The New Club

High-Level Overview

The New Club is a members-only professional network dedicated to supporting women in engineering throughout their careers, fostering connections, collaboration, and access to opportunities in tech.[1] It connects female engineers with progressive startup founders and leaders who prioritize diverse technical talent, while amplifying the achievements of prominent members like Ari Font Llitjós (AI/ML founder), Tracy Chou (Block Party CEO and diversity advocate), and Claire Hough (CTO at Getlabs).[1] With over 1,058 members as of its first anniversary, the network serves women at all career stages in a male-dominated field, offering pathways to high-growth roles and community upliftment.[1]

Distinct from golf-related entities sharing similar names—like NewClub, a golf society app founded in 2017 by Matt Considine and Mark Colwell to enhance accessibility and affordability—this New Club focuses exclusively on tech talent development for women engineers.[1][2][3]

Origin Story

Launched around late 2023 (marking its first anniversary in the referenced blog), The New Club emerged from a vision to create a dedicated space for women in engineering amid tech's gender imbalances.[1] The founders sought to build a community that not only connects women for mutual support but also bridges them to startup ecosystems valuing female technical expertise, countering barriers in a field long dominated by men.[1] Early momentum built rapidly, reaching 1,058 members within a year, highlighted by showcasing trailblazing figures such as former Twitter ML Director Ari Font Llitjós, Block Party's Tracy Chou, and serial CTO Claire Hough.[1] Pivotal moments include amplifying member stories and planning expansions like tech summits and retreats, humanizing the network as a force for inclusion.[1]

Core Differentiators

• Targeted Community Focus: Exclusively for women in engineering, providing career-stage support, peer collaboration, and direct access to progressive founders seeking diverse talent—unlike general tech networks.[1]
• Amplification of Leaders: Spotlights high-profile members (e.g., Forbes 30 Under 30 Tracy Chou, Napster/Netscape alum Claire Hough) to inspire and connect, building a roster of innovation drivers.[1]
• Opportunity Pipeline: Creates clear paths to top startups, emphasizing responsible AI/ML and privacy tech, with events like summits, retreats, dinners, and showcases planned for year two.[1]
• Inclusivity in Male-Dominated Tech: Addresses systemic gaps by uplifting women at the "cutting-edge of technology," fostering a collaborative ecosystem absent in broader platforms.[1]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

The New Club rides the wave of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) trends in tech, where women remain underrepresented in engineering roles despite growing demands for AI, ML, and scalable systems.[1] Its timing aligns with post-2023 pushes for gender-balanced teams amid talent shortages, as startups prioritize "brilliant female technical talent" to innovate responsibly—exemplified by members' expertise in AI ethics and online safety.[1] Market forces like remote/hybrid work and founder networks favor such targeted communities, influencing the ecosystem by channeling underrepresented talent into high-growth ventures, reducing hiring biases, and elevating voices like those from early SurveyMonkey or Carbon Health.[1] This positions it as a catalyst for broader tech evolution toward inclusivity.

Quick Take & Future Outlook

The New Club is poised for scaled impact through its roadmap of tech summits, retreats, virtual/in-person events, and company showcases, potentially doubling membership while deepening startup ties.[1] Trends like AI proliferation and DEI mandates will amplify its relevance, as demand for diverse engineering talent surges; its influence may evolve into a talent matchmaking powerhouse, shaping hiring norms in progressive tech circles.[1] By consistently uplifting women engineers, it reinforces its core mission—proving targeted networks are essential for tech's inclusive future, much like its rapid growth from vision to 1,000+ members.