Hacking the tech inclusion gap, one hackathon at a time.
Our Mission
Hack the Gap uses hackathons to innovate, collaborate and bridge opportunities for technologists who identify as women, LGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC).
The Team
Caroline Karanja, CEO
Caroline Karanja is the founder of 26 Letters technology enabled equity and inclusion company. Using data, insight and learning opportunities, 26 Letters helps address equity in education and helps organizations understand and incorporate, diversity, equity and inclusion in their attraction, recruiting and advancement efforts. Caroline is also active in the local entrepreneurial and technology ecosystem. She is on the board of the U-YMCA and Minne* and participates in the community to encourage more people to explore their entrepreneurial ventures.
Dee Anand
Operations & Project Manager
Dee is passionate about representation and inclusion of BIPOC and womxn in tech. Specifically, building tech with an equity lens. She’s also a lover of historical and Afrofuturistic storytelling. The intersection of past social movements and speculative fiction to reimagining a new world with cutting-edge technology that centers BIPOC communities.
Mase Santos
Technical Program Lead
Mase has been developing a Minnesota-based job board application for creatives of color with my co-founder Ashley Koudou (@artsyk7) called WeCreate MN (@wecreate.mn). I decided to become a Full Stack Engineer! After connecting with people and organizations doing necessary work to bring in overlooked voices into tech (like Hack the Gap), I felt confident and started diving in.
Wasima Farah
Bridge Fellow, Illustrator/Designer
Wasima Farah is a Somali digital artist based in Minnesota. Her works varies from vibrant illustrations centering women of color, graphic designs and videography. She is inspired by women empowerment and uses primary colors to express a bold and confident message. Her goal is to create art that others can relate to, feel the message and be motivated from.
Taia Strachan
Program Manager
I graduated from the U of M with a B.S. in Individualized studies with concentrations in Applied Business, Technical Writing and Communications and Leadership. I am passionate about entrepreneurship and mission driven business. I have worked with a number of different startups and nonprofits in various industries from edtech to SaaS to social media. I'm also really interested in politics.
Yahsmene Butler
Inclusion & Engagement
Yahsmene Butler is a graduate from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She is passionate about increasing diversity and inclusion by analyzing data, having group conversations and honest self-reflection. By engaging in meaningful conversations and activating our imaginations, Yahsmene believes that creative solutions are right around the corner.
Linnea Cheek
Hack the Gap Intern
Linnea Cheek is a Student at St Olaf College, Class of 2021. Linnea is majoring in Political Science and International Relations. She is passionate about racial and gender equity and her work with Hack the Gap inspires her to continue enact positive change wherever she goes. Her mission is to work with public policy, ensuring that there is an advocate and ally for women, non-binary, and BIPOC peoples.
