Web Development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Next, Vercel, etc.), Python, Swift, PCB Design, 3D Printing, Robotics, Graphic Design (Figma, Adobe Illustrator), Machine Learning & AI, GitHub/project management, CAD, ESP 32, EEG Signal Processing, AI Safety Research, Raspberry Pi and Pico, Spark AR
About Me
I'm Nila Palmo Ram, a passionate technologist dedicated to bridging the gender gap in the tech industry. With the support of the prestigious UWC Scholarship, I completed my International Baccalaureate at Mahindra UWC, where I led projects combining technology and sustainability, including building a weather station to assist local farmers.
Driven to create impact, I co-founded a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) startup, Monolith, and secured funding to make this cutting-edge technology more accessible. I'm also the founder of Girls in Tech, a global online community of over 1,300 members, where I provide mentorship and foster collaboration among aspiring women in technology.
At Hack Club, I mentored 82 girls through tech initiatives, securing major donations to enhance opportunities for young women in the field. My mission is to inspire the next generation of women in tech, creating an inclusive, innovative future for all.
Projects
Girl Getter Slack Bot
Developed a Slack bot that streamlined access to coding resources for girls in Hack Club's community of 28,000 teenagers, improving engagement and learning efficiency.
Basket Buddy
Created a simple game to make shopping groceries with your roommates easier: adding shopping lists, splitting the bill, etc
Resume
SKILLS
AWARDS
Awarded the prestigious United World College Scholarship for High School Studies at Mahindra UWC (September 2021 to May 2023), emphasizing academic excellence and global citizenship.
EDUCATION
Mahindra United World College India (MUWCI), Pune, India Higher Secondary (2021-2023)
Completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme with a focus in Computer Science, Physics and Philosophy. UWC Mahindra's 25th-anniversary School Committee: coordinated events, led outdoor education, conducted alumni interviews, and wrote community emails. Recruited by Indian National Committee to represent MUWCI and inspire rural students in Tamil Nadu to apply. Directed climate change and detective story plays; designed costumes and sets. MC for UWC 2022 Graduation, live-streamed on YouTube.
High School The Blue Mountains School, Ooty, India High School (2017-2021)
Wrote Blood Pact (published in Felony, 2018). Editorial Board of The Blueprint: wrote, edited articles, designed covers. 6 years of Piano: performed Minuet in G and Turkish March at school events. Bharatnatyam (Classical Dance) performer, trained since age 6. Organized peace and conflict resolution workshops. Led service initiatives: cleaning drives, tree plantations, charity fundraising. Volunteered with iVolunteer: taught English to NGO workers, created Tamil audio learning materials, produced a youth volunteering video.
CURRENT VENTURES & ACTIVITIES
Co-founder of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Startup (November 2023 - Present)
- Founded a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) startup called Monolith and successfully demonstrated our Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to John Abele, co-founder of Boston Scientific. I built two EEG-powered video games, created a dashboard for visualizing EEG data, and used the ESP32 board to power the EEG headset.
- Participated in Y Combinator’s Startup School in Boston, where I met with five Y Combinator investors, including Gary Tan, to discuss strategies for product improvement and gain insights into startup growth.
- Secured $5,000 in grants from the 1517 Thiel Foundation, Atlas Fellowship Fund, Manifund and Hack Club to further develop our company and enhance our mission of making BCI technology accessible.
Founder and Moderator of Girls in Tech Online Community (November 2020 - Present)
- Founded an online community for girls interested in coding on Discord at age 15, growing to over 1,300 global members.
- Created a supportive environment with young girls studying tech and experienced women in the industry, fostering knowledge-sharing and mentorship.
- Facilitated coworking calls where members collaborate on projects, assist each other with coding questions, and prepare for technical interviews.
- Managed a website to share valuable resources, job opportunities, events, and news related to women in technology.
- Gained recognition from the international Girls Who Code movement, which promoted our efforts and further elevated our impact.
- Empowered girls in tech by providing a network of like-minded individuals for growth and success in their careers.
Days of Service Initiative with Hack Club (July 2023 - Present)
- Architected Hack Club's Days of Service initiative to fill gaps in tech programs for girls, enhancing engagement and support.
- Mentored three Girl Scouts on Gold Award projects, fostering leadership skills and community service.
- Supported organizers of all-girls hackathons in Boston and Singapore, engaging over 50 participants in tech activities.
- Facilitated workshops on GitHub and Vercel, providing personalized technical support to over 15 girls, enhancing their coding skills.
- Led efforts to establish sexual harassment policies within Hack Club, strengthening community safety and support systems for young women.
EXPERIENCE (JOB, INTERNSHIPS & VOLUNTEER)
JOB: Hack Club (Burlington, VT) (July 2023 - July 2024) | Engineering Assistant to the COO
- Mentored 82 girls in Hack Club's Days of Service initiative, facilitating 9 events across the U.S. and introducing coding to over 350 participants.
- Organized networking dinners with 120+ women in tech, including Justine Musk, fostering connections and mentorship in the industry.
- Secured $25K donation from SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell, plus funding from Musk and Gates Foundations, enhancing Hack Club initiatives.
- Provided tech support for Hack Club platforms, debugging issues and maintaining the open-source website to ensure smooth operations.
- Soldered 50 PCBs and developed a resource access bot, recruiting 72 new girls to DoS and expanding program reach and engagement.
- Increased female internship applications from 3 to 14 by managing the internship process and enhancing outreach efforts.
- Led events like the world’s first hiking hackathon and taught workshops at MIT's Splash, inspiring creativity and innovation among peers.
- Engaged a community of 28,000 high schoolers, building partnerships with organizations like Girls Who Code to promote tech education.
- Developed an AI clock app, showcasing software development skills and securing acceptance into Buildspace 2023 through practical AI integration.
VOLUNTEER: Hack Club (February 2021 - Present) | Community Volunteer
- Moderated a Zoom AMA with David Heinemeier Hansson; hosted Zach Latta AMA, collaborating on script preparation, 400+ participants.
- Led Hack Club-funded Epoch Hackathon, ensured 25% female participation; initiated a trend of teenage hackathons in India, impacted 150+ students.
- Collaborated with producer Mark Allen to invite Sal Khan, Anand Mahindra, Michael Reeves, Shane Wighton to Hack Club AMAs via cold-email outreach.
- Contributed to a fundraising email to SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell; highlighted girls in Hack Club initiatives, increasing exposure for girls in tech.
- Earned full travel and accommodation stipend to prestigious Assemble Hackathon (SF); declined due to school but recognized for contributions.
INTERNSHIP: Mental Health Action Project (June 2021 - August 2021) | Web Development Summer Intern
- Developed two websites for Mental Health Action Project, contributing to rebranding efforts and enhancing mental health access for teens.
INTERNSHIP: Midroute Technologies (February 2021 - March 2021) | Human Resources Intern
- Managed employee data in Human Resources at Midroute Technologies, enhancing organizational skills and understanding tech-HR integration.
INTERNSHIP: NetFresh ( June 2020 - July 2020) | iOS Development Intern
- Collaborated with the iOS team at NetFresh to design wireframes for an app trading fresh produce in Australia, improving app design skills and UX insight.
SCHOOL PROJECTS
Computers For All, United World College (India) (September 2021 - May 2023)
- Spearheaded a digital literacy initiative for underprivileged girls (ages 12-16) in Paud village, focusing on basic computer skills.
- Empowered participants by bridging the digital divide, enhancing their future educational and career opportunities.
- Established a dedicated computer center to facilitate learning, providing a supportive environment for skill development.
Project Aruni, United World College (India) (September 2021 - May 2023)
- Revived the Aruni Project post-pandemic, training underprivileged women in entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy.
- Enhanced women’s income potential by improving tailoring and handcrafted jewelry-making skills, empowering them to achieve financial independence.
- Empowered participants to combat poverty, enabling them to take charge of their lives through increased economic opportunities.
Weather Station Project, United World College (India) (March 2022)
- Led the development of a Weather Station with UWC Mahindra College, collecting real-time climate data to assist local farmers.
- Secured funding from MUWCI and support from PiJam Foundation to implement the project, enhancing farmers' ability to predict weather patterns.
- Contributed to sustainable agriculture by optimizing crop planning for farmers, empowering them with essential climate insights.
Videos
Hikeathon
I co-led the World's first Hikeathon on Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).
Days of Service
From my girs in tech work at Days of Service.
Days of Service
I Coordinated a Gilrs in Tech event at Seattle for Hack Club
Outernet
A Hack Club event that I coordinated for Hack Club