IIT Madras startup empowers over 30,000 women with tech skills

These women were given training under a special campaign called ‘AI-for-Women’ launched to mark International Women’s Week 2023. 

The IIT Madras incubated start-up GUVI‘s (Grab Ur Vernacular Imprint) SriGeeks Initiatives offered more than 30,000 women opportunities to upskill their tech skills for free under a special campaign called ‘AI-for-Women’. The campaign was launched by Thiru Mahesh Kumar, Deputy Mayor of Chennai, on the occasion of International Women’s Week 2023. 

Primarily, ‘AI-for-Women’ aims to provide its registered users with free access to learning a course in artificial intelligence (AI) which equips them to participate in the grand ‘AI-for-Women’ virtual event. This virtual event includes a training session that equips participants to build an AI app with machine learning (ML) model. On successful completion of the event, certificates will be given to those with a demonstration of AI skills as well as to those who participated. 

Speaking about the need to mobilise women in AI, Mr Arun Prakash, founder and CEO of GUVI, said, “GUVI team always encourages the progressive thoughts of Sridevi Arunprakash, and one such thought is ‘Now is never too late to Upgrade’. Our team launched the SriGeek initiative to greatly mobilise women with tech skills.” 

Besides ‘AI-for-Women’, about eight virtual and in-real-life events were launched under the SriGeek initiative from February 2023 to March 2023, to provide free upskilling as well as career opportunities for women. The most prominent events among these include ‘AI-for-women’, tech-talks with successful women entrepreneurs, distribution of tech skill resources to economically challenged women, and #Sheisback program for women to return back to the workforce after a career break. 
#Sheisback program provides comprehensive tech training, placement support, and extensive career guidance. It also grants skill certifications for specialisations in trending tech career domains such as artificial intelligence. 

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