Welcome to Hackergal Innovation Lab!
Hackergal Innovation Lab is a nine-week experience taking place from January to March where girls* and gender-diverse learners can turn ideas into action using creativity and collaboration to design technology solutions to real-world challenges.
This program builds on the energy and creativity of Hackergal’s national Hackathon, transforming that experience into a nine-week learning opportunity where learners can explore ideas, work together, and bring their solutions to life.
Our mission? Create opportunities to boost confidence, develop digital skills, showcase learners' innovative work at our Demo Day and help the next generation of youth become builders and leaders in STEAM.
How Hackergal Innovation Lab Works
From getting started to hosting your first Demo Day, we’ll provide the tools to support educators and guide learners through every step of their Innovation Lab journey.
Invite
Invite girls* and gender-diverse learners at your school to join your Innovation Lab. Bring together a group, introduce them to the experience and help them get ready to innovate together.
Create
Help learners turn their ideas into projects they’re excited to explore over nine weeks starting in January. With ready-to-use activities and a Lab Starter Kit (limited numbers available), you’ll have what you need to support their journey from idea to prototype.
Share
Host your own Demo Day in March and give learners a chance to showcase their innovations with your school, district or wider community.
This is your chance to celebrate and showcase what you've built together!
Your Innovation Lab Journey
Ready to get started? Start by finding learners excited to join your Innovation Lab. Once your group is ready, they’ll spend nine weeks from January to March bringing a project to life. Here’s what the journey could look like:
Weeks 1-4:
Learners explore AI tools, learn design thinking processes, and identify a real-world challenge they’re passionate about solving.
Weeks 5-7:
Learners take on roles, build their skills and refine their prototype, with support and resources from the Hackergal Hub.
Week 8:
Learners finalize their presentation, practice their pitch, and get ready to explain the problem they’re solving to their community.
Demo Day 🎉
Bring your Innovation Lab journey together! Demo Day is a celebration of what learners have built, learned and accomplished over nine weeks leading up to March. It’s a chance to come together in-person or virtually and share your learners’ prototypes with educators, families, community members and industry professionals.
Hackergal has you covered! From planning to hosting, we provide everything learners and facilitators need to create a Demo Day that brings their innovations to life.
Why Start a Hackergal Innovation Lab?
Turning Ideas into Action
Whether you’re new to digital skills or have been coding for years, there’s a place for you in Hackergal Innovation Lab. As a facilitator, you’ll guide learners as they tackle a real-world problem, develop a project and share what they’ve built at a Demo Day. Along the way, you’ll help your learners build skills and confidence.
By taking part, learners can:
- Celebrate their creativity and unique ideas.
- Develop digital skills in a real-world context.
- Connect with the national Hackergal community.
- Become future leaders in STEAM.
What is Demo Day?
Where Ideas Take the Stage
Demo Day is the culminating event of the Innovation Lab, where Labs pitch their prototypes and celebrate their journey. It can bring together multiple Labs across a school district, give learners a chance to present to their whole school, or connect them with the wider community and industry.
Across Canada, Labs will host their own Demo Days in different communities throughout the month of March. Together, they’re part of one national celebration, united by the same annual theme and shared experience!
Register Today!
Sign up using the button below to access the Innovation Lab toolkit, dates, and everything you need to get started.
Invite Learners:
Bring Innovation Lab to your school or community and find learners who are excited to take part.
Get Ready:
Plan your nine-week Lab from January to March and save a date for Demo Day, where learners will share their projects and celebrate what they’ve created.
FAQ for Learners
Learners are girls* and gender-diverse participants in our programming, whether that’s in a Hackergal Innovation Lab, a Demo Day, workshops, or Ambassador Program.
Am I eligible to participate in Innovation Lab?
To be eligible, participants must:
1. Identify as a girl* or gender-diverse learner.
2. Live in Canada.
3. Be part of a Hackergal Innovation Lab at their school or local community centre/organization.
4. Follow the nine-week cycle to create a collaborative project using Hackergal Hub.
5. Be in grades 6 – 9, or between the ages of 11-15.
Why is the Innovation Lab for girls* and gender-diverse learners only?
When girls* and gender-diverse learners can envision themselves in technology, they are encouraged to become problem-solvers and innovators within STEAM.
We understand that systemic barriers and gender stereotypes that girls* and gender-diverse learners' experience may impact their experiences, which is why creating a supportive learning environment to build their confidence and resilience is important.
I would like to join the Innovation Lab! How and when do I register?
Registration for Innovation Lab will open September 28, 2026. Stay tuned!
Can I participate in the Innovation Lab without being part of a Hackergal Club?
Absolutely!
The Hackergal Innovation Lab is open to all learning environments for learners who meet eligibility requirements.
If you are a self-directed learner and not a member of a Hackergal Club, feel free to join the Hackergal Hub and complete one of our coding courses.
How do I prepare for Demo day?
Demo Days are the last week of your nine-week Innovation Lab cycle and allow your lab to pick a date and time to showcase your projects in your community. There is no set schedule, so set a date that works for you and your team!
What is the annual theme for this year’s Innovation Lab?
This year's theme is 'Reimagine a Greener Tomorrow'.
The annual theme gives every Innovation Lab a shared challenge and point of inspiration. It invites learners to explore how technology can be used to address environmental challenges and imagine a more sustainable future.
The theme is broad enough for each Lab to make it their own and explore what feel relevant to their communities.
FAQ for Facilitators
Facilitators are the amazing people who host our program in schools and organizations across Canada. This includes teachers, librarians, community leaders and parents, to name a few!
I'm interested in facilitating. What should I do?
Registration opens September 28, 2026! If you are a facilitator interested in launching an Innovation Lab at your organization, you are encouraged to register on behalf of your group of learners by completing the registration form here.
This form will include a field to indicate the estimated number of your learners. After submitting your form, a Hackergal team member will reach out to you with further information and the necessary join links.
How do I get started as a Facilitator?
Choose a 'Champion Facilitator' (maybe yourself!) to lead the Innovation Lab.
The Champion Facilitator will submit the Hackergal Innovation Lab 'Sign-up Form' when it becomes available. A Hackergal team member will contact you to begin onboarding and share exciting incentives.
How do I lead the Demo Day at my school or in my community?
Demo Days are hosted at schools, organizations and locations across Canada. Learners build projects together on the same annual theme, which creates a powerful movement to close the gender gap in tech.
Demo Day is an opportunity for you to plan a really exciting event – virtually or in-person – that truly spotlights all the hard work of your learners! It can be competitive or more focused on having fun! Demo Day is a chance for students to showcase their projects, share their ideas with their community, and receive feedback from educators, families, and/or industry professionals.
We will provide a suggested schedule and materials, including awards and certificates, but the event can take on whatever format makes the most sense and feels the most celebratory for your community!
Put up our posters, order pizza, dress in purple, post on social media, and make the day a big splash! We’ll share more tips and tricks throughout the school year.
What is the annual theme for this year’s Innovation Lab?
This year's theme is 'Reimagine a Greener Tomorrow'.
The annual theme gives every Innovation Lab a shared challenge and point of inspiration. It invites learners to explore how technology can be used to address environmental challenges and imagine a more sustainable future.
The theme is broad enough for each Lab to make it their own and explore what feel relevant to their communities.