Godrej Capital Opens New Pathways for LGTBQ+ Hiring with ‘Pride in Tech’ Hackathon
Mumbai, 9th February 2026: Godrej Capital, the financial services arm of Godrej Industries Group, organised Pride in Tech, a technology hackathon designed exclusively for the LGBTQ+ community, with the objective of strengthening inclusive campus hiring and building a future-ready technology talent pipeline. The initiative was created to address persistent structural barriers and limited access to equal employment opportunities faced by many queer professionals in the technology sector, particularly at early career stages.
The primary objective of Pride in Tech was to create a safe, merit-driven, and inclusive hiring platform where LGBTQ+ technology talent could be assessed purely on capability and potential. By using a real-world problem-solving format, the hackathon removed traditional hiring biases and enabled fair evaluation at scale. The initiative also reinforced Godrej Capital’s long-term commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and its focus on building an inclusive workforce across functions and levels.
As Godrej Capital continues to scale its digital platforms and accelerate the deployment of AI-led solutions across lending, risk, and customer experience, the organisation recognises that innovation must be built by diverse teams. An inclusive workforce enables bias-free innovation, ensuring that AI systems, products and platforms are designed responsibly, reflect diverse user needs, and remain resilient as they scale.
The response to the hackathon was strong, with over 1,200 applications received from members of the LGBTQ+ community across India. All applicants undertook an online technical assessment conducted in a hackathon format. Over 200 candidates progressed to the next stage of screening, with top performers evaluated on problem-solving ability, coding depth, and applied thinking. Following this, up to four candidates received employment offers with Godrej Capital. Winners of the hackathon were also awarded a cash reward.
The Pride in Tech hackathon was held at Godrej One, Vikhroli. The programme was opened by Jyothirlatha B, Chief Technology Officer, Godrej Capital, and concluded with a closing address by Bhavya Misra, Chief Human Resources Officer, Godrej Capital.
Commenting on the initiative, Jyothirlatha B, Chief Technology Officer, Godrej Capital, said,
“Technology products and platforms are shaped by the people who build them. Creating inclusive entry points into technology roles helps broaden perspectives, reduce blind spots, and improve how solutions are designed and scaled. As we increase our use of AI and advanced technologies, diversity in technology teams becomes critical to building systems that are fair, robust, and future-ready. Pride in Tech reflects our focus on assessing talent through real-world problem-solving rather than background or identity.”
Bhavya Misra, Chief Human Resources Officer, Godrej Capital, added,
“Inclusive hiring requires more than intent; it requires thoughtful design and sustained commitment. Pride in Tech is part of our effort to create hiring environments where talent is evaluated fairly and individuals from the LGBTQ+ community have access to meaningful roles and long-term career growth. An inclusive culture also strengthens innovation outcomes, as diverse teams are better positioned to challenge assumptions and reduce systemic bias in decision-making.”
Pride in Tech is part of Godrej Capital’s broader inclusion framework, which includes initiatives such as Qnity – a dedicated Employee Resource Group, Pride Capital and Pride Path – focused LGBTQ+ hiring drives across functions, Inclusion 3.0 – a training programme to foster inclusive culture, and the BeYou Internship programme. Together, these initiatives support awareness, inclusive hiring, career progression, and allyship across the organisation.
Godrej Capital has also implemented workplace policies to support a safe and inclusive environment, including gender-neutral washrooms across offices, gender affirmation medical support, and equitable access to leadership and career advancement opportunities.
Positioned as a flagship initiative, Pride in Tech is planned as an annual programme. Going forward, Godrej Capital aims to scale participation, deepen industry impact, and continue building a strong, diverse technology talent pipeline.
