Karachi, Pakistan – In an exciting showcase of innovation and women’s empowerment, The National Incubation Center Karachi (NIC Karachi) recently joined forces with The Asia Foundation to successfully conclude the 4th edition of the BuiltByHer Hackathon. This collaborative event, designed to provide a platform for women in technology and entrepreneurship, culminated in a competitive grand finale that highlighted groundbreaking solutions to pressing societal issues.
The BuiltByHer Hackathon, a 48-hour intensive competition, challenged women-led teams to develop creative solutions across four crucial themes:
- Economic Empowerment for Inclusive Growth
- Reducing Barriers to Access to Justice
- STEM Education for Young Minds
- Climate Change
These themes represent some of the most critical challenges facing society today, and the hackathon aimed to harness the immense potential of women in addressing these issues.
This year’s event drew a staggering 221 team applications, underlining the enthusiasm and dedication of women eager to tackle these pressing challenges. Following rigorous evaluations, 15 standout teams were selected to compete in the grand finale.
After careful consideration, the judging panel announced “Aizaz,” led by Mehtab Parveen, and “HER Sahulat,” led by Sheeza Zahid, as the winners of the 4th BuiltByHer Hackathon. These remarkable teams will collectively receive a prize fund of Rs. 1,400,000 to further develop and scale their innovative solutions.
The winning projects exemplify innovation with a profound social impact. “Aizaz Clothing,” a pioneering fashion-tech company, introduced an Inventory Management System that drastically improves customer service. Orders are now delivered within just 3 hours, and an integrated installment payment feature offers customers greater financial flexibility.
On the other hand, “HER Sahulat” is a pioneering tech-enabled platform dedicated to empowering women both economically and socially. Through innovative Video Bootcamps, this platform equips women with real-world skills, enhancing their competitiveness in the ever-evolving job market. Beyond training, “HER Sahulat” guarantees employment opportunities, providing a concrete path to financial independence and contributing to gender equality.
Farva Minhas, Project Coordinator at The Asia Foundation, expressed her enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “BuiltByHer 4.0 is another successful partnership between NIC Karachi and The Asia Foundation. Through this collaboration, we have empowered young women across the nation, fostering innovative solutions to critical challenges.”
In addition to the hackathon, NIC Karachi and The Asia Foundation collaborated on the ‘Impact Collective,’ an initiative promoting research-based dialogues among academia and policymakers to enhance climate resilience in Pakistan.
Faizan Laghari, Project Director of NIC Karachi, emphasized the impact of these initiatives, saying, “The BuiltByHer series exemplifies our commitment to empowering women in Pakistan. By addressing pressing issues through technology and entrepreneurship, we not only create innovative solutions but also empower a new generation of female entrepreneurs and leaders who will drive positive change in our society.”
The BuiltByHer initiative was launched in 2020 with the goal of identifying STEM-based solutions that empower women in Pakistan. Over the years, it has established a network of female mentors, coaches, and innovators, contributing to increased gender parity in the Pakistani educational and tech ecosystem.
The successful conclusion of the 4th BuiltByHer Hackathon underscores the power of collaboration, innovation, and women’s empowerment in addressing pressing societal challenges. It also aligns with NIC Karachi’s mission to foster entrepreneurship, technology, and inclusive growth in Pakistan.
