This past week marked a pivotal moment in the TechWomen journey as Emerging Leaders in both Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area took the final steps in debuting their impact projects. From refining their ideas through Impact Speed Networking to presenting them at the highly anticipated Pitch Day events on Monday, October 7 to marking the successful completion of their city-wide programs at our Community Celebrations, the week was filled with excitement, innovation, and incredible displays of leadership. As we approach the final leg of the program, with all participants uniting in Washington, D.C., the energy is at an all-time high.
The week began with the second round of Impact Speed Networking, where Emerging Leaders connected virtually with Impact Coaches to fine-tune their project pitches. With their second project deliverables submitted and the final stages underway, the feedback from mentors was invaluable in shaping these impactful solutions. Coaches offered targeted advice and encouragement, helping participants sharpen their vision as they prepared for Pitch Day. The session was marked by collaboration, insights, and a palpable sense of readiness for the challenge ahead.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, Pitch Day was held at Amazon Web Services (AWS) in East Palo Alto, where Emerging Leaders from Algeria, Cameroon, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan took the stage. Tackling critical community issues such as malnutrition, women’s health, and mental wellness, participants presented savvy solutions utilizing IoT, mobile applications, web-based platforms, and other tech tools. Theresa Zhang, CEO of Treasure of the East, returned for another year to facilitate the event as our knowledgeable emcee, while Tara Chklovski, CEO of Technovation, delivered a keynote that inspired the room with her insights on impact and innovation.
The judging panel in the Bay Area featured distinguished professionals from the tech industry, including Beth Steinberg, Founder of Mensch Ventures and TechWomen Mentor, Helen Gwosden, Executive Director of People and Business Partner at Synopsys, and Priya Koratkar, Senior District Manager at Amazon Web Services Startups. Their expertise guided the Emerging Leaders through this critical stage, offering feedback that would help shape their final projects. The community expressed its appreciation to AWS for hosting the event, with heartfelt thanks to Mentors Tina Shakour, Abeetha Bala, and Eva DeBella, as well as Tessa Hershman, for making the event possible.
Meanwhile in Chicago, Pitch Day took place at 1871 Independent Innovation Hub, where Emerging Leaders from Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe presented tech-driven solutions to some of their communities’ most pressing issues, including clean water access, substance addiction, and sustainable waste management.
The event highlighted the creativity and hard work of these leaders as they showcased solutions incorporating green technology, AI, gamification, circular economies, and more. The community extends its gratitude to Kelly Martina Fernandez, Associate Director of TedX Chicago, who served as the event’s dynamic emcee, and Stephanie Miller, Chief Experience Officer at 1871, who delivered a rousing keynote address.
The pitch presentations were evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges, including Cecilia Fischer-Benitez, Director of Startup Programs at 1871, Nisaini R., Community Engagement Lead at Microsoft, and Alexandria Anderson, Brand Manager at The Kraft Heinz Company. Their insights and feedback helped guide the Emerging Leaders as they showcased their skills and competed for one of seven $3,000 seed grants. Special thanks were also given to the team at 1871 for their outstanding support, with notable efforts from Daniela Rosales and the AV team who ensured a seamless event.
The week culminated in the Community Celebrations, where we honored the successful completion of the city-wide programs, showcased all of the impact projects, and announced the winners of the $3,000 seed grants. These gatherings took place at Juniper Aspiration Dome in San Francisco’s South Bay, and the AllSteel Experience Center in Chicago, bringing together Emerging Leaders, mentors, and supporters for an unforgettable evening of celebration, connection, and recognition. The community honored the hard work and dedication of all involved, reflecting on the incredible impact these women are making across the globe.
In Chicago, Team Sierra Leone secured a seed grant with their project to reduce maternal and infant deaths at Princess Christian Maternity Hospital by installing an on-site water purification tower in collaboration with community stakeholders. Team Morocco was also awarded a grant for their initiative to support saffron farmers in Taliouine with sustainable irrigation systems and water management tools, empowering farmers to increase crop yield and reduce dependency on middlemen.
The seed grant winners from the Bay Area Pitch Day included Team Algeria, whose solution focuses on improving road safety by equipping camels in the Sahara Desert with reflective collars to prevent devastating collisions. Team Kenya earned a grant for their platform MentorMatch, an automated system which will connect unemployed STEM graduates with mentors. Team Nigeria was awarded for their malnutrition-combatting Farm Boxx initiative, designed to empower unemployed women to grow foods using plant pots and sacks. Team Pakistan secured funding for DHAANI, an AI-powered platform that helps rural female artisans monetize their crafts through digital marketing and direct sales. The final grant recipients were Team Uzbekistan with Bolajonim project, offering early autism detection tools via Telegram to support parents with developmental resources.
These seed grants were funded by the U.S. Department of State as well as program partners Amazon Web Service, Synopsys, and the Linda J. Vester TechWomen Fund, which sponsored two grants.
As we look ahead to our upcoming trip to Washington, D.C., excitement is building for the finale of the program. For the first time, Emerging Leaders from both host cities will come together as one, and learn how their work connects to diplomacy and policy on a global scale. With a full agenda planned, including high-level meetings, explorations of the intersection between STEM and international relations, opportunities to reflect and look forward, the week promises to be a fitting finale to this transformative experience.
Stay tuned for more updates as we close out this remarkable journey in the nation’s capital!
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