Google Inc. Invests In Cracking the Girl Code

In "Made With Code," Google is investing to help girls learn to write software. Credit: Google

Google Inc. (GOOGL 1.87%) (GOOG 1.85%) is investing $50 million in 'Made With Code,' a program that purports to teach young girls about the code behind their favorite apps, games, movies, and the like in hopes that they'll grow up with an interest in developing software of their own. Should investors applaud the commitment?

Guest host Alison Southwick puts this question to Fool analysts Nathan Alderman and Tim Beyers in this  episode of 1-Up On Wall Street, The Motley Fool's web show in which we talk about the big-money names behind your favorite movies, toys, video games, comics, and more.

Tim says the effort could do wonders to break the unfair stereotype that geeky fields as such as software development are a boys club. Meanwhile, it's worth pointing out that there are serious women technologists already leading the industry in new directions, including Padmasree Warrior, Meg Whitman, and Marissa Mayer.

Google wants the next generation to see code as a new form of literacy that's also enabling a growing amount of commerce around the world. Apps accounted for $25 billion in sales last year while TechNet says that the code-driven "app economy" economy created an estimated 466,000 jobs between 2007 and 2012. Continued investment software for the cloud, smartphones, and tablets is sure to spur further demand. Helping smart women cash in on the trend is good for business.

Nathan adds that good programs like this one can only go so far. Companies also need to reduce the roadblocks to achieving success. As an investor, it's probably smart to pay attention to those businesses that make a deliberate effort to hire and promote smart women in key technical roles.

Now it's your turn to weigh in. Click the video to watch as Alison puts Nathan and Tim on the spot, and then leave a comment below tell us what you think of Made With Code and Google stock at current prices. You can also follow us on Twitter for more segments and regular geek news updates!