LittleBits droid inventor kits are handed out at the 2017 Droidathon in San Francisco. Photo: Kelly Sullivan/Getty Images for LittleBits
Education tech startup LittleBits is working with Disney and UC Davis to expand its efforts to teach more girls to code.
What's new: A new project, Snap the Gap, will offer LittleBits tech products along with training and mentorship for 15,000 California girls as part of a pilot program.
Why it matters: There's still a big gender gap in the tech industry, with far fewer girls than boys learning the basics of software and engineering.
"Over the past decade, billions of dollars have been spent but the rate of women in STEM careers still hasn't changed. Not only do we need to start earlier, but we have to give girls more support throughout their journey."— LittleBits CEO Ayah Bdeir in a statement
Our thought bubble: Engaging more girls early on is one piece of improving the gender gap. But the tech industry still has a lot of work to do to make itself a more welcoming field for women.