#BUILTBYGIRLS is a company.
Key people at #BUILTBYGIRLS.
#BUILTBYGIRLS was founded by Nisha Dua (Founder).
#BUILTBYGIRLS was founded by Nisha Dua (Founder).
#BUILTBYGIRLS is a New York-based non-profit organization, not a traditional company or investment firm, dedicated to empowering girls and non-binary youth aged 15–22 to pursue careers in technology through mentorship, guidance, and skill-building programs.[1][2][3][4] Originally evolving from the video network Cambio (launched in 2010 and acquired by AOL in 2012), it rebranded and refocused on tech inclusion, partnering with entities like Girls Who Code and gaining endorsements from figures such as Michelle Obama for initiatives like the 2016 "Let Girls Build Challenge."[1] It operates the WAVE mentorship portal, connecting mentees with STEM professionals, and has facilitated over 4,950 new users and 11,000 mentorship hours.[4][6]
The organization addresses the underrepresentation of young women in tech by providing practical advice, project-based learning, and networking, preparing them as future leaders, builders, and creators in the industry.[2][3][5] While it spawned BBG Ventures, an early-stage venture fund supporting female-led startups, #BUILTBYGIRLS itself functions as a social impact entity rather than a profit-driven company.[1]
#BUILTBYGIRLS traces its roots to Cambio, a next-generation video network launched in 2010 as a partnership between AOL, the Jonas Group, and MGX lab, targeting a young audience with MTV-style content and peaking at 7.5 million monthly views.[1] In 2012, AOL fully acquired Cambio, and by 2014, it pivoted through a partnership with Girls Who Code: five teenage graduates joined as paid interns, shaping the site's editorial mission, designing a "Celebspiration" meme generator, and launching "Col[lab]" for user-generated articles by young women.[1]
The rebrand to Built by Girls emphasized tech empowerment, culminating in the 2016 campaign urging girls to submit ideas for the 62 million globally without traditional education access, which drew First Lady Michelle Obama's support for the "Let Girls Build Challenge."[1] Ownership shifted with corporate changes—AOL to Verizon Media (sold to Apollo Global Management in 2021)—but the core mission persisted as a non-profit focused on mentorship.[1][4]
#BUILTBYGIRLS rides the wave of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) trends in tech, addressing the persistent gender gap where women hold under 30% of roles, by pipeline-building for the next generation amid rising demand for diverse talent in AI, STEM, and software.[2][3][4] Its timing aligns with post-2020 corporate pledges for underrepresented groups and global pushes for girls' education in tech, amplified by partnerships like Girls Who Code and Obama-era recognition.[1]
Market forces favoring it include tech giants' mentorship investments (e.g., via WAVE redesigns) and venture shifts toward inclusive funds like BBG Ventures, influencing the ecosystem by producing skilled entrants who boost innovation and reduce biases in product development.[1][4][5] As a non-profit, it humanizes tech's scalability challenges, fostering a pipeline that sustains long-term industry growth.
#BUILTBYGIRLS is poised to expand its AI-enhanced WAVE platform and global challenges, capitalizing on AI ethics demands and hybrid learning post-pandemic to mentor even more diverse cohorts.[4] Trends like remote mentorship tools and founder-focused VC (via BBG Ventures) will shape its path, potentially amplifying influence through corporate acquisitions or scaled non-profit models. Its evolution from video content to tech empowerment underscores a resilient mission: preparing bold leaders who will redefine the industry, tying back to its core promise of letting #BUILTBYGIRLS claim their place in tech.[1][2][3]
Key people at #BUILTBYGIRLS.
