On a Saturday buzzing with energy and ideas, the YWCA of the City of New York held its inaugural Girls Initiatives Hackathon, bringing together students from our Geek Girls (coding) and Web Design programs for a day of creativity, collaboration, and real-world tech experience.

Hosted at Betterment’s headquarters in Manhattan, the event welcomed over high school girls from across New York City. These young coders and designers came ready to apply the skills they’ve been building all semester — from Python and JavaScript to web development and UX design — in a fast-paced team challenge designed to mirror the intensity of a real tech sprint.

Each group was paired with a mentor from Betterment, who volunteered their Saturday to guide, troubleshoot, and cheer on our student teams. The challenge? To build a digital solution that addressed a real-life community issue, whether it was mental health support, environmental sustainability, or access to education. And they only had one day to plan, prototype, and present their ideas.

What we witnessed was more than just technical skill — it was leadership, critical thinking, and teamwork in action. Girls stepped into roles as project managers, lead designers, and software developers, confidently sharing ideas and making decisions together. Many students were presenting their work to a panel for the first time, and they did so with clarity, creativity, and courage.

At the end of the day, teams presented their projects to a panel of judges, including Betterment’s CTO, John Mileham, and CMO, Kim Rosenblum. One standout project was a website that acted as a search engine that compiles immediate purchase needs into a budget-friendly, time-saving shopping plan. Their innovative approach to simplifying everyday shopping decisions impressed the judges with its practicality and impact.

This event wasn’t just a one-day challenge — it was a launchpad. It showed our students what’s possible when they bring their full selves to the table: their tech skills, passion, and lived experiences. It also demonstrated the power of partnerships — and how companies like Betterment can play a pivotal role in supporting the next generation of innovators.

We’re incredibly proud of our Girls Initiatives students for rising to the occasion and grateful to Betterment for hosting and mentoring. Their efforts have made the future of tech brighter—and this is only the beginning.