Founded in Toronto in 2017, Cryptochicks is a non-profit organization supporting women interested in blockchain [Editor’s note: blockchain is a kind of huge virtual ledger]. Although Canadian, the organization has ambassadors in several other countries: Bulgaria, Pakistan, Russia and the Bahamas. Montrealer Karla Vilhelem, who became interested in blockchain technology a year ago, is part of the founding team. She explains why the tech industry needs such an initiative.
How did Cryptochicks come into being?
Cryptochicks co-founders Elena Sinelnikova and Natalia Ameline studied computer science. Then they turned their attention to blockchains. They were often the only representatives of their kind at events. They decided they had to do something about this under-representation. They started by organizing Meetups where they gave blockchain 101 courses aimed at women only. Their first Meetup exceeded their expectations. Five hundred women showed up. Cryptochicks was born.
Women account for 20% of all technology workers. How many of them are interested in blockchain?
Between 8% and 10% are women. In the early days of blockchain, there were a lot of video game developers and gamers [interested in it]. It was a little-known field. We’d talk about it on video game forums or hacker forums, where there were very few women. Nowadays, there are a lot of non-technical professions that are turning to blockchain. This represents a wide range of opportunities for women.
Cryptochicks is looking to increase this figure beyond 10% by integrating more people from diverse backgrounds into the industry. It’s certainly a new technology, but above all it’s a new economy, new jobs, and we want women to be as well represented in it as men.
You often use the argument that blockchain can be good for society. In what way?
Blockchain is like a database, but instead of being owned and hosted by a single company, hundreds, thousands of computers share this database. All transactions are visible and accessible. For example, as a tax payer, you might want to track the money you pay to the government, know when it was received and which departments it goes to.
How has the blockchain community welcomed Cryptochicks’ initiative?
The community is aware of the need to have more women involved and welcomes our initiative. We need to educate and motivate these women to want to get involved in blockchain. Cryptochicks then acts as a bridge between the community and these women. We want to give equal opportunities to everyone.
You’ve chosen humor to get your message across.
We use humor and a light tone, because we want people to perceive blockchain as something accessible and easy to approach. Our aim is that children, young people, businesswomen or women at home should have the same opportunities in the field.
Do you have a story to tell?
We organize hackathons so that women can come and develop projects using blockchain. During one of these events, a 16-year-old girl set up a project all by herself: a platform to connect people wishing to share their genetic data with organizations in need of it.
