Breaking barriers: How I transitioned into Tech and why we need more women-led innovation

The tech industry has long been male-dominated, with women comprising only 15% of tech startup founders globally. In 2023, startups founded solely by women received just 2% of total venture capital funding. Despite these challenges, I transitioned from architecture and experience design into tech, leveraging my skills in human-centered design. My journey has shown me firsthand how women from non-traditional backgrounds can break into tech, why female-driven innovation matters, and what support systems are still lacking.

From Architecture to Tech: My Leap Into the Unknown

I spent over a decade as an architect and experience designer, shaping environments for companies like Google and Mori Building Company. I always focused on making people feel something—wonder, connection, inspiration. But sometimes, the most impactful designs aren't physical spaces at all.

My path to founding my company, Ama&Me, began when I saw a close friend struggle with the uncertainty of pregnancy. The endless search for answers, conflicting advice, and fear of not knowing where to turn was a familiar story. As someone who had spent my career designing experiences that guide and nurture people, I recognized a gap. Parents didn't need more information; they needed clarity, trust, and support in a natural and easy way.

Ama&Me is an extension of everything I have contributed to the design world. Instead of designing buildings, I'm designing a support system—one that strips away the noise and gives parents the answers they need, when they need them, in the simplest way possible. 

For women looking to break into tech, here's what worked for me:

• Don't over-invest in hard skills at the start. Instead of jumping into coding boot camps, I studied the ecosystem, spoke with experts, and refined my vision. Tech needs visionaries, not just engineers.
• Be unapologetically visible. Women often downplay their expertise. Share your journey publicly—write, speak, and put yourself forward even before you feel 'ready.'
• Tech doesn't have to be cold. Empathy-driven solutions can be more potent than purely automated ones.
• Community matters. Creating a space where people feel heard and supported turns a product into a movement.
• Leverage transferable skills. I applied my design thinking expertise to build a product focused on user experience and empathy.

Why We Need More Women-Led Tech

Technology has historically been built with male experiences as the default. Women founders are solving problems mainstream tech has overlooked for too long—whether in femtech, digital health, or financial tools.
I wanted to create something that prioritized women and parents—an intuitive, accessible platform built to provide immediate, empathetic answers. Many existing solutions lacked warmth and human connection, and I knew that needed to change.

Despite these innovations, women-led companies face significant barriers to funding and scaling. The lack of female investors means many women-founded startups struggle to access capital. We need more initiatives to fund, mentor, and amplify female entrepreneurs.

What I Wish Existed When I Started

Breaking into tech wasn't easy, and looking back, I see how different my journey could have been with the right support. Many women transitioning into tech face common challenges, including:

• A lack of role models. More women in leadership roles would have made my transition feel less daunting.
• Access to funding. The gender gap in venture capital meant I had to be strategic about securing resources.
• Mentorship for non-technical founders. Many programs focus on coding, but there's little guidance for women like me who want to build tech-enabled businesses without a coding background.

If you want to break into tech, seek out women-led incubators, mentorship programs, and investment networks. Organizations like All Raise, Women Who Tech, and Female Founders Fund are changing the landscape.

The Future of Women in Tech

I'm proof that you don't need a traditional tech background to make an impact. By leveraging my expertise, collaborating with the right people, and focusing on real-world problems, I built something that aspires to make a difference.

But the industry still has work to do. Greater representation, access to capital, and stronger mentorship networks are critical to ensure more women can bring their innovations to life.

The future of tech will be shaped by those who dare to challenge the status quo. As more women step forward, the industry will only become more inclusive, diverse, and responsive to the needs of all users.