BTU Supporting Women – Thousands of Beneficiaries and Global Recognition

Women’s economic empowerment is one of the key challenges and priorities of the modern world. In reality, economic independence forms the foundation upon which women’s rights, freedom of choice, and future opportunities are built. Due to various social and structural factors, women are often forced to compromise their goals and aspirations. This challenge is particularly visible in the field of technology.

For years, the Business and Technology University (BTU) has become one of the country’s leading platforms for women’s economic empowerment. Today, thousands of beneficiaries have participated in the university’s initiatives and projects dedicated to supporting women. BTU’s work in this field has also received international recognition, including awards such as the Grace Hopper Program Award and Emerging Europe’s Future-Proof Education Award.

Below are some of BTU’s key initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s participation and advancement in the technology sector.

500 Women in Tech (2021–2023)
One of BTU’s most notable projects, implemented with the support of UN Women and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway. Through three program cohorts, a total of 994 beneficiaries were trained. The program was comprehensive and included not only technical education (Front-end, Back-end, UI/UX, and more), but also technical English training, career bootcamps, and individual mentorship. A major component of the project was a large-scale employment forum and the Pitch Yourself event, where participants had the opportunity to present their skills directly to leading companies. This project earned BTU the Emerging Europe Award in 2023.

Founders Gap (2022)
Founders Gap was launched as part of the 500 Women in Tech initiative. Within this bootcamp, 30 selected beneficiaries completed intensive modules covering technology entrepreneurship, market and customer analysis, branding, and strategic communications. The goal of the project was to enable women to use the knowledge gained to create their own startups, becoming not only employees in the technology sector but also entrepreneurs who launch and lead their own businesses.

Coding School for 1500 Women (2022–2024)
Implemented with the support of USAID, this project became one of the largest initiatives of its kind, covering the entire country. A total of 1,500 beneficiaries were trained with full funding. The program combined technical English, coding courses, and mentorship. One of the project’s unique aspects was the creation and full equipment of special coding spaces in schools across target municipalities. These spaces continue to serve women and girls who do not have access to computers or the internet at home, representing an important step toward reducing digital inequality.

Women in AI (2024–2025)
In partnership with UN Women and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, BTU implemented another initiative aimed at empowering women in the technology sector. Within the Women in AI project, 200 beneficiaries participated in an intensive nine-month training program, fully funded by donors. Alongside technical training, participants attended sessions on career development and entrepreneurial skills. Close cooperation with the public and private sectors helped ensure real employment opportunities for graduates in the rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence.

Women Mentorship in Tech Programmes (2024–2026)
With the support of the European Union and the involvement of the Lithuanian organization Women Go Tech, 1,100 beneficiaries were trained within this initiative, supported by 320 mentors. The program focused on developing industry-relevant courses, implementing intensive five-month training and mentorship cycles, and building partnerships with public and private sector organizations. Its goal is to create greater employment opportunities for women in the fast-growing technology sector and to help reduce gender inequality.

Tech Women Community (2025 – ongoing)
An innovative platform created through the joint efforts of BTU, UN Women, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and D Block. The community already brings together 26 member organizations and women and girls interested in the ICT sector. The platform’s mission is to build a sustainable ecosystem where members participate in masterclasses, trainings, and networking events throughout the year. It is not only a learning platform but also a collaborative environment that supports career development and the increased representation of women in the technology industry.

iamtheCODE Foundation Chapter in Georgia (2025–2030)
In partnership with globally recognized tech activist Lady Mariéme Jamme, BTU established the Georgian chapter of the international iamtheCODE initiative. This long-term and ambitious project aims to reach 250,000 beneficiaries. The platform provides access to 60,000 courses in 18 languages, available to women, children, and young people. Special emphasis is placed on artificial intelligence, with 50,000 beneficiaries expected to complete free AI-focused courses.

Junior Tech Program (2023–2024)
Implemented in partnership with UNICEF, this initiative represents one of BTU’s most significant social responsibility programs. The project focused on groups with the least access to technological education, including socially vulnerable children, children with disabilities, and those under state care. Over a nine-month period, beneficiaries received intensive training in digital and technological skills.

The Magazine “Sakartvelos Kali” (The Woman of Georgia)
The magazine “Sakartvelos Kali” was first published in 1923 and served for a century as a powerful voice for women’s rights and education in Georgia. Exactly 100 years later, BTU published a renewed centennial edition of the magazine. Through this initiative, the university highlighted that today’s technological empowerment initiatives for women continue the historical path that Georgian women began a century ago.

In addition to these major initiatives, the university has implemented a number of other important projects over the years aimed at empowering women, including:

• Technology Camp for Girls (2022) – a summer camp focused on ICT trends and programming (GITA)

• Accelerator for Women Agricultural Entrepreneurs (2022–2023) – agrotechnology and e-commerce training for women entrepreneurs (USAID)

• Promoting Information Literacy for Women (2022–2023) – information literacy training for Georgian and Ukrainian women (UNESCO)

• Do IT in Georgia (2023–2025) – specialized courses in UI/UX, software testing, and IT management (GITA)

• Tech Empowerment for Ukrainian Refugee Women (2024–2025) – support programs for Ukrainian refugee women (UN Women, Government of Japan)

• BOOST: Women Innovators (2022) – UNDP regional acceleration program for institutional strengthening

• Girls in Tech (regional program) – technology initiative supported by Liberty Bank (2021)

• Girls Who Code (2021) – a fully funded two-week summer program for girls aged 15–18

• Women in Tech (2020–2021) – courses in coding, blockchain, and artificial intelligence supported by the U.S. Embassy.