TechGirls
TechGirls is a U.S. Department of State exchange initiative administered by Legacy International that provides 23-day U.S.-based STEM summer programs for young women ages 15-17 from 38 countries, combining Virginia Tech coursework, host-family immersion, and seven months of mentorship for community action projects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersWashington D.C., United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What TechGirls does
TechGirls is a U.S. Department of State educational exchange initiative, founded in 2012 and administered by the non-profit Legacy International. The program targets young women ages 15-17 from the United States and 37 partner countries, providing them with a 23-day U.S.-based summer exchange centered on intensive STEM training at Virginia Tech, followed by community immersion with American host families in cities such as Austin, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, and Seattle. After the exchange, participants return home to conduct seven-month mentorship-supported Community Action Projects (CAPs) that have collectively engaged more than 60,000 people since inception.
The program is not a commercial technology product; rather, it is a curated training and exchange experience covering college-level coursework in programming, microprocessors, cybersecurity, and Python, alongside leadership development, job-shadow rotations with STEM professionals, and cultural exchange. Core partners include the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (funder and overseer), Legacy International (program administrator), and Virginia Tech (training venue). Supporting structures include the TechGirls Alumnae Network, an Alumnae Advisory Council, and related ECA NextGen TechCamps.
TechGirls has no commercial revenue model: participation is fully funded by U.S. government appropriations through ECA, with all travel, housing, meals, and program activities covered. The program's go-to-market is diplomatic rather than commercial — recruitment is conducted through U.S. Embassies and Local Engagement Coordinators in each participating country. Customer segments include the participants themselves, U.S. host families, and the broader alumnae network. Headcount is reported at 49, and cumulative reach since 2012 exceeds 900 young women across 38 countries.
TechGirls firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TechGirls
- Legal name
- Legacy International
- Website
- https://techgirlsglobal.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- TechGirls is a U.S. Department of State exchange initiative administered by Legacy International that provides 23-day U.S.-based STEM summer programs for young women ages 15-17 from 38 countries, combining Virginia Tech coursework, host-family immersion, and seven months of mentorship for community action projects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TechGirls industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Educational Exchange Programs
- NAICS
- All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Computer Training (611420)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Robotics, Engineering & Makers Camps (EDAMALAE)
Keywords
Where TechGirls is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington D.C.
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
TechGirls business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- U.S. Government Funding: TechGirls is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), funded by U.S. government appropriations. The program is all-expenses-paid for participants, covering travel, housing, meals, and program activities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
TechGirls product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TechGirls is a U.S. Department of State-funded summer exchange program that brings young women ages 15-17 from select countries to the United States for hands-on STEM education, leadership training, and cultural exchange. The program is administered by Legacy International on behalf of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is offered at no cost to selected participants. Participants engage in STEM workshops, mentoring with professional women in technology, site visits to U.S. companies and universities, and a community impact project.
Product overview
TechGirls is a U.S. Department of State initiative administered by Legacy International, offering a summer exchange program for young women (ages 15-17) focused on STEM education and career exploration. The core TechGirls Exchange Program provides a 23-day experience in the United States, combining college-level coursework at Virginia Tech with community immersion in U.S. cities and seven-month Community Action Projects (CAPs) with mentorship. The program includes Leadership Development sessions and Tech Training components. Supporting offerings include the TechGirls Alumnae Networks and Alumnae Advisory Council for continued engagement. NextGen TechCamp is a related ECA-organized workshop series that connects alumnae globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TechGirls Summer Exchange Program A fully funded, multi-week U.S. summer exchange program for young women ages 15-17 from eligible countries, offering hands-on STEM workshops, mentoring with women in technology, site visits to U.S. companies and universities, a homestay, and a team-based community impact project. Participants are selected through a competitive application process administered by Legacy International.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 900 young women engaged from 2012-2025
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use TechGirls
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
TechGirls technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
TechGirls partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.
- Amideast Tunis and Amideast SousseminorPartner organizations in Tunisia that collaborate with TechGirls alumnae to host info sessions introducing the program to aspiring participants and providing mentorship.
- Cameroon Ministry of Telecommunications, Ministry of Women Empowerment and the Family, and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic EducationminorGovernment ministries in Cameroon that engaged with NewFangled Education to discuss leveraging technology for problem-solving in special meetings.
- UN WomenminorNewFangled Education, founded by TechGirls alumna Britney, secured a project partnership with UN Women's Second Chance Education program to empower young people in Cameroon with tech skills.
- Virginia Tech UniversitycoreVirginia Tech serves as the primary training venue for TechGirls, providing college-level STEM coursework, university facilities, resident assistants, and professors. Participants live on campus and complete expedited college-level courses in programming, microprocessors, and other STEM subjects.
- U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)flagshipECA is the primary funding and oversight body for TechGirls. As an ECA initiative, the program receives U.S. government funding and is aligned with ECA's mission to foster mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations through educational and cultural exchange programs.
- Legacy InternationalcoreLegacy International is the implementing partner administering the TechGirls program on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. They manage program operations, participant selection, logistics, and ongoing alumnae support.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
TechGirls competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- IREX: IREX is an international development nonprofit that administers multiple State Department exchange programs (including FLEX and YES). It shares the ECA partnership ecosystem with Legacy International and operates several comparable youth exchange programs in the same thematic space.
- Peace Corps: Peace Corps is a U.S. government agency deploying American volunteers for international development assignments. It shares the U.S. government sponsorship and cross-cultural exchange mission with TechGirls, though it operates at vastly larger scale and with U.S.-to-abroad rather than abroad-to-U.S. directionality.
- AIESEC: AIESEC is a global youth leadership organization operating international exchange programs across 100+ countries. It overlaps with TechGirls in mission (youth leadership, cross-cultural exchange, skills development) but operates commercially and independently of any single government sponsor.
- Fulbright Program: Fulbright is the flagship U.S. government international exchange program operated by the State Department. It shares the ECA sponsor and exchange-based mission with TechGirls but targets graduate students, scholars, and professionals rather than high school youth.
- Youth For Understanding (YFU): YFU is one of the largest international high school student exchange organizations globally. It shares the host-family immersion model and selective application process but operates on a tuition-funded, decentralized model rather than government sponsorship.
Direct peers
- TechWomen: TechWomen is the sister State Department/ECA initiative for adult women in STEM, administered with the same structural model (U.S.-based exchange, mentorship, community projects). It is the closest direct peer, sharing funder, mission, and operational design while targeting a different age cohort.
- Global UGRAD: Global UGRAD is a State Department-funded semester exchange for undergraduates from underrepresented regions. It shares the ECA sponsor and exchange-based delivery, with comparable host-family and university structures but an older participant demographic.
- FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange): FLEX is an ECA-funded high school exchange for students from post-Soviet states, sharing the State Department exchange model, multi-country footprint, and selective application-based recruitment. It differs by serving a narrower geographic focus and broader academic mission.
- YES Program (Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study): YES is a State Department-funded high school exchange program for students from countries with significant Muslim populations. It shares the ECA funder, exchange-based delivery model, and host-family immersion structure with TechGirls, though its mission is broader cultural exchange rather than STEM-specific.
Emerging players
- Amideast: Amideast is a U.S.-based nonprofit administering educational and cultural exchange programs in the Middle East and North Africa. TechGirls has documented partner relationships with Amideast Tunis/Sousse, indicating overlapping regional mission and operational model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
TechGirls social profiles
Digital presenceTechGirls financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TechGirls leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
TechGirls funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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TechGirls M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TechGirls
What does TechGirls do?
TechGirls is a U.S. Department of State-funded summer exchange program that brings young women ages 15-17 from select countries to the United States for hands-on STEM education, leadership training, and cultural exchange. The program is administered by Legacy International on behalf of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is offered at no cost to selected participants. Participants engage in STEM workshops, mentoring with professional women in technology, site visits to U.S. companies and universities, and a community impact project.
Is TechGirls a public or private company?
TechGirls is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was TechGirls founded?
TechGirls was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is TechGirls based?
TechGirls is headquartered in Washington D.C., United States, in the North America region.
How does TechGirls make money?
One revenue line is on record: U.S. Government Funding.
Who are TechGirls's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are IREX, Peace Corps, AIESEC, Fulbright Program and Youth For Understanding (YFU). Direct peers are TechWomen, Global UGRAD, FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) and YES Program (Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study). Amideast is listed as an emerging player.
Does TechGirls have an API?
No public API is recorded for TechGirls.
What industry is TechGirls in?
TechGirls's product category is Youth Educational Exchange Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAG, STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAMALAE, Robotics, Engineering & Makers Camps. Its NAICS code is 61169 and its SIC code is 8200.