Breaking Barriers: The First Hacker House for Undergraduate Women in Tech
As remote work reshapes entrepreneurship, hacker houses are experiencing a resurgence. But for young women in computer science, these spaces have historically been inaccessible—until now. Meet Womxn Ignite, the first live-in incubator exclusively for female and nonbinary undergraduate tech students, founded by Yale’s Coco Sack and Stanford’s Kendall Titus.
The Birth of a Vision
Frustrated by the limitations of virtual learning during the pandemic, Sack and Titus took gap semesters to create what they couldn’t find:
- A supportive space for women aged 20-25 navigating tech careers
- A bridge between high school coding programs and established founder networks
- An alternative to the male-dominated hacker house model
“There was nothing for anyone in the age range of 20 to 25 where you’re trying to find your way, raise your voice and hold your ground,” Titus explains.
Inside the Womxn Ignite Experience
After converting a California wedding venue into a collaborative hub, the founders received 500+ applications for just 20 spots. The program combines:
Structured Learning:
- Weekly mentor sessions with top female entrepreneurs (including Melinda Gates and Bumble’s Whitney Wolfe Herd)
- Team challenges focused on problem-solving and product development
- Friday progress presentations
Community Building:
- Themed dinners and “platonic date nights” for networking
- Weekend discussions on niche tech topics
- Diversity-focused recruitment from top universities (Stanford, MIT, Harvard, etc.)
A New Model for Empowerment
Unlike traditional accelerators, Womxn Ignite focuses on:
- Network building over company launches
- Inclusive participation (50%+ on scholarships)
- Long-term investment through a unique 1% income pledge
Most participants have committed to contribute 1% of their earnings for five years to a collective fund supporting future female founders.
“This creates early VC engagement for women in a male-dominated field,” explains participant Clara Schwab.
The Road Ahead
With plans for a February 2021 cohort and digital community expansion, Womxn Ignite is redefining what support looks like for the next generation of women in tech—proving that sometimes, you need to build the table rather than wait for a seat.
