Mentoras

Inspiration

We were inspired to build Mentoras out of a deep-seated belief in the potential of women in tech and a recognition of the persistent gender gap within the industry. Having navigated the tech landscape ourselves, We understand firsthand the challenges that women face – from lack of representation in leadership roles to unconscious biases in hiring and promotion processes.

Witnessing the transformative power of mentorship in the hackathon, we became passionate about creating a platform that would make this invaluable resource accessible to all women in tech. Mentoras is more than just a website; it's a community where women can connect with experienced professionals who understand their journey and can offer tailored guidance and support.

By building Mentoras, we sought to level the playing field, providing a space where women can access the mentorship they need to advance their careers, break through barriers, and thrive in the tech industry. We believe that by empowering women through mentorship, we can drive meaningful change, not only within individual careers but also in reshaping the broader landscape of tech to be more inclusive and diverse.

What it does

Mentoras is a vibrant social platform catering to mentors and mentees alike. Upon signup, users select categories aligning with their interests, allowing Mentoras' advanced algorithms to pair them with the perfect match. Users enjoy inbox notifications for messages, connections, and event reminders. Whether it's engaging in coffee chats, organizing events, or participating in meetups, Mentoras offers a plethora of opportunities for personal and professional growth. Additionally, features like AI-generated motivational quotes and an AI chatbot and career coach named Barbie providing invaluable support along the way. With Mentoras, the journey to success in tech is both fulfilling and empowering.

How we built it

We built it using javascript and react framework. We also made our own css style sheet. One API we used includes cohere's api to generate the motivational quotes, and the Barbie chatbox. We also used MongoDB API to store our registration informations, such as our login informations and interests.

Challenges we ran into

There were many challenges we went through while working on this project. A lot of us were new to programming hence struggled with the languages, but it was an enjoyable learning experience overall. The most notable challenge we had was incorporating 1password passage into program for authentication. Unfortunately, we were unable to implement passage, however, it will remain a priority for future development.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

As a team, we are most proud of the healthy learning environment we created for each other, and our adaptability to challenges. Our group fostered a positive and collaborative working environment as we effectively communicated ideas, shared responsibilities, and supported each other throughout the development process. Furthermore, Throughout the project, we encountered changes in requirements or unexpected obstacles. Our team demonstrated adaptability by adjusting to these changes efficiently, ensuring that the project continued to progress smoothly.

What we learned

By developing a website dedicated to empowering underrepresented individuals, we were able to take away valuable lessons such as the importance of communication and diversity. Developing a platform centered around mentoring emphasized the significance of effective communication. We learned to communicate clearly and inclusively, ensuring that our website's features and content were accessible and understandable to a diverse user base. Moreover, the theme of mentoring highlighted the importance of diversity. We learned to navigate and respect various cultural nuances, ensuring that our website resonates with users from different backgrounds.

What's next for Mentoras

Within the restricted time period of 24 hours, we were far from implementing every feature we brainstormed, such as safety assurance, algorithms, mobile apps, interactive events pages, direct messaging, and more.

*We'd like to give credit to Adobe Firefly for generating an amazing mock-up logo that we used throughout our project.