She Sharp

What She Sharp does

She Sharp is a registered New Zealand charitable trust (NZ Charity CC57025), founded in 2014 in Auckland with the mission of bridging the gender gap in STEM, where women hold roughly 20% of roles. Over a decade the organisation has built a community platform serving 3,000+ active members across Aotearoa New Zealand, delivering programmes including a flagship one-to-one Mentorship Programme, a monthly calendar of workshops/panels/networking events, the HER WAKA employment-readiness series in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, the Youth Tech Series for ages 12-18, and the annual Aotearoa AI Hackathon Festival co-organised with AI Forum New Zealand and AUT. The underlying technology stack — Next.js, TypeScript, Python, and Kubernetes — powers a custom website serving 2,200+ members with event registrations, mentorship matching (augmented by an AI recommendation engine), and a resource library including the She Sharp Talks podcast. Operational reach has expanded from Auckland (2014) to Wellington (2015) and Hamilton (2023), with events also held in Christchurch.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue mix anchored by corporate sponsorships across Platinum/Gold/Silver/Bronze tiers, with 50+ corporate partners including Google, Microsoft, AWS, MYOB, Fonterra, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Orion Health, and Xero. Secondary revenue streams include individual donations (NZD $10/$25/$50/$100 tiers processed via Stripe), modest event ticket revenue (NZD $10 for AI Hackathon Festival with AUT students admitted free), and in-kind venue/mentorship contributions from corporate and academic partners. Most programmes are free for participants. Operations are volunteer-led: a core team of approximately 15 ambassadors led by Founder and Chair Dr. Mahsa McCauley (also Associate Professor at AUT and Chair of AI Forum NZ) and Trustee Mike McCauley. The organisation carries no external PE/VC capital and is governed by trustees.

Distribution combines in-person events (workshops, hackathons, panels across NZ venues including corporate offices, AUT, academyEX, Les Mills), an online mentorship application and matching flow, and youth outreach delivered through schools in partnership with Peyvand Academy and the Ministry of Education. Marketing is community-led via the website, Mailchimp newsletters, social media, the She Sharp Talks podcast, and earned media from press coverage and awards (2024 NZ Community of the Year Semi-Finalist, 2019 Diversity Awards NZ Small Organisation Excellence, multiple Women in Security Awards). GTM motion is community-first: members become ambassadors who drive referrals, while signature events function as both member engagement and corporate lead-generation channels.

Name

She Sharp

Legal name

She Sharp Charitable Trust

Website

https://shesharp.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

She Sharp is a registered New Zealand charity, founded in 2014, that empowers women in STEM through mentorship programmes, hackathons, workshops, and the HER WAKA employment series, serving 3,000+ members across Aotearoa with 50+ corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women in STEM Community Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

Keywords

• Women in STEM
• Community mentorship
• STEM education
• Tech hackathons
• Corporate sponsorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: Companies sponsor She Sharp events and programmes at Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Platinum tiers. Sponsors receive logo placement, social media recognition, complimentary event tickets, and featured placement in annual impact reports. Pricing is custom and negotiated based on partnership level.
2. Individual Donations: Individual supporters donate through the website using payment options of $10, $25, $50, or $100. Secure payment powered by Stripe. Donations fund mentorship programmes, workshops, and events.
3. Event Revenue: Some events may have subsidized ticket pricing. The AI Hackathon Festival offers AUT students free admission and public tickets at $10 with discount codes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

She Sharp is a registered New Zealand charity that delivers community-based programmes to support, connect and empower women in STEM. Its core offerings are a one-to-one Mentorship Programme, monthly workshops/panels/networking events, the Her Waka employment pathway workshops (with the Ministry of Social Development), the Youth Tech Series for ages 12–18, and the annual Aotearoa AI Hackathon Festival, supported by tiered corporate sponsorship packages and individual donations.

Product overview

She Sharp is a registered New Zealand charity operating a community platform that connects and empowers women in STEM through multiple integrated programmes. The core offerings include a Mentorship Programme for career guidance, diverse Events (workshops, hackathons, networking), the HER WAKA employment-focused workshop series, Youth Tech Series for young people, and an annual Aotearoa AI Hackathon Festival. These are complemented by volunteer opportunities, corporate sponsorship packages, and a resources library featuring the She Sharp Talks podcast. The organisation functions as a programme-based non-profit rather than a software product company, with all services focused on community building and professional development in STEM fields.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Her Waka: An employment-focused programme delivered by SheSharp in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, helping clients strengthen their pathway into work through workshops, employer panels, and networking opportunities.

Products and services

• She Sharp Mentorship Programme One-to-one mentoring programme that matches women in STEM with experienced industry professionals for knowledge sharing, career guidance and personal development over a three-month structured engagement with regular catchups. Open to mentees and mentors across Aotearoa New Zealand.
• She Sharp Events (Workshops, Panels, Networking) Monthly workshops, panels, networking gatherings and hackathons hosted across Aotearoa New Zealand throughout the year, covering AI, career development and technical skills and serving women in STEM and allies.
• Her Waka Programme Free employment-focused workshop series delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, helping participants navigate pathways into sustainable employment in technology through career strategy, employer panels, networking and job-readiness support.
• Youth Tech Series Hands-on technology workshops for young people aged 12–18, delivered in partnership with Peyvand Academy and the Ministry of Education, covering AI concepts, electronics and foundational STEM skills.
• Aotearoa AI Hackathon Festival Nationwide multi-venue hackathon where teams build AI-enabled solutions to real-world challenges aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, including free pre-event training, mentorship, venue prizes and a path to pitch at the Aotearoa AI Summit.
• Event AI Voice Assistant AI-powered voice assistant for the Aotearoa AI Hackathon Festival that lets participants ask about event schedules, venue, challenges, judging criteria and logistics using natural-language questions and receive voice/text answers.
• Corporate Sponsorship Packages Tiered partnership programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) that enable organisations to support women in STEM while gaining brand visibility, event access and talent pipeline opportunities.
• Individual Donation Programme Secure donation system powered by Stripe enabling individuals to contribute financially at suggested tiers to support mentorship programmes, workshops and events that empower women in STEM.
• She Sharp Talks Podcast Podcast featuring conversations with women leading innovation in technology, sharing career journeys and industry insights, accessible via the She Sharp resources library.
• Inspire Her Programme Programme that empowers Māori and Pasifika school students through technology education, mentorship and exposure to female tech role models across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of mentees feel more empowered after joining the mentorship programme
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

47 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Orion HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of She Sharp since 2014. She Sharp was founded with Orion Health marking the beginning of the movement to support women in technology across New Zealand.
• XerocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellington launch partner in 2015, enabling She Sharp's first regional expansion beyond Auckland.
• GooglecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered for first 100-attendee event milestone in 2016. Ongoing collaboration including Google Educator Conference 2023, Imagine Zone events, and team volunteer support.
• Ministry of Social DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold sponsor and programme partner for Her Waka, an employment-focused workshop series helping MSD clients navigate pathways into sustainable employment.
• Auckland University of Technology (AUT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue host and partner for AI Hackathon Festival 2026 at AUT City Campus. Dr. Mahsa McCauley is Associate Professor at AUT. Multiple events hosted at AUT venues.
• AI Forum New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organiser of Aotearoa AI Hackathon Festival 2026, a nationwide multi-venue hackathon. Dr. Mahsa McCauley serves as Chair of AI Forum NZ.
• MYOBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver sponsor with multiple event partnerships including 'Working Smarter: AI, MYOB, and the New Delivery Landscape' event. Multiple MYOB employees serve as mentors.
• Fisher & Paykel HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor and featured problem provider for AI Hackathon Festival, presenting challenges including Facilities Helpdesk Agent and Restoration Intelligence. Multiple F&P Healthcare employees mentor.
• academyEXmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze sponsor and venue host for International Women's Day events and Her Waka workshops at academyEX in Auckland.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)majorTechnology or IntegrationPrize sponsor for AI Hackathon Festival (venue prizes and awards via AI Forum NZ). Wellington venue host for hackathon.
• Peyvand AcademymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Youth Tech Series workshops delivering AI and Electronics workshops to youth ages 12-18 in Auckland schools.
• Ministry of EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for Youth Tech Series workshops, supporting STEM education initiatives for school students.
• MicrosoftmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor with employees volunteering as mentors. Multiple Microsoft employees listed as mentors in the programme.
• HCLTechmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold sponsor and partner for Hamilton launch in 2023. Ongoing corporate sponsorship support.
• Les MillsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver sponsor hosting 'No Pain, All Gain – Getting Fit for AI' panel event on diversity and AI for impact.
• FonterramajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor with multiple Fonterra employees serving as mentors. Hosted Business & Tech Transformation event.
• DatacomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner with General Manager Midu Chandra serving as mentor in the programme.
• Little EngineersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkshop delivery partner for Youth Tech Series electronics workshops for youth.
• Auckland CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze sponsor supporting She Sharp's community initiatives.
• Woolworths New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Food Waste featured problem at AI Hackathon Festival alongside Kai Commitment.
• Secure Code WarriorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp events and initiatives.
• Hewlett Packard EnterpriseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor with THRIVE: Your Career, Your Story event hosting in 2025.
• IBMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp community initiatives.
• DeloitteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp events and community.
• EYminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp initiatives.
• WestpacminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp community.
• ANZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp initiatives.
• KiwibankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp.
• VectorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp.
• CentralityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor hosting fireside events for She Sharp community.
• FiservminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor with Fiserv employees serving as mentors.
• Trade MeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp events.
• PushpayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp.
• NyriadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp.
• VendminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp.
• Air New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp.
• Wāhine KākanominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting Māori and Pasifika women in tech.
• WorkdayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp.
• FergusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp.
• Geo AR GamesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp.
• CountdownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp.
• MetlifecareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze sponsor with Mike McCauley serving as Digital Delivery Manager.
• FlexwareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp.
• Grid AKLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp Auckland events.
• Orion HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting She Sharp.
• RCSAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecruitment, Consulting and Staffing Association partner for Her Waka programme, providing job market insights and guidance to participants.
• IdeqaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Her Waka June 2026 with speaker Andrea Halal, Tech Marketing Leader at Ideqa and creator of Big Leap Energy.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Society of Women Engineers (SWE): Long-established global professional society for women in engineering and technology with events, scholarships, awards, and corporate partnerships. Broader-in-scope incumbent with a much longer operating history and membership base, but overlapping on mission and corporate sponsorship flywheel.
• Million Women Mentors: US-led global mentorship movement supporting women and girls in STEM through mentor-mentee matching and corporate commitments. Directly comparable on mentorship-at-scale as a core programme, though structured as a movement/charter rather than a charity entity.
• Code.org: Large US-headquartered STEM education nonprofit running K-12 computer science curricula, the Hour of Code campaign, and equity-focused programmes. Overlaps with She Sharp's Youth Tech Series on K-12 STEM exposure, though operates at vastly larger scale with different funder mix.
• Women in Technology International (WITI): Global professional organisation for women in technology operating conferences, awards, mentorship, and corporate programmes. Comparable on women-in-tech professional community and corporate-supported events, with a US-centric footprint and broader membership structure.

Direct peers

• Code Like a Girl: Australia-founded social enterprise running coding workshops, hackathons and mentorship for women and girls entering tech careers. Comparable community + events + sponsorship revenue model and demographic focus, with growing APAC footprint that overlaps She Sharp's Oceania remit.
• Girl Geek Academy: Australia-based social enterprise running skills bootcamps, hackathons, and community programmes to increase women's participation in technology. Closest comparable on geography and community-led women-in-tech model, though with a stronger paid-training revenue mix than She Sharp's charity structure.
• NCWIT (National Center for Women & Information Technology): US-based nonprofit operating programmes across K-12, higher-ed, and workforce to increase women's participation in computing. Strongly comparable on multi-stage pipeline design (youth through professional) and corporate-partnership-driven delivery model.
• AnitaB.org: US-headquartered nonprofit advancing women in computing through community, mentorship, and the Grace Hopper Celebration. Directly comparable on mission (women-in-tech representation), mentorship programmes, and event-driven community building at much larger global scale.

Emerging players

• AI4ALL: US-based nonprofit creating pipeline programmes for underrepresented groups (including women) into AI careers through university and high-school chapters. Directly comparable as an emerging AI-focused women-in-STEM pipeline builder, intersecting She Sharp's AI Hackathon Festival thrust.

Others

• YWCA New Zealand: National women's advocacy organisation with strong equal-pay agenda — Dr. McCauley herself has received a YWCA Equal Pay Champion Award. Adjacent rather than directly competitive: shares mission alignment on women-in-STEM advancement and frequently partners in the NZ women's empowerment ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shesharpnz
• GitHubgithub.com/ChanMeng666
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shesharpnz

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 She Sharp