One of the world’s largest women and tech startup competitions, She Loves Tech, achieved massive success in Pakistan last year. And now in 2019, it is making its return for another round.
Brought back by CIRCLE, a social enterprise focused on women’s economic empowerment and inclusion, She Loves Tech is the perfect opportunity for startups – especially those led by female entrepreneurs- to pitch their innovations and ideas in front of a large audience. Intended to provide female startups with the much-needed boost and confidence, She Loves Tech is also open to any startup with a wide female consumer base and products geared towards positively impacting women.
As a global competition held in over twenty countries, including China, France and Germany, She Loves Tech is a highly anticipated event for budding entrepreneurs to showcase their creations on an international stage and achieve the valuable promotion and visibility to stand out in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Last year, CIRCLE hosted three regional rounds in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad with ten startups shortlisted out of 100+ for the final round at NIC Karachi. There, She Loves Tech Pakistan found its ultimate winner in Saba Khalid of Aurat Raaj, founder of the educational AI chatbot Raaji which answers queries on female matters considered taboo such as menstruation, pregnancy, mental health and consent amongst others. Ms. Khalid represented both her startup and her country at the final She Loves Tech round in Beijing, China in September 2018. Past finalists have included startups such as Trashit, Tez Financial Services and Roshni Rides.
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This year, She Loves Tech will be expanding to two new cities Quetta and Abbottabad besides Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, to create a robust ecosystem in underserved areas which are often overlooked providing women with a platform and networking opportunities, they would normally not find.
As with last year, the three winners at the local final competition will receive cash prizes and the final winner will be flown to Beijing for the Global Finals to compete against 20+ startups from around the globe. In addition, this is an opportunity for the Pakistan winner to attend high-level boot camps, visit leading tech companies (such as Baidu or Xiaomi), interact with international investors and mentors and receive an equity-free cash prize of $15,000 should they win the Global Finals.
Sadaffe Abid, founder of CIRCLE and former CEO & COO of Kashf Foundation, who brought the competition to Pakistan in 2017 said:
We need to create more opportunities for women to come forward, set up businesses, experiment and take risks. For Pakistan’s prosperity, women have a key role to play. I would also like to see more women investing in Pakistani startups.
CIRCLE aims to encourage women’s visibility and inclusion in the economy. She Loves Tech is a unique opportunity to spotlight women innovators.
CIRCLE team will travel by train from Karachi to Lahore and then Islamabad, Abbottabad and Quetta during the month of July, to hold She Loves Tech 2019 regional rounds. The Finals will be held on 3rd August in Karachi.
The applications are open and deadline closes on 15th of June. All startups are encouraged to apply!
For more details:
- Contact: [email protected]
- Website: www.CIRCLEwomen.org
- Twitter: @CIRCLE2020
- FB: Facebook /CIRCLEwomen
