Top 10 Women in Tech Groups and Resources in Minneapolis, MN in 2026

Table of Contents

• Start Here: Your Path in Twin Cities Tech
• Minnesota Women in Tech
• Women Leading in Technology
• University of Minnesota Women in Technology
• Technovation Girls Minnesota
• Girls Who Code Twin Cities
• The Future is Feminine
• Women in AI & Data Science Conference
• AnitaB.org Minneapolis Community
• WITI Minneapolis
• MnTech Outlook 2026 and The Broader Ecosystem
• Cultivate Your Impact: Next Steps
• Frequently Asked Questions

Minnesota Women in Tech

Think of Minnesota Women in Tech (MNWiT) as your community garden's central, well-tended gathering space. This hyper-local, member-driven group is built on the pillars of mentorship, education, and creating a powerful, practical "circle of support" that addresses real-world career challenges in the Twin Cities market.

The group excels at fostering genuine connections, recently collaborating with the UMN Women of Color in STEM for sessions focused on career-life balance and strategic entry into local giants like Target and UnitedHealth Group. MNWiT actively celebrates local talent through initiatives like the Pioneer Women in Tech Awards, with nominations open through August 31, 2026.

You can connect to this vibrant network and its practical, peer-driven guidance through their active Facebook community or on Instagram. The value here is in the unity and hyper-local focus, providing a trusted forum to navigate the unique contours of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul tech scene alongside peers who understand its specific opportunities and challenges.

Women Leading in Technology

Consider Women Leading in Technology (WLiT) the flagship leadership plot within the Minnesota tech garden. As a cornerstone program of the Minnesota Technology Association (MnTech), it is meticulously organized for professional visibility and growth at scale.

WLiT hosts major quarterly events that regularly draw over 200 attendees to discuss industry megatrends and share candid "stories of success and learnings from failures," as seen in its 2025 agenda. Involvement offers unparalleled access to MnTech's broader network, connecting you directly to the region's tech policy leaders and corporate partners. This access is a strategic advantage for anyone aiming to influence or lead within the local ecosystem.

The professional culture here actively supports engagement. As WLiT board member Denise Morelock notes, volunteerism within the group is "not only appreciated, but also encouraged AND bolstered" by employers, highlighting a deep synergy between community involvement and career advancement that is characteristic of the Twin Cities' collaborative tech scene.

University of Minnesota Women in Technology

This is the academic greenhouse, designed to nurture tech talent from the ground up with structured support and crucial early exposure. University of Minnesota Women in Technology (UMN WIT) provides students with a direct on-ramp through a formal mentorship program, local coffee hours, and monthly virtual meetings with the Big Ten Academic Alliance.

A key advantage is its direct connection to the university’s Data Science and AI Hub, offering early insight into the research and applications that fuel the region's growing AI ecosystem. Furthermore, it serves as a gateway to significant financial support, with over 29 students selected for CS&E Scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year, with preference given to those advancing women in STEM.

Additional opportunities like the Mary L. Edwards Scholarship, which specifically targets graduates of Minneapolis’s Roosevelt High School pursuing science or engineering, demonstrate the program's deep local roots. For students aiming to join the Twin Cities' tech workforce, UMN WIT provides both the community and the credentials; you can explore all resources at the UMN Women in Technology homepage.

Technovation Girls Minnesota

This is the dedicated starter plot where seeds of curiosity are planted for the next generation of technologists. Managed by the local nonprofit Code Savvy, Technovation Girls Minnesota is a 12-week global program that challenges middle and high school girls to build a mobile or web app solving a community problem, paired with mentors from the local tech community.

The 2026 season offers a full calendar of hands-on empowerment: it kicks off with a Launchapalooza event at Minneapolis College on January 10, followed by a project submission deadline of April 20 and culminates in a celebratory “Code Savvy Celebrate” awards ceremony on May 17 in St. Anthony, MN. This structured timeline provides a clear, achievable framework for young participants.

Corporate partners like Target and Best Buy frequently provide sponsorship and mentorship, directly linking these aspiring builders to the Twin Cities' robust corporate landscape. For families and potential mentors looking to get involved, all details are available on the Technovation Girls global platform.

Girls Who Code Twin Cities

While some national networks have scaled back, the Girls Who Code Twin Cities Clubs Program remains a resilient and vital pipeline for young women in Grades 3-12. Its sustained presence through the 2025-2026 season, offering both virtual and in-person tracks, demonstrates a strong local commitment to building a diverse future talent pool for Minnesota's tech employers.

The program focuses on high-demand skill areas like AI, Cybersecurity, and Web Development, providing a structured, consistent learning environment. For alumni, the newer Pathways Program offers continued engagement, ensuring support doesn't end after a single club session.

This adaptation and survival in the post-2024 landscape highlights the dedicated local infrastructure supporting girls in tech. For families and educators, current club opportunities and the broader mission can be explored on the national Girls Who Code programs page.

The Future is Feminine

This is the dedicated upskilling plot, offering intensive, completely free training designed to prepare participants for high-yield career harvests. Run by Smart North, The Future is Feminine provides cohort-based instruction in high-demand fields like Cybersecurity and UX/UI Design, with a new cohort launching in September 2025.

This resource is particularly powerful for career-changers or those from non-traditional backgrounds seeking a direct, accessible pathway into the tech workforce. It directly tackles the dual challenges of skill gaps and financial barriers that can block entry to the industry.

"I gained real-world skills and a newfound confidence and hope for my future career." - Amie Stier, Program Participant

Success stories like Amie Stier's underscore the program's transformative potential, not just in teaching technical skills but in building the professional confidence needed to thrive in the Twin Cities market.

Women in AI & Data Science Conference

In a market where AI and data science expertise are increasingly valuable currency, this conference is the annual specialty harvest festival. Hosted by the UMN Data Science and AI Hub, the one-day Women in AI & Data Science (WiADS) Conference on November 3, 2025, at the McNamara Alumni Center is a must-attend event for professionals in the field.

It serves as a direct pipeline connecting local women to cutting-edge academic research, practical industry applications, and leaders in machine learning and data science. For those aiming to work at the dynamic intersection of tech, healthcare, and retail that defines the Twin Cities economy, this conference provides focused insights and networking opportunities that are directly relevant to local major employers and innovative startups.

This event is a prime example of how the University of Minnesota anchors the region's specialized tech growth, creating a focused forum that cultivates both knowledge and community among women in these critical, high-growth disciplines.

AnitaB.org Minneapolis Community

This community is your connection to the national perennial garden, bringing the resources and energy of a global network directly to your local plot. While the monumental Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) marks its 25th anniversary in Chicago in November 2025, the local AnitaB.org Minneapolis chapter sustains that momentum year-round with monthly online community events.

These regular gatherings foster local connections among women who attend the global conference and those who aspire to, creating a vital support network within the expansive AnitaB.org framework. It’s an essential resource for professionals who want to think bigger than the regional market while remaining practically rooted in the Minnesota ecosystem.

Engaging here provides a dual perspective: the local camaraderie of peers navigating similar corporate landscapes at Target or Best Buy, and the global vision from industry leaders at GHC. This combination helps you cultivate a career that is both locally impactful and globally aware.

WITI Minneapolis

WITI Minneapolis represents an established, dense network offering a year-round calendar of professional development events that complement the more episodic gatherings of other local groups. In 2026, its lineup includes practical, skill-forward offerings like “AI Think Tanks,” “Coding in the Age of AI” workshops, and regular “Connect & Collaborate” networking hours.

This framework provides a trusted platform for local professionals to access a consistent blend of strategic discussion and hands-on skill-building. While its main page may not always list imminent events, the WITI Minneapolis network structure itself offers a reliable forum for ongoing learning and connection.

It serves as a steady resource for those seeking continuous growth, ensuring that between the major quarterly summits and university-led conferences, there is always an opportunity for professional cultivation and peer collaboration within the Twin Cities tech community.

MnTech Outlook 2026 and The Broader Ecosystem

Finally, consider the MnTech Outlook 2026 summit on December 11, 2025 the essential annual almanac and map of the entire tech garden. Attending this event is a strategic move for any serious professional, as it outlines the policy, economic, and talent trends that will shape Minnesota's tech landscape in the coming year, providing crucial context for career decisions.

The summit represents the interconnected ecosystem itself - a network supported by corporate champions with strong talent development programs, such as U.S. Bank. This macro-view helps you understand how your career fits into and can influence the larger local market.

Engaging with this broader perspective cultivates a career aligned with the human-centered tech ethos growing in Minneapolis. As emphasized by UMN assistant professor Stevie Chancellor in a local interview, the goal is to ensure "STEM and the creation of new technology should be for humans." This outlook helps you grow not just successfully, but meaningfully, within the supportive soil of the Twin Cities.

Cultivate Your Impact: Next Steps

Your path in tech is not a solitary endeavor but a process of intentional community cultivation. In the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro, you have the advantage of rich soil - a top-ranked city for working women, a dense network of Fortune 500 employers, and a university-anchored AI research hub. The ten groups highlighted here represent specialized plots in this vibrant garden, each designed for different stages of growth.

The next step is to choose your starting point. Are you seeding a new interest, sprouting early-career skills, or ready to harvest leadership opportunities? Visit one link, attend one virtual coffee hour, or introduce yourself at a local event hosted by the MnTech community. Action, however small, is how you plant yourself in this ecosystem.

Remember, the most thriving gardens are diverse and interconnected. As you grow, your needs will change, and you may find yourself moving between these plots, drawing different resources from each. Start where you are, use what you have, and grow with the community around you. The supportive, human-centered ethos of the Twin Cities tech scene is ready to help you cultivate a career that is both personally successful and broadly impactful.

Frequently Asked Questions