Top 10 Women in Tech Groups and Resources in Colorado Springs, CO in 2026

Table of Contents

• Starting Your Tech Career Climb
• Exponential Impact Women in Tech Series
• AnitaB.org and Grace Hopper Celebration
• CTA Women in Tech Council
• Girls Who Code Summer Pathways Program
• SheConnect Virtual Career Cafe
• ERGs at Major Defense Employers
• Society of Women Engineers Chapters
• Boss Babe Academy Leadership Program
• Coffee, Chicks, and Cash Meetups
• Student Organizations at UCCS and Colorado College
• Securing the Rope for Others
• Frequently Asked Questions

Exponential Impact Women in Tech Series

Launched in early 2026 to fill a vital community gap, the Exponential Impact (XI) Women in Tech Series has quickly become the premier local forum for connection and growth in Southern Colorado. Hosted by the downtown innovation non-profit, events feature panels with founders and leaders from the Springs' defense, aerospace, and startup sectors, followed by intentional networking designed for technologists, students, and entrepreneurs.

"An evening of honest conversation and meaningful connections with women who are actively shaping the future of tech in Southern Colorado," said Dr. Rachel Wood, founder of the AI Mental Health Collective, describing a recent event in local FOX21 News coverage.

The series creates a much-needed central hub, especially as some national chapters have shifted. It acts as a clear chalk mark for navigating the local tech landscape, offering direct access to the people building companies within the unique Colorado Springs ecosystem of space, cyber, and defense.

Value comes from this hyper-local focus and the quality of connections. You can get involved by following Exponential Impact's upcoming events page and social channels for announcements. For women in tech here, it’s more than a panel - it’s a route to your next mentor, collaborator, or inspiration.

AnitaB.org and Grace Hopper Celebration

For access to a global community and the industry's most significant event, AnitaB.org is indispensable. Membership provides access to virtual Mentoring Circles, a robust job board, and year-round programming, extending your network far beyond the Front Range.

The pinnacle is the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC), the world's largest gathering for women in tech, with the 2026 event set for October 27-30 in Anaheim. For women in Colorado Springs, this is a critical recruitment and networking channel, with major aerospace and defense employers like Raytheon and Northrop Grumman actively recruiting there.

For those aiming for the senior roles prevalent in our market, the NEXT executive leadership program is a key resource. The value is unparalleled scale: connecting local talent with national opportunities while bringing global insights back to Colorado Springs' unique tech ecosystem.

CTA Women in Tech Council

This leadership council is the strategic engine for advancing women across Colorado, with strong representation from Colorado Springs driving advocacy, corporate partnerships, and talent development. It represents a different type of anchor - one that helps set the route for systemic change across the state's tech industry.

Their flagship event, the 15th Annual Women in Tech Conference, is scheduled for September 10, 2025, setting the agenda for the year ahead. Involvement is accessed through CTA membership, which connects you to a powerful network of state tech leaders and decision-makers.

The value is twofold: influencing policy and corporate culture at a macro level while gaining visibility for leadership roles within Colorado’s major corporations and growing startups. For women in the Springs, it’s a direct line to shaping the environment at companies like Lockheed Martin and the broader Front Range tech ecosystem.

Girls Who Code Summer Pathways Program

Building the pipeline starts early. The Girls Who Code Summer Pathways program offers a free, virtual seven-week experience for high school students, focusing on AI, cybersecurity, and game design - fields directly relevant to Colorado Springs' core defense and cyber industries.

For families in the Springs, this is a direct route to inspire the next generation with hands-on, relevant tech skills, creating a homegrown talent pool. Summer 2026 applications are now open, as confirmed on the organization's official social channels.

Local university chapters at UCCS and Colorado College provide additional mentorship, creating a continuous support system from high school through college. This program is a foundational chalk mark, ensuring young women in our community see themselves as future coders, cyber analysts, and engineers for the missions at Peterson SFB and beyond.

SheConnect Virtual Career Cafe

Catering to the modern hybrid workforce, the monthly SheConnect Virtual Career Cafe is a pragmatic and accessible resource for women in Colorado Springs tech. These virtual events, running on platforms like Zoom, feature structured networking rooms, skill-sharing discussions, and industry-specific chats, with a session in March 2026 scheduled for 4-6 PM MDT.

The value is in low-pressure, consistent networking that fits into a busy schedule. It's ideal for women balancing careers at Peterson SFB or local tech firms with family or Colorado's iconic outdoor pursuits. This format directly combats the isolation that can accompany remote or hybrid roles in the tech sector.

As a recurring virtual event found on local event boards, it serves as a reliable digital chalk mark. It provides a structured yet flexible way to build professional connections without the commute, making it a perfect fit for the Front Range's distributed work culture and lifestyle.

ERGs at Major Defense Employers

The most substantial concentration of women in tech jobs in Colorado Springs is found at major defense and aerospace employers like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon. These companies host active internal Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) for women, which are crucial for mentorship, advocacy, and professional development within these large organizations.

Participation is a key benefit of employment, offering a corporate-supported community. As noted by Rachael Ostertag following the 2026 Colorado Tech Summit, companies in the region are making "remarkable strides" with female-led initiatives. These ERGs function as massive, secure anchors within the professional landscape.

For women in the Springs, landing a role at one of these firms provides not just a competitive salary but also a built-in network. This is especially valuable given the companies' deep ties to missions at Peterson and Schriever Space Force Bases, creating a direct pathway to impactful work in our community's core industries.

Society of Women Engineers Chapters

With Colorado Springs' deep engineering roots in aerospace and cybersecurity, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) provides a specialized and critical network. The professional chapter offers local networking, professional development workshops, and outreach events, while student chapters at UCCS and Colorado College provide peer support and act as a bridge to local industry.

A key benefit is access to significant national scholarships distributed by SWE, helping to reduce barriers to education. Getting involved through the national organization connects you to this focused community of technical professionals, offering deep, technical camaraderie essential for complex engineering roles.

The value is a direct line to engineering careers at the Air Force Academy’s research partners and space-focused contractors. In an aerospace-dense market like Colorado Springs, SWE represents a trusted route for the technical ascent, connecting members with the specific employers driving innovation in our region.

Boss Babe Academy Leadership Program

Addressing the pipeline before college, the week-long Boss Babe Academy Leadership Program provides hyper-local investment in the confidence and vision of middle and high school girls in Colorado Springs. The program focuses on personal development, entrepreneurship, and career exploration in tech and beyond.

This initiative is a foundational chalk mark, providing early exposure to tech career possibilities and fostering a leadership mindset. It ensures girls in our community see themselves as future founders, engineers, and leaders in the region's key defense, aerospace, and cyber industries.

Parents and educators can enroll students directly through the program's official event page. The value lies in creating a local talent pipeline that understands Colorado Springs' unique employer landscape, from startups to space operations, building a "can-do" attitude that aligns with the region's innovative spirit.

Coffee, Chicks, and Cash Meetups

Sometimes the most valuable connections happen in low-pressure settings. Informal grassroots groups like Coffee, Chicks, & Cash create space for women to discuss career growth, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship in a casual, authentic environment. These gatherings are often discovered via local event boards and community calendars.

These meetups address the real, everyday challenges of building a career and wealth in Colorado Springs, offering practical advice and peer-level support. They function as accessible chalk marks for those seeking community outside of formal corporate or organizational structures, complementing the more structured networks found at major employers or professional associations.

The value is in their authenticity and focus on shared experience. In a city with a strong defense sector and growing startup scene, these informal circles provide a necessary counterbalance - a place to exchange notes on navigating local salary negotiations, investment opportunities, or the work-life balance unique to the Front Range's outdoor lifestyle.

Student Organizations at UCCS and Colorado College

For students and career-changers, on-campus organizations are the first critical chalk marks on the climbing route. The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) and Colorado College host student-run chapters of national groups like Girls Who Code College Loops and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).

These groups provide essential peer mentorship, project collaboration, and direct links to internship opportunities at local companies. Involvement is as simple as attending a campus meeting, offering an immediate support system during academic training in fields like computer science and engineering.

The value is a proven pathway to transition into the local job market. These university-specific orgs leverage their institutions' strong ties to Front Range employers, particularly in defense and cybersecurity, acting as a reliable feeder system into Colorado Springs' unique and mission-driven tech ecosystem.

Securing the Rope for Others

The landscape is no longer a blank face. The chalk marks are there - from the massive, secure anchors of defense contractor ERGs to the agile, new holds of Exponential Impact’s series. Your career climb in Colorado Springs doesn’t require free-soling; it requires engaging with these communities to find your route through the unique blend of space, cyber, and mountain lifestyle.

Remember, the final move is always to secure the rope for the climber coming up behind you. This means mentoring in a SheConnect Cafe, volunteering with Girls Who Code, or simply sharing your route at an informal meetup. For those beginning their ascent, accessible upskilling paths exist, such as the 15-week AI Essentials for Work bootcamp or other affordable, flexible programs designed for career-changers, which align with the region's demand for AI and cybersecurity talent.

The collective strength of these groups - from student orgs to executive councils - fortifies the entire ecosystem. By engaging, you do more than advance your own career; you help ensure the Colorado Springs tech landscape remains marked with guidance, making the ascent possible for every woman who follows.

Frequently Asked Questions