‘Stemettes’ launch OtotheB app to inspire girls into STEM careers

Stemettes, winner of the EU Digital Organisation of the Year award, officially launches its flagship app, OtotheB, at an event in London on Saturday 13 February 2016.

The app’s launch coincides with Stemettes’ third birthday, and celebrations surrounding the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

OtotheB will create a global online platform for girls interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), and entrepreneurship. Its specific focus on inspiring girls into STEM careers makes it the first app of its kind.

Stemettes Co-Founder, Anne Marie Imafidon, said of the app’s launch:

“OtotheB is an exciting new venture for Stemettes. It has been developed with everything we have learned from the 8000 girls we’ve worked with over the last 3 years in mind. It offers us the opportunity to take the Stemettes offering to the whole of the UK and beyond, something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time. I’m excited to bring the girls who use OtotheB on their own personal Stemette journeys as they build their own STEM careers.”

Campaigner and academic Dr Sue Black OBE this week described OtotheB as a “…fantastic new resource for young women interested in technology”.

“The app is an interesting and engaging platform which will engage, motivate and nurture young women, helping them to see that STEM is an exciting area with incredible opportunities for them and for everyone,” said Dr Black.

OtotheB, open to girls aged 11+, gives users access to functionality such as:

– “Motivation Mondays”: Access to exclusive interviews with inspiring women in STEM, and the chance to win an opportunity to shadow them in the workplace;
– “Win Wednesdays”: Access to competitions to win exclusive merchandise, STEM gadgets and networking opportunities;
– “Thought Time Thursdays”: Google Hangouts with industry role models, which will allow girls to ask agony aunt-style questions and watch the conversations live via the app;
– “Featured Fridays”: Allows users to find out about recommended STEM-related products, books and services; and
– A detailed listing of upcoming events related to careers in STEM and entrepreneurship

Stemettes, established in 2013, inspires girls into careers in STEM through hackathons, panel events, Outbox Incubator, and the Student to Stemette mentoring programme supported by Deutsche Bank.

Melissa Di Donato, Salesforce Area Vice President and Women in IT’s 2016 Business Role Model of the Year, warmly welcomed OtotheB’s launch.

“OtotheB is a pioneering initiative from Stemettes,” said Di Donato. “It’s the first app of its kind to specifically target the next generation of women in STEM, making its launch an important milestone in inspiring future female STEM leaders.”

Stemettes has developed a reputation for conceiving and implementing trailblazing programmes to inspire girls into STEM, which are always rooted in the three components of the company’s mantra “free, fun, food”.

One such example is 2015’s widely-praised business incubator, Outbox Incubator. The programme was so named because it sought to prepare young female STEM entrepreneurs for life outside of the conventional career box. OtotheB has been developed following the success of Outbox, hence the app’s title being derived from the same name.

OtotheB is available for free download from the Google Play and iTunes stores.