Who We Are

Our mission

We challenge, inspire and teach technology skills to students with potential - empowering refugee and underserved youth to achieve success, garner influence and gain stability in their families and communities.

Our vision

Our vision is to ensure students succeed with opportunity. We’re building a community to empower underserved youth with skills for the future.

Our goals

We support and empower students to foster a life-long interest in STEM.
We help students identify their goals and create actionable steps to achieve those goals.
100% of our students graduate high school with a plan for professional development in place.

Today

We provide engaging, enriching, and challenging curriculum to over 150 students annually. There is a place for every student, regardless of background, in our curriculum.

Our story


Pi515 founder and Executive Director Nancy Mwirotsi has dedicated her life to advocating for underrepresented individuals, including refugees, young women, and people of color. She believes that success comes from opportunity and creates such opportunity.

Pi515 programs increase diversity in STEM careers, closes the digital gap, and strengthens the talent and tech pipelines in Iowa.

Since our establishment in 2014, over 130 Pi515 students have graduated high school and continued on to pursue secondary education in STEM fields.


Our team

Nancy Mwirotsi
Founder & Executive Director

Picture of Samuel Trujillo, a Tech Program Facilitator Intern
Samuel Trujillo
Tech Program Facilitator Intern
Picture of Joel Augirre, a Tech Program Facilitator Intern
Joel Aguirre
Tech Program Facilitator Intern

Our board of advisors

Nicholas Gerhart

President

EVP and Chief Innovation Officer at Homesteaders Life Company

Vinodh Sankaranthi

Vice President

Global Fintech Leader at John Deere Financial

Sarah Young

Treasurer

Corporate Strategy at FinOps

Anika Yadav

Secretary

Student Advisor Waukee High School Student

David Hensley

Executive Director at John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center

Luke Stadtler

Web Developer at ClientCiricle

Megan Manteaw

Delivery Manager at Workiva

Diana Wright

Startup Community Builder at Greater Des Moines Partnership

Nancy Mwirotsi

Founder and Executive Director at Pi515

Awards and recognitions

2023
Iowa Department of Human Rights: The Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans
2022
Women in Business Champion of the Year: Nancy Mwirotsi | Iowa Small Business Administration
2021
Entrepreneurial Support Organization of the Year finalist | Startup Iowa Awards
2020
Nation of Neighbors | Royal Neighbors of America
2019
Iowa Affiliate Educator Award | National Center for Women and Information Technology
2019
Catalyst Award | Technology Association of Iowa
2018
Courage Award Finalist | Inspiring Women of Iowa
2017-2018
Team Member Iowa Computer Science Standards Review
2016
Participant White House Conference on Inclusive STEM Education for Youth of Color
2016
Des Moines Register’s 15 People to Watch
2015
STEM Champion finalist; Diversity Champion finalist; Entrepreneurship Innovation nominee Iowa Women of Innovation