San Mateo Company Founder Advocates For Girls In Tech On Capitol Hill

SAN MATEO, CA — Anne Shoemaker, who taught herself 3D modeling at the age of 13, is now the founder of Fullflower Studio. Her San Mateo-based, Roblox-focused game company is committed to developing games that empower women and girls to establish themselves in the male-dominated gaming industry.

Recently in Washington, D.C., Shoemaker met with congressional leaders to discuss the creator economy and diversity within the tech industry.

Shoemaker spoke to members of congress about game design specifically and how to build experiences for women and to encourage more girls to code.

“My message was that access is the biggest driver of diversity,” Shoemaker told Patch. “The reason I can compete as a small business owner is that the barrier to entry here is low. I didn't need a huge studio background or capital to start.”

She told congressional leaders that policy changes create layers of expensive red tape or technical restrictions and that the first people pushed out aren't the big companies, but independent creators and women just getting their start.

“We need rules that keep the platform safe without accidentally closing the door on the very people we're trying to bring into the industry,” Shoemaker told Patch.

Shoemaker told Patch she has found girl's ideas and solutions get overlooked more than their male counterparts.

“Girls haven't been taken as seriously when it comes to writing code or making design decisions. In video games, especially in competitive ones,” she told Patch. “For some reason there is a big toxic culture when it comes to girls playing those games as well.”

Shoemaker told Patch that she sees girls picked on and harassed to the point that sometimes they won't even try to play.

“Those are challenges I am hoping that I can tackle through the games I make, as well as the culture I have in my video game studio,” she told Patch.

Shoemaker told Patch that she would tell any girl interested in 3D Modeling that they should see themselves as incredibly strong and powerful individuals.

“Your ideas matter. They bring a fresh perspective to the gaming industry and we sure do need more of that. I am so excited to see the next wave of women in game development, because I know you all are gonna do some incredible work,” she told Patch.