, she observed a significant underrepresentation of women at the Amsterdam Algorithm Programming Preliminary (AAPP). This led to the concept of Hack4Her, aimed at creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for women in competitive programming.

Supported by BETA faculty member Katja Tuma, the first Hack4Her hackathon took place in June 2022 at VU Amsterdam. The event was women-only and attracted 35 attendees. Learn more about the event.

In 2023, the event was expanded to welcome all genders while maintaining a focus on women in tech. Held at the Booking.com office with Booking.com as the main sponsor, the participation increased to 75, with a total of 100 attendees. This iteration emphasized a broader learning and networking experience. Learn more about the event.

Hack4Her was founded to create a supportive and inclusive tech community. Its evolution reflects a commitment to these principles, with each event building upon the last to advance diversity in technology.

Our Mission

Hack4Her is dedicated to fostering a women-centered space in the technology sector. Our mission revolves around providing women with increased opportunities for hackathon participation and project experience, educating all individuals on the importance of women-centered technology and inclusivity, promoting diversity within the tech community, and facilitating connections among people from various backgrounds.

Our Goals

Champion Women in Tech: Create a women-centered space that empowers and elevates.
Expand Hackathon Horizons: Ensure every woman has the opportunity to shine in tech competitions.
Educate for Inclusivity: Inform all individuals about the importance of women-centered technology and inclusivity.
Diversify Tech: Actively promote and celebrate diversity within the tech community.
Foster Connections: Build bridges within the tech world, connecting minds and creating opportunities.
Innovate Together: Collaborate on projects that spotlight women’s contributions to technology.
Empower Through Experience: Provide real-world tech project experience to women aspiring to make their mark.
Elevate Every Voice: Ensure that every woman in tech feels heard, supported, and valued.
Break Barriers: Challenge and dismantle the obstacles facing women in technology.
Cultivate Community: Grow a supportive network where women in tech thrive together.

Meet Our Team

Scientific Lead: Katja Tuma

Dr. Katja Tuma is an Assistant Professor at TU Eindhoven, specializing in cybersecurity. Her work focuses on the intersection of security and system design, particularly in the context of cyber-physical systems. Dr. Tuma's research aims to enhance the understanding of security risks and develop strategies for resilient system design. She actively contributes to academic discourse through publications and serves on various conference committees, reflecting her commitment to advancing cybersecurity knowledge and practice.

For more details, visit her professional page.

Advisory Board: Isabella Venancia Gardner (Bella) and Mylène Brown-Coleman

Project Lead: Anca Strulea

Public Relations Team Lead: Lieve Jilesen

Finance Team Lead: Lara Popović

Challenge Creation Team Lead: Eduardo Emanuele

Scientific Committee

Our scientific committee members serve as consultants for our challenges, assist in promotion, and help ensure impartial and fair conduct of our hackathon.