Chic Geek

What Chic Geek does

Chic Geek was a Calgary-based Canadian non-profit organization founded in 2013 by Kylie Woods that operated until June 2023, building community, mentorship, and career-advancement programs for women in technology. Its core product was Career Pathing, a subscription-based virtual mentorship service priced at $29 per month or $299 annually that matched mentees ("Path Finders") with mentors ("Career Guides") through a deliberately human-curated process; the matching was conducted by a team member reviewing profiles rather than by an algorithm, with each Path Finder receiving up to two new mentor introductions per month and 30-minute micro-mentoring sessions over a 12-month engagement. The technology surface consisted of a web-based member portal (hosted at the-chic-geek.smartmatchapp.com) for intake, connection tracking, and curated job opportunities, supported by an online job board and monthly email newsletter.

The business model was non-profit and multi-stream. Revenue was derived from three sources: (1) Provincial and Federal government grants (notably over $300,000 CAD in 2021 across Labour Market Partnership, SME Relaunch, Civil Society Fund, and Alberta Innovates coalition programs); (2) tiered corporate sponsorships organized into categories such as Peer Circle Partners, Career Pathing Partners, Event Partners, Job Board Partners, Newsletter Partners, and Pro-Bono Legal Partners, with named enterprise backers including TD Bank, KPMG, Cisco, Garmin, and Bennett Jones; and (3) individual Career Pathing subscription fees. Marketing and growth were community-led and earned-media-driven, with coverage in CBC, Calgary Herald, IT World Canada, Flare Magazine, Global News, and Avenue Magazine, and a volunteer base of 125+ contributors providing over 3,000 hours of operating support.

Supporting programs included Geeky Summit (a women-in-technology conference hosted in 2016, 2017, and 2018), the Diversity Motherboard DEI knowledge hub (with case studies co-developed with Helcim, Libra Consulting, and Certn), and an event series that ran over 160 gatherings since founding. Across its operating life Chic Geek reached 14,000+ women in technology and allies, activated 255 mentors, facilitated 1,435 connections for approximately 250 mentees, and reported that 59% of Career Pathing mentees advanced their careers within 12 months of participation. Despite these outcomes, the organization wound down in June 2023 due to chronic funding-cycle fragility, gifting 200 memberships to Toast Community as a legacy hand-off.

Name

Chic Geek

Legal name

Chic Geek

Website

https://thechicgeek.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Chic Geek was a Calgary-based Canadian non-profit (2013–2023) that supported intermediate women in technology through subscription mentorship (Career Pathing), events, and DEI resources, funded by grants and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Chic Geek received over $300,000 in Provincial/Federal grants in 2021 to develop new programs supporting female leadership and retention in Alberta's tech sector. Grants included the Labour Market Partnership Federal-Provincial, Small Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant, Civil Society Fund Grant, and Coalition Support for Calgary Entrepreneurs in partnership with Alberta Innovates.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Companies partner with Chic Geek through corporate sponsorship tiers including Peer Circle Partners, Career Pathing Partners, Event Partners, Job Board Partners, Social Partners, Newsletter Partners, and Pro-Bono Legal Partners. This was the primary revenue stream for the non-profit.
3. Career Pathing Subscription: Path Finder membership at $29/month or $299 annually, providing curated mentorship matches, member portal access, monthly career development resources, exclusive pre-event access, and personalized job opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chic Geek is a Calgary-based non-profit (founded 2013, operations sunset June 2023) that supports intermediate women in technology through a portfolio of programs including Career Pathing (a human-curated virtual mentorship subscription), the Geeky Summit conference, Diversity Motherboard DEI resource hub, a Job Board, community events, and a newsletter. The organization connected over 14,000 women in tech and allies through mentorship, networking, and corporate partnerships.

Product overview

Chic Geek is a non-profit organization (discontinued operations as of June 2023) that built gender diversity in technology through a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offering was Career Pathing, a subscription-based virtual mentorship platform connecting women in tech with experienced mentors through curated monthly introductions. Supporting programs included Geeky Summit (an annual tech conference), the Diversity Motherboard (a DEI knowledge hub with case studies and resources), a Job Board, Events Program, and Newsletter. These offerings worked together to advance women in tech careers through mentorship, community building, career visibility, and professional networking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Career Pathing: A virtual mentorship and strategic networking service to support career development for intermediate women in technology, matching mentors (Career Guides) with mentees (Path Finders).
• Diversity Motherboard
• Geeky Summit

Products and services

• Career Pathing A virtual mentorship and strategic networking subscription service that matches women in technology with experienced mentors (Career Guides) through human-curated monthly introductions over a 12-month period, priced at $29/month or $299/year.
• Geeky Summit An annual conference for women in technology in Canada, hosted in 2016, 2017, and 2018, designed to connect women in tech through networking and learning.
• Diversity Motherboard A DEI knowledge hub featuring case studies, downloadable takeaway packages, and strategy resources for tech companies on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, developed with partner organizations such as Helcim, Libra Consulting, and Certn.
• Job Board An online job board featuring technology positions from employer partners, connecting hiring companies with women in tech candidates in the Chic Geek community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 59% of mentees advanced their careers during 12-months of Career Pathing participation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

36 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TD BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTD Bank is a Peer Circle Partner with Chic Geek, supporting the organization's mission to build gender diversity in technology through high-level strategic collaboration.
• HelcimcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelcim is a Career Pathing Partner committed to building gender diversity in technology. The fintech company publicly committed to Chic Geek on International Women's Day.
• StellarAlgocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStellarAlgo is a Career Pathing Partner supporting women in technology career development through the Career Pathing mentorship program.
• MomentumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMomentum is a Career Pathing Partner providing technology training for women, aligned with Chic Geek's mission.
• KudosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKudos is an Event Partner supporting Chic Geek events and programs.
• MyntexminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMyntex is an Event Partner and Feature Partner supporting Chic Geek programs.
• CiscominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCisco is a Hiring Partner on the Chic Geek Job Board, posting technology roles to the community.
• Skip the DishesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSkip the Dishes is a Hiring Partner on the Chic Geek Job Board.
• KPMGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKPMG is a Newsletter Partner supporting Chic Geek's communications.
• Bennett JonescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBennett Jones provides pro-bono legal support to Chic Geek, helping navigate the complexities of sunsetting the non-profit. Their expertise in non-profit governance was invaluable.
• Blake'sminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBlake's (Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP) is a Pro-Bono Legal Partner providing legal support to Chic Geek.
• AltaMLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAltaML is a Social Partner and ecosystem collaborator with Chic Geek, supporting community initiatives.
• ImprovingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImproving is a Social Partner supporting Chic Geek's community-building efforts.
• GarminminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGarmin is a Hiring Partner and Newsletter Partner with Chic Geek, posting career opportunities.
• Absorb LMSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAbsorb LMS is a Newsletter Partner supporting Chic Geek communications and programs.
• PasonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPason is a Newsletter Partner and Hiring Partner with Chic Geek.
• AimsiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerAimsio is a Newsletter Partner supporting Chic Geek.
• AthennianminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAthennian is a Newsletter Partner with Chic Geek.
• AvantiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAvanti is a Newsletter Partner and ecosystem collaborator with Chic Geek.
• Calgary Airport AuthorityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCalgary Airport Authority (YYC) is a Newsletter Partner and community supporter of Chic Geek.
• Tiller DigitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTiller Digital is a Newsletter Partner and ecosystem collaborator with Chic Geek.
• AbsorbminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbsorb is an industry partner supporting Chic Geek's 2021 programming through government grants.
• AttaboticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAttabotics is an industry partner supporting Chic Geek's programs in 2021.
• BenevityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBenevity is an industry partner supporting Chic Geek's ecosystem programs.
• CliominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClio is an industry partner supporting Chic Geek's ecosystem programs.
• EnverusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnverus is an industry partner supporting Chic Geek's ecosystem programs.
• Evans HuntminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvans Hunt is an industry partner supporting Chic Geek's ecosystem programs.
• ICwhatUCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICwhatUC is an industry partner supporting Chic Geek's ecosystem programs.
• KruxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKrux (Krux Analytics) is an industry partner supporting Chic Geek's ecosystem programs.
• ShareworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareworks is an industry partner supporting Chic Geek's ecosystem programs.
• SuncorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuncor is an industry partner supporting Chic Geek's ecosystem programs.
• TykansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTykans is an industry partner and ecosystem collaborator. A Chic Geek community member was connected to Tykans Group through Career Pathing and was hired as Financial Controller.
• Calgary UXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalgary UX is an industry partner supporting Chic Geek's ecosystem programs.
• CCISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCIS (Calgary Catholic Immigration Society) is an ecosystem partner supporting Chic Geek's programs.
• Rainforest AlbertaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRainforest Alberta is an ecosystem partner providing a community network for Chic Geek members and supporting programs.
• Lighthouse LabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLighthouse Labs is an ecosystem partner supporting Chic Geek's programs and career development resources.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Lighthouse Labs: Canadian technology education and bootcamp provider that was an ecosystem partner of Chic Geek. Adjacent rather than direct competitor — focused on technical training rather than career mentorship/networking.
• Rainforest Alberta: Alberta tech ecosystem network that partnered with Chic Geek on community programs. Ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor, but highly relevant for understanding the Calgary/Alberta tech community context Chic Geek operated in.

Direct peers

• Women Who Code: Global non-profit supporting women in technology through mentorship, events, job boards, and local community chapters. Closely comparable to Chic Geek's mission and programming model, but at significantly larger scale.
• She Geeks Out: US-based community and events organization supporting women in tech careers through networking events, conferences, and online content. Comparable community-led model and target persona of intermediate-career women in technology.
• Women in Tech World: Canadian women-in-tech community mentioned in Chic Geek's sunset statement as a continuing organization in the space. Direct peer in mission and Canadian market focus.
• Women in Communication Technology (WCT): Canadian non-profit supporting women in communications and technology careers. Referenced in Chic Geek's sunset communication as a continuing organization in the same space.
• Toast (trytoast.ca): Calgary-based community organization for women in tech that received 200 transferred memberships from Chic Geek at sunset. Direct peer in geography, target audience, and community-led model.

Broad incumbents

• AnitaB.org: One of the largest non-profits focused on women in technology, running the Grace Hopper Celebration, Top Companies for Women Technologists program, and communities globally. Comparable mission and DEI outcomes focus, with a much broader portfolio.
• Girls in Tech: Global non-profit focused on women in technology through education, career programs, and events. Comparable mission and event-driven model with a broader global footprint and earlier-stage pipeline focus.

Emerging players

• Black Girls in Tech: Canadian non-profit supporting Black women in technology careers through mentorship, events, and career programming. Comparable community-led, Canada-focused model with a more specific demographic focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chic-geek
• Xx.com/chicgeekyyc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chic Geek