Diversity within a community creates resilience. Diversity within a community creates connection. When we bring individuals together - no matter their gender - we create a more inclusive environment. The open web reaches each and every corner of the planet, giving access to all. It has no prejudice, and neither should the people who pioneer within its space.

Many of us are unfortunately no strangers to gender inequity, which can manifest as socioeconomic disadvantages both in and out of the workplace. It has been a conversation that has run over the lips of millions throughout the decades. It has been the force behind countless protests. But where does this gap lie? What is the solution? Yes, we have come a long way as a society, but there is still work to be done. Casting a light on the Web3 ecosystem, the work to include and diversify has already begun, and in our Grants Rounds we have witnessed the magic at play within a world that doesn’t necessarily play the inclusion role at the highest level.

Within web3, the stark reality is that there still lies a gap between men and women and the roles that they play. In 1995, a mere 37% of computer scientists were women. Today, that number has fallen to 24%.

But hope is a powerful force as well. There are projects in web3 that are planting their feet and making their voices heard - and they are being met and revered. In this article, we’re going to explore some of the projects that are leading the charge within the space. These women-led projects are being recognized for their contributions and role in the conversation shifting towards a more inclusive dialogue

Women are magic

When we think of what it means to be a woman in a male-dominated industry, it can be intimidating, it can be scary, and it can be demotivating. How do you get your voice heard? How do you take what you have at your intellectual disposal and prove to the world that you are worthy? Why do you need to do that in the first place?

“Women are magic, and our superpower is intuition. Women empower the web3 space by making room for those who are underrepresented and underserved. We look at every industry from an intersectional lens and point out the problems and advocate for inclusion.” – Blu3 DAO.

Blu3 DAO was born out of the inspiration from one of their members’ late mother, who struggled financially and was worried about money until the day she passed. They created Blu3 DAO as a way to empower women to achieve financial freedom via a new wave of technology in web3.

Another organization, Women in Web3, hold a vision of co-creating an equitable internet with women and non-binary creators, builders, and leaders at the forefront. Their mission is to empower and level the field for women and non-binary people to be an integral part of the decentralized web by going deep into faciliated rabbit-hole experiences.

“Web3 doesn’t empower women. The people and culture in web3 do. We need to make sure people are aware of the barriers that still exist in the tech space (web2/web3), and ensure there is a psychological safety and sustainable means for women to step into the space.” – Women in Web3.

Values Index emerged with the goal to enable people to make values-aligned investing decisions in web3 by making data on environmental and social impact accessible to all. This ideology was born out of the belief that data is a public good. “While the new financial system may be open to all, it’s lacking diversity in adoption. One driver is the low engagement from women.” Their team is onboarding 100,000+ women and underrepresented groups to the future of finance. What has come from surveying their communities is that there is a general belief that crypto does not align with women’s values, thus causing a barrier to participation.

The time for change has not only arrived, but it is an imperative. We live in a world rife with uncertainty, inequality, and a lack of participation and adoption within web3. The tides are already moving in the right direction. It’s up to all of us to continue moving the needle - to inspire – to empower each other.

But what is Gitcoin's role, anon?

In GR14, our top performers within the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Round were projects focused on empowering women in web3. We are proud to create a platform for these projects to receive attention and funding.

We allow space for diversity to flourish as we shape the platform for projects to onboard, receive funding and exposure, giving them the resources to grow and create meaningful impact. Gitcoin Grants has existed to not only be the voice, but the cheer squad behind projects that are inspired and set out to do good in this world. In an ecosystem that lacks diversity, we are proud to create the resources needed to shift the lack into abundance.

Would you like to get involved? GR15 is not over yet! Have a look at our current DEI grants here, or check out this collection of projects that are closing the gender gap, and you could make a huge difference with just a few dollars.

- Team Gitcoin

Thank you to MathildaDV for creating this piece.