STEM Hackathon with National Incubation Center in Pakistan

In partnership with the National Incubation Center in Karachi, The Asia Foundation held a 48-hour online hackathon challenge October 23-25, 2020 to support talented young women working in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

The online challenge encouraged young women programmers, entrepreneurs, and students across Pakistan to develop digital solutions and technologies to reduce or mitigate the impact of Covid-19. Responding to the most urgent health, social and financial problems caused by Covid-19, participants came up with creative and innovative digital solutions—through web and mobile-based apps—on themes such as women’s empowerment, expanding economic opportunities, technology and development, education, strengthening governance, and increasing environmental resilience. Team Barricade created an attendance management system that aimed to maximize class participation while Team Elletech pitched their product called ElleApp, designed to train and assist female entrepreneurs.

Young professionals and students from the fields of medicine, social development, arts, science and technology took part in the countrywide competition. The Foundation awarded a seed grant to the finalists to start working on their ideas in coordination with selected mentors.