Larabelles began with a feeling many developers know well: craving connection and community, but not knowing where to look.
When Zuzana Kunckova first started developing with Laravel, this was exactly her experience. The Laravel Community was wonderful and welcoming, but there was no dedicated space for people like her: non-male developers navigating an industry where they remained the minority.
As she searched, it became clear that this kind of community didn’t yet exist in the Laravel space specifically. In July 2018, she tweeted about the idea. By July of 2020, Larabelles went live as an officially registered non-profit with one clear purpose: to create space for developers underrepresented in PHP and Laravel due to their gender.
From One Tweet to a Global Laravel Community
Zuzana wasn't trying to build something big at first. Her goal was connection and a place where mentorship and encouragement could exist naturally. Somewhere career paths felt possible because someone like you had walked them first.
What began as a way to make friends quickly became something more: a directory, a network, and a visible reminder that non-male developers are here, building, contributing, and thriving.
Today, Larabelles has hundreds of members spread around the world, dedicated to increasing representation, accessibility, and opportunity for underrepresented developers in tech.
Opening Doors with the Laracon Scholarship Program
In 2023, Larabelles launched its first scholarship program for Laracon EU. Since then, the Community has helped dozens attend conferences by providing tickets, travel support, and accommodation. This is the kind of access that can change the trajectory of a career.
“Larabelles isn't just providing conference tickets,” says Ana Lisboa, a scholarship recipient. “They are creating representation, fostering belonging, and ensuring that voices like mine are heard in the Laravel space.”
For Leah Thompson, now DevRel at Laravel and a Laracon US 2024 scholarship recipient, the experience was transformative. “It can feel like you’re alone when you’re brand new to a Community… but that just didn’t happen here,” she says. The connections she made at that conference led directly to her role at Laravel, proof that access creates opportunity.
Harry Fakir attended her first Laracon in Denver last year. “There’s an instant connection with other Larabelles members, like finding your people in a crowded room.” That confidence and community helped turn an overwhelming first conference into a place where she truly belonged.
Conferences matter because they're where networks form, confidence grows, and isolated developers realize they're not alone. For many Larabelles, it's the first time they've been in a room with other non-male developers doing the same work.
Applications for Laracon EU 2026 scholarships are open now! Apply here.
Larabelles members at Laracon EU 2023 in Lisbon
Built for Everyone by Everyone
Tech shapes the world, and if products are meant for everyone, they need to be built by everyone.
While jobs in tech often offer flexibility and opportunity, the industry isn't always easy to navigate. This is especially true for women, who remain underrepresented and underpaid across the industry. Larabelles exists to help change that reality by increasing visibility, supporting careers through mentorship and opportunity, and creating space to ask questions, share ideas, and grow together.
Larabelles at Laracon US 2025
When developers see others like themselves succeeding, the path forward becomes more attainable. Larabelles fosters a mindset of "she did it, so I can too," proof that representation is more practical than symbolic.
2026 Goals for the Larabelles Community
Larabelles continues to grow, offering scholarship tickets to each major Laravel event this year, launching a podcast featuring member stories, and creating more opportunities for learning and collaboration. The goal remains the same: make PHP and Laravel a better place for everyone.
Larabelles community gathering at Laracon AU 2025
Join and Support Larabelles
If you're a non-male Laravel developer, you're already a Larabelle! Join the Discord, follow on X, LinkedIn, and for increased visibility, submit your profile to the public directory.
If you're an ally, you can help through sponsorship, speaking up for Larabelles’ representation, amplifying their work, or simply ensuring the developers on your team know this Community exists.
Want to learn more? Watch Leah Thompson, DevRel at Laravel, and Zuzana Kunckova discuss the history, challenges, and future of Larabelles on YouTube.
Larabelles started because Community matters. Today, it's proof that when developers support each other, entire ecosystems shift.
Learn more and connect at larabelles.com.