Top 10 Women in Tech Groups and Resources in Wichita, KS in 2026

Table of Contents

• Weaving Your Tech Career in Wichita
• Nebraska Women in Tech Summit
• Groover Labs and ACCEL-KS Program
• Corporate Employee Resource Groups
• Wichita State University Innovation Campus
• Girls Who Code and Girls Rock Science
• Scholarship and Financial Support Networks
• devICT
• Society of Women Engineers Wichita
• AnitaB.org and Grace Hopper Celebration
• Wichita Women in Tech
• Stitching Your Career Path
• Frequently Asked Questions

Nebraska Women in Tech Summit

Looking Beyond the Local Network

Sometimes the most valuable connection is the one that expands your horizon. While not based in Wichita, the Nebraska Women in Tech Summit is a critical regional square in our professional quilt, offering Wichita-based tech leaders a platform to share and gain "practical insights" on innovation and leadership from a broader Midwestern network. This outward-facing event reinforces that innovation isn't confined to the coasts; it thrives right here on the Plains.

The 2026 event underscored this, highlighting success stories like that of Molly Huyck, who was recognized as the 2026 Diversity Champion of the Year for her work helping women founders access capital. Getting involved means attending the annual summit or connecting with Kansas-based attendees afterward to form a local pod. The value is in expanding your professional network across state lines and gaining visibility for Wichita’s talent, a strategy supported by regional economic initiatives like those highlighted by the Greater Wichita Partnership.

This cross-pollination is essential. By engaging with this summit, you bring home fresh perspectives that can elevate Wichita's entire tech community, turning a regional event into a local catalyst for growth and ambition.

Groover Labs and ACCEL-KS Program

Where Innovation Takes Physical Shape

For women founders and innovators, the collaborative spirit of Wichita’s tech scene becomes tangible at Groover Labs. More than a coworking space or makerspace, it's the central physical hub where the city's tech quilt is actively being sewn together. This community nexus hosts the critical ACCEL-KS grant program (2025-2026), which provides funding, mentorship, and commercialization support specifically to local startups.

Getting involved can start with attending a recurring "Maker Monday" or one of their many community tech talks to immerse yourself in the ecosystem. For entrepreneurs, the direct path is applying for an ACCEL-KS grant or joining their incubator program. The value is multifaceted: access to tools like 3D printers and CNC machines, connection to a diverse community of builders, and structured support to turn an idea into a viable business. You can explore their unique approach to fostering innovation through programs detailed on their ACCEL-KS program page.

"[It's about] connectiveness... and the feeling of family within her program." - Chris McIntosh, community leader, on building supportive ecosystems.

This environment is especially valuable for women breaking into Wichita's growing startup scene, providing the resources and peer network often crucial for early-stage success.

Corporate Employee Resource Groups

Internal Networks Within Industry Giants

Within Wichita's major aerospace and manufacturing employers, dedicated internal communities provide critical, context-specific support. A prime example is SWEPT (Spirit Women in Engineering Professions and Technology) at Spirit AeroSystems, a corporate Employee Resource Group focused on attracting, retaining, and developing women in technical roles. Participation is a cornerstone of the company's broader commitment, detailed in its DE&I initiatives for a strong future.

The value for members is direct and practical: targeted mentorship, professional development workshops, and a built-in peer network that understands the unique challenges of a large, technical manufacturing environment. For a woman engineer or data scientist at Spirit, SWEPT offers a vital community that provides both career guidance and a sense of belonging.

This investment in internal support structures is a key reason why several of Wichita's anchor companies are consistently rated among the Best Places to Work in Wichita, KS as Rated by Women. These ERGs exemplify how the city's corporate pillars are actively building more inclusive pathways for technical talent.

Wichita State University Innovation Campus

An Education-Industry Pipeline in Action

Wichita State University's Innovation Campus represents a fundamental shift in how education connects to the real world. It's not merely a collection of buildings, but an integrated strategy where student learning, faculty research, and industry needs converge on one physical site. For women entering or advancing in tech, this model offers unparalleled direct pathways into Wichita's workforce, leveraging the city's unique collaborative DNA.

Academically, programs like the Master of Innovation Design (MID) are particularly relevant, explicitly merging technology, science, and arts - a perfect intersection for interdisciplinary thinkers. You can explore the structure of these forward-thinking courses on the university's Innovation and Design program page. Getting involved means applying to a relevant degree program or attending the numerous public lectures and networking events hosted on campus.

The tangible value lies in direct access. Students gain hands-on experience through co-op and internship opportunities with on-campus industry partners like NetApp or Deloitte, and contribute to interdisciplinary research projects from day one. This transforms the traditional university experience into a dynamic pipeline, effectively stitching academic preparation directly into the fabric of Wichita's tech and aviation industries.

Girls Who Code and Girls Rock Science

Building the Foundation for Future Talent

Building a diverse tech ecosystem starts long before college or a first job. In Wichita, initiatives like Girls Who Code clubs and the Girls Rock Science camp at WSU Tech create the earliest and most crucial squares in the talent quilt. These programs work to demystify technology and build confidence in young girls before stereotypes can take hold, ensuring the city's future talent pool is robust and inclusive.

Getting involved as a professional is a powerful way to give back. You can volunteer as a club facilitator, mentor, or guest speaker - simply sharing your career story can spark a lifelong interest. For parents and educators, it means enrolling young people in these accessible programs. The Girls Rock Science camp, for instance, offers a two-day STEAM immersion for girls in grades 3-8 each July, with sessions confirmed for 2026. Learn more and register via the Girls Rock Science Camp page.

The value is foundational. By sparking early interest, these programs directly feed the pipeline into Wichita's technical education system, including the five new programs launched at WSU Tech for Fall 2025. This early investment, combined with Wichita’s lower cost of living, makes pursuing a tech career here a more accessible and supported journey from childhood onward.

Scholarship and Financial Support Networks

Making Tech Education Accessible

Financial barriers are a real challenge in pursuing tech education, but Wichita’s institutions provide tangible solutions through a robust portfolio of targeted scholarships. These financial threads are crucial for making advanced education accessible, especially in a city with a significantly lower cost of living that already amplifies the return on investment for students.

The following table outlines key opportunities for women at different stages of their educational journey, from high school seniors to college undergraduates:

Getting involved requires diligent research and timely application. The clear value of this support is that it reduces financial stress, allowing students to focus on their studies and participate more fully in campus life - from joining clubs like SWE to pursuing impactful, if sometimes unpaid, internships with local industry partners.

devICT

The Foundational Community Fabric

Every strong quilt needs a broad, sturdy backing cloth. In Wichita's tech ecosystem, that role is filled by devICT, one of the original and most enduring squares in the local quilt. This grassroots community for developers of all levels and backgrounds isn't exclusively for women, but its intentionally open and welcoming nature makes it a fundamental, no-barrier entry point to the entire scene.

The group maintains momentum through regular, low-pressure events like its popular "Code & Coffee" meetups. These gatherings create a consistent and unintimidating space for women to connect with the broader Wichita tech community, find pair programming partners, or learn new skills purely for the joy of it. Getting involved is as simple as joining their Meetup group and attending your first event.

The value lies in this accessibility and its focus on genuine skill-sharing and camaraderie. For a woman new to Wichita, transitioning into a tech role, or working at a company without a large tech peer group, devICT provides the initial, casual connections that often blossom into mentorships, collaborations, and job opportunities. It's the broad-base community fabric upon which more specialized groups can build, forming an essential layer of support.

Society of Women Engineers Wichita

A Professional Identity for Women Engineers

For women pursuing technical careers within Wichita's dominant aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Wichita section provides a powerful, discipline-specific professional identity. This organization connects women across different companies and specializations, creating a unified network for advancement and advocacy within the city's industrial heart.

The section's impact was prominently showcased when it hosted the major WE Local Wichita Conference in March 2024 at the Hyatt Regency, drawing hundreds of professionals for networking and development. You can learn more about SWE's ongoing regional events on their official conference calendar. Getting involved means becoming a national SWE member and actively participating in local section meetings, socials, and outreach events. For students, Wichita State University maintains an active collegiate SWE chapter.

"Women in tech 2026 are not just participating in innovation. They are defining its direction, ethics, and global impact." - Industry analysis on the evolving role of women in technology.

The value is in deep, trusted networking and collective advocacy. SWE offers a dedicated platform for professional development, leadership training, and championing equitable workplace practices, making it an essential resource for women aiming for senior engineering and technical leadership roles at employers like Spirit AeroSystems, Textron Aviation, and beyond.

AnitaB.org and Grace Hopper Celebration

Connecting Wichita Talent to the Global Stage

While anchored in local support, a thriving career also requires a view of the broader horizon. AnitaB.org serves as this vital bridge, connecting Wichita's women in tech to a global community of peers and cutting-edge trends. Although a worldwide entity, its resources are intentionally made accessible, including facilitated Local Community planning for 2025 to foster regional connections right from the Plains.

The organization's flagship event, the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) 2026 in Anaheim, remains the world's largest gathering of women in tech. Getting involved locally can start by connecting to virtual AnitaB.org events, like their Community Connect planning sessions. For GHC, the goal is securing a ticket - often through employer sponsorship or scholarships - and strategically planning your agenda.

The value of engaging at this level is monumental. Attending GHC provides exposure to frontier technology trends, a career expo with global companies, and the unparalleled energy of being among tens of thousands of peers. For a professional in Wichita, this experience can be career-altering, fueling ambition and equipping you to bring back knowledge and connections that elevate the entire local community. Discover more about the upcoming Grace Hopper Celebration 2026.

Wichita Women in Tech

The Central Hub of Peer Support

If the quilt of Wichita's women-in-tech ecosystem has a central, anchoring square, it is Wichita Women in Tech (ICTWIT). This nonprofit directly addresses a core local challenge: building a tech career in a city where you might be the only woman on your team. Designed specifically for those who may lack internal corporate support groups, ICTWIT creates the essential "safe space for peer mentorship, practical skill-building, and authentic networking" that corporate programs might not provide.

Getting involved is intentionally straightforward: follow their active social channels, attend monthly events like their September 2025 workshop "Designing Features," and participate in the dialogue. You can connect with the community and see their events via their LinkedIn profile and Instagram updates.

Panelists at ICTWIT events note the community is pivotal in "shaping the future of tech" by tackling identity, ethics, and leadership alongside technical skills. Members consistently highlight the group’s unique culture of "honesty" and "vulnerability." This holistic approach makes ICTWIT the central square where the threads of Wichita’s broader ecosystem - from corporate professionals to startup founders and students - converge, intentionally fostering the connectiveness needed for women to not just survive, but truly thrive in the local tech landscape.

Stitching Your Career Path

From Individual Threads to Collective Strength

The path forward in Wichita’s tech scene isn't about finding one perfect resource. True resilience comes from seeing the emerging pattern in the quilt and understanding how the pieces support one another. The grassroots openness of devICT, the specialized peer support of ICTWIT and SWE, the financial accessibility of WSU scholarships, and the innovative drive at Groover Labs are not isolated options - they are interconnected strengths of a single ecosystem.

Your career becomes more durable and dynamic when intentionally woven into this existing fabric. Start by engaging with just one square that resonates with you, then let the natural connections guide you to the next. Attend a devICT meetup, apply for a scholarship, or volunteer with Girls Who Code. Each step integrates you deeper into the network, opening doors you might not find alone. Recognize your growth through avenues like the Wichita Business Journal's Women in Business recognition, which celebrates local professional achievements.

In Wichita, with its collaborative ethos and growing opportunities, you’re not just joining a group or taking a class. You are actively participating in stitching together a stronger, more inclusive future for tech on the Plains, contributing to the very collaborative model that makes the city unique. Your journey adds another vital thread to the community tapestry.

Frequently Asked Questions