Mahroosh Umer and Maryam Farhan of Team Futuristan from Pakistan won the International Women’s Day Global Techathon 2025 (IWD2025). Their project tackled the challenges faced by women undergoing menopause, offering a solution focused on providing better guidance and emotional support to improve their quality of life.
Global Participation and Event Scale
The IWD2025 Global Techathon gathered nearly 2,000 participants from over 150 locations across the UK, Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East. Notably, girls made up 55% of the participants, signaling a positive shift in female engagement within AI, Data Science, and Design Thinking. Through this hands-on event, participants explored how emerging technologies intersect with various industries.
Organization and Mentorship
Sage Foundation and Red Hat organized the event under the Teens in AI initiative. They launched the program in February 2025 and concluded it with a Global Demo Day on April 24. Throughout the Techathon, teens aged 12 to 18 collaborated to develop AI-based solutions for real-world problems.
Under the mentorship of Noorulain Zafer, CEO and Founder of Mind Works International, Team Futuristan refined their project and reached the finals, ultimately securing Pakistan’s first win at this level.
Expanded Access and Global Reach
For the first time, participants accessed core skills workshops in AI Ethics, Design Thinking, and Pitching, offered in English, French, German, and Spanish. Moreover, organizers delivered the techathons in 24 languages across 41 countries, significantly expanding access to technical education for young innovators around the world.
