AI doesn't get us, VCs ignore us, but we're changing that

👀THIS ISSUE AT A GLANCE

TL;DR

• From hackathon first-timers to $1K winners - How Ooviya & Rahul's first hackathon built SheFunded and won the blockchain track!

• The 2.3% funding reality - Why AI keeps getting us wrong and how Dr. Fei-Fei Li is fixing representation one breakthrough at a time

• Free Miami Conference Tickets - Become a CreateHER Ambassador at Blockchain Futurist Conference (Nov 5-6) where Ethereum, Coinbase & Solana will be. Applications close Aug 31st!

From First Hack to $1K Win: The SheFunded Success Story

What if your first global hackathon experience led to you winning $1,000?
That was Ooviya and Rahul’s story after winning the CreateHER Fest International Women’s Day Hackathon!

Their winning project, SheFunded, tackles one of the biggest barriers women entrepreneurs face in the funding world. Here's the reality: countless brilliant women have game-changing ideas but hesitate to pitch because of unconscious bias, fear of judgment, or concerns about how their gender might influence funding decisions.

By creating a decentralized funding platform where women entrepreneurs can pitch their ideas completely anonymously, Ooviya and Rahul built something revolutionary, a space where ideas are judged purely on their merit, not on who's presenting them.

The team used ZK-Proofs to verify identity without revealing personal details. Think of it like showing your ID to prove you're over 21 without revealing your name, address, or exact age! Plus, they built it on the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP), which means users don't need crypto wallets or blockchain knowledge, just sign up like any normal website.

Ready to write your own success story and build something revolutionary? Our 2026 International Women’s Day Hackathon launches the #75HER Challenge - a 75 day sprint (Jan 6th - Mar 31st, 2026) through our Learn-a-thon, Idea-thon, and Hackathon, inspired by 75HARD but built for the CreateHER Fest community. Don't miss your chance to learn, build, and potentially walk away with your own victory story!

Pre-register now to be the first to know when we launch!

Why AI Keeps Getting Us Wrong (And How One Woman Is Fixing It)

AI is reshaping how we work, build, and live, but there's a fundamental gap: representation.

Dr. Fei-Fei Li, co-director of Stanford's Human-Centered AI Institute and co-founder of AI4ALL, has long argued that when AI lacks diverse perspectives, human dignity and decision-making suffer.

While Silicon Valley races to build bigger language models, Li's focus is on AI that's not just smarter but more empathetic, designed to assist, not automate away, human needs. Her latest venture, World Labs, raised $230M to pioneer spatial reasoning AI, teaching machines to understand three-dimensional spaces and human environments.

The impact of this work is clear: while trillions have been invested in AI development, few companies are addressing how machines perceive and navigate the physical world. This oversight limits real-world applications, from eldercare robotics to inclusive urban design. AI systems that lack spatial grounding and can’t understand human environments risk excluding entire communities whose contexts aren’t are never factored into the equation.

And representation in AI? Still alarmingly low. Women make up only 22% of global AI professionals, and representation for Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities remains in the single digits at entry through senior levels.

Li's journey from bootstrapping datasets as a grad student to leading global AI conversations proves representation shapes outcomes. Being the "only woman" in AI leadership rooms became her reason to build louder.

AI is now embedded in how we apply for jobs, access healthcare, and how governments allocate resources. When AI systems reflect diverse perspectives, we build technology that uplifts entire communities. Representation isn't the finish line, it's the foundation.

Li's story reminds us: systems built without us rarely work for us. But when we show up, curious, informed, and ready to shape the conversation, technology shifts.

The question isn't if you belong in these rooms. It's how soon you're going to make sure they hear you.

Ready to understand how AI actually impacts your work and career? Darlyze Calixte is breaking down AI tools that can amplify YOUR voice in tech in her upcoming August 19th workshop: Your AI-Powered Personal Assistant. Learn to leverage AI as your ally, not your replacement.

OPPORTUNITIES

CreateHER Fest x Blockchain Futurist: The Miami Edition

Blockchain Futurist Conference is the next major web3 event in the U.S., happening November 5-6, 2025, in Miami, Florida. Held at the iconic Hard Rock Guitar Hotel and DAER, the event features 350+ speakers, immersive stages, poolside networking, and thousands of attendees from across crypto, blockchain, and AI.

We’re positioning our community to step directly into visibility, opportunity, and influence. This space is full of funding/job opportunities, startup exposure, new tech launches, and direct access to investors, product leads, and founders across emerging tech.

Here's what being a CreateHER Ambassador gets you: 
✨ Free conference ticket (because access shouldn't be a barrier)
✨ Exclusive entry to our networking event with other incredible women in web3
✨ Your very own .her domain to start building your digital presence
✨ Limited edition CreateHER merch you can't get anywhere else

You coming with? Apply by August 31st at 12pm ET!

THIS WEEK’S RESOURCES

• Postman Notebook Challenge

  • Create a Notebook that helps others discover and use public APIs and you could win $1,000, Postman’s first Creator Fellowship, or earn the spotlight in their global developer community. Submit by August 25th! Learn more →

• SANS Cyber Academy

  • Cyber skills aren’t optional! Whether you’re a developer or just breaking into tech, understanding security is essential. This full-time, scholarship-based program takes you from zero to cyber-hero, with 87% of graduates landing relative roles in under a year. Submit by August 15th! Apply now →

• Google’s DevFest Opener

  • Kick off DevFest 2025 with Google’s Developer Ecosystem team! Join this free virtual event on Aug 22, 9 AM–1 PM PDT to hear from Googlers, connect with the community, and join a hands-on AI workshop where you’ll build your own AI agent using Google Cloud tools. RSVP here →

Until next time,

Discover \ Design \ Deliver