Impact Stories from Entrepreneurship Policy Area
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/0122-Ayesha-150x150.png)
Fellow delivers keynote speech at youth conference
Fellow(s): Ayesha Hammad Zaman
Country: Pakistan
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Fellow delivers keynote speech at youth conference
Fellow Ayesha Hammad Zaman (Pakistan, 2022) recently appeared as a keynote speaker at the Pakistan National Youth (PNY) Conference, which took place on January 13 in Lahore. The PNY Conference serves as a platform to encourage innovation, creativity and future-oriented career development for youths through job fairs, live podcasts, emerging technologies, workshops and other related activities.
“As a visionary leader, she illuminated the ever-evolving landscape of technology, offering invaluable perspectives on maximizing performance in the dynamic tech field of the future,” PNY Conference published in a recent post.
Ayesha is a pioneer in the tech skills-building sector. She is the founder of SkillsTodo, a tech training and placement platform, and co-founder of Pakistan Tech Forum, which works to amplify Pakistan’s IT exports.
Report Date...: 01/22/2024
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/0115-Aderonke-2-150x150.png)
Fellow(s): Aderonke Sakpere, Shlomit Shyeter and Corinthe Bailey
Country: Nigeria
Cohort: 2023
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Fellow launches 10-day HCI workshop with sponsorship from Google Research and support from mentors
Fellow Aderonke Sakpere (Nigeria, 2023) has co-launched a two-week capacity building workshop in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) with sponsorship from Google Research and support from mentors Shlomit Shyeter and Corinthe Bailey.
Addressing the issue of HCI underrepresentation in Nigeria, this initiative was borne out of Aderonke’s professional mentorship project from her TechWomen 2023 program. The mentorship-driven workshop will take part in two 5-day phases, the first of which will offer participants a comprehensive overview of HCI while also leading them through the initial stages of design thinking and prototyping for a capstone project. The second 5-day phase will allow participants to fully develop their projects, providing access to and practice with large language models, qualitative and quantitative analysis, artificial intelligence platforms and much more. At the close, participants will present their capstone projects and learn about graduate school admissions.
AfriCHI Community and Afrisnet, where Aderonke serves as a member of the board of directors, served as partners of the workshop. Google’s Explore CSR awards aid higher education efforts to support students from historically marginalized groups to pursue graduate studies and research careers in computing.
Read More »
Report Date...: 01/15/2024
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/0115-Team-Kazakhstan-Pitch-Day-150x150.jpg)
Fellow(s): Aiymzhan Baitureyeva, Kyzzhibek Ryszhanova, Uldanay Moldagaliyeva and Zhibek Akasheva
Country: Kazakhstan
Cohort: 2023
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development
Team Kazakhstan profiled in article on seed-grant victory
Team Kazakhstan 2023, composed of Aiymzhan Baitureyeva, Kyzzhibek Ryszhanova, Uldanay Moldagaliyeva and Zhibek Akasheva, was profiled in DigitalBusiness.kz for their recent $3,000 seed grant win, which will be used to develop Irrigate Smart, a mobile AI application to assist farmers and the state in efficiently and fairly allocating water resources to agriculturalists across the country.
In addition to highlighting the TechWomen program, the article delves into their efforts gaining community and government buy-in, and how they plan to utilize their diverse career skills and expertise towards business development, AI implementation, scientific documentation, information systems development and data protection.
“As soon as we succeed at home, the project can be scaled,” Uldanay explained. “There are water problems not only in Kazakhstan. Almost every country in the world has the same questions.”
Report Date...: 01/15/2024
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/0115-Team-Lebanon-Pitch-Day-150x150.png)
SP ‘22 Team Lebanon brings light to Lebanon with TAQA
Fellow(s): Dana Abdel Khalek, Diala Al Samarani, Ghiwa Haddad, Miriana Itani, Saria Cheaib and Zeina Farah
Country: Lebanon
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development
Spring ‘22 Team Lebanon is bringing light to Lebanon with TAQA
Fellows Dana Abdel Khalek, Diala Al Samarani, Ghiwa Haddad, Miriana Itani, Saria Cheaib and Zeina Farah of Team Lebanon Spring 2022 have officially launched the first application cycle for TAQA, their seed grant-funded impact initiative that is working to provide renewable energy solution to family-owned businesses impacted by 2020 Port of Beirut explosion.
Benefactors of TAQA, funded by angel investors on a greatest-needs basis, will gain access to renewable energy from sources such as wind turbines and solar panels. This will allow them to continue running their businesses throughout the ongoing recovery of the national economy and power grid, which were devastated by the catastrophe that caused over 200 deaths, 7,000 injuries, 300,000 cases of homelessness and 15 billion dollars in property damage.
Report Date...: 01/15/2024
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/0108-Nesrine-1-150x150.png)
Fellow leads Youths Without Borders entrepreneur camp
Fellow(s): Nesrine Ben Yahia
Country: Tunisia
Cohort: 2023
Policy Area(s): Entrepreneurship, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Fellow leads Youths Without Borders entrepreneur camp
Inspired by her TechWomen experience, fellow Nesrine Ben Yahia (Tunisia, 2023) recently spearheaded, ‘Entrepreneurial Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities & Challenges,’ a two-day training session and entrepreneurship competition in collaboration with Jeunes Sans Frontières (JSF, Youths Without Borders) of Matouia.
Nesrine served as a mentor, introducing the basics of artificial intelligence and its potential uses to boost entrepreneurship. She then provided design thinking and pitch coaching to prepare the youths for the entrepreneurship competition, which took place before a jury of judges. The training concluded with awards and certificates of participation.
“TechWomen helped me build skills that have made me stronger and more community-minded,” shares Nesrine, a professor of computer science at the National School of Information Sciences (ENSI). She also serves as the head of the Information and Decision Systems department and a senior research at the RIADI Laboratory.
Read More »
Report Date...: 01/08/2024
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/0108-Ainura-1-150x150.png)
Fellow featured in Logitech’s #WomenWhoMaster series
Fellow(s): Ainura Sagyn
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Cohort: 2017
Policy Area(s): Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development
Fellow featured in Logitech’s #WomenWhoMaster series
Fellow Ainura Sagyn (Kyrgyzstan, 2017) was recently featured in an article, “Revolutionizing Recycling: Meet Two Women Breaking Barriers in Science and Sustainability,” as part of Logitech MX’s #WomenWhoMaster series. In the profile, Ainura describes her nearly tech-free childhood in a small town, her early career as a developer, the catapulting effect of her TechWomen experience, the establishment of “Coding Caravan” for Kyrgyz girls, and how she ultimately co-founded Tazar, a waste management mobile application with worldwide potential.
“Solving problems in a creative way is really the top skill,” Ainura offers as advice for young entrepreneurs. “It’s better not to focus on the technologies, frameworks, or different instruments. Instead, get the skills for creative solutions.”
Report Date...: 01/08/2024
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/0101-Elnura-and-WSpark-fellows-150x150.png)
speakers and moderators for Wspark Women in Tech forum with USAID
Fellow(s): Elnura Kassymov, Aknur Karabay, Asem Tazhieva, Ayimzhan Baytureeva, Azhar Mambetova, Elena Chigibaeva, Ksenia Tsyganova, Munira Begmuratova,Natalya Klimenko
Country: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan
Cohort: 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Central Asian fellows collaborate as leaders, speakers and moderators for Wspark Women in Tech forum with USAID
Fellow Elnura Kassymova (Kazakhstan, 2016), founder and CEO of Wspark Women in Tech, enlisted a multitude of fellows to collaborate as talent in a recent forum for Central Asian women in IT.
Fellows Aknur Karabay (Kazakhstan, 2022), Asem Tazhieva (Kazakhstan, 2019), Ayimzhan Baytureeva (Kazakhstan, 2023), Azhar Mambetova (Kyrgyzstan, 2019), Elena Chigibaeva (Kyrgyzstan, 2018), Ksenia Tsyganova (Kyrgyzstan, 2022), Munira Begmuratova (Uzbekistan, 2016) and Natalya Klimenko (Uzbekistan, 2018), served as speakers and moderators for the Wspark Women in Tech Forum, which took place on December 13. 2023 with support from the USAID Entrepreneurship and Business Environment Development Project event.
The successful completion of the forum advances WSpark’s educational programming mission to promote regional gender parity and expand the economic rights of women in the Information and Computer Technology (ICT) sector. It provided a platform for leaders to share inspiring success stories, offer expert career advice, promote useful learning programs and network with potential mentors, mentees and partners. In total, over 35 panelists, speakers, moderators and trainers took part in the event, which included an opening greeting from Michelle Yerkin, U.S. Consul General in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Read More »Report Date...: 1/1/2024
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/0101-Team-Sierra-Leone-1-150x150.png)
Team Sierra Leone launches Wata Na Life impact project
Fellow(s): Faatu Kanneh, Makalay Sesay, Mary Lusenie, Monica Sellu, Titoh Sallay Sheriff
Country: Sierra Leone
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Public Health
Team Sierra Leone launches Wata Na Life impact project
Fellows Faatu Kanneh, Makalay Sesay, Mary Lusenie, Monica Sellu and Titoh Sallay Sheriff (Sierra Leone, 2022) recently implemented the first phase of their seed grant-winning impact project, Wata Na Life, which was established to advance access to clean, safe and sustainable water and provide water treatment solutions to prevent illness.
Launched in Grafton, Sierra Leone, the inaugural event featured the team handing off their recently installed clean water tank to the local community stakeholders.
The project was made possible with the funding of a $3,000 USD seed grant from TechWomen along with support garnered from the Milla Group and Guma Valley Water Company. A highlight included a visit from impact coach Barham Zuhdi, who attended the groundbreaking event.
Read More »
Report Date...: 1/1/2024
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/0101-Ameni-150x150.png)
Fellow wins Best Young Manager Award 2023 from CJD
Fellow(s): Amani Mansouri
Country: Tunisia
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Fellow wins Best Young Manager Award 2023 from CJD
Fellow Amani Mansouri (Tunisia, 2018), CEO of the startup Dabchy, recently won the Best Young Manager Award 2023 at the Center for Young Managers (CJD) Business Awards ceremony. The event was hosted by CJD Tunisia, in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, to spotlight entrepreneurs, managers and young leaders across various sectors who have demonstrated leadership, innovation and creativity in business development.
Dabchy is a user-to-user online fashion sales platform that merges community with social networks to empower its members, known as “Dabchouchas,” to utilize multimedia and interaction to buy, sell, and exchange new and bespoke garments and accessories online.
Read More »Report Date...: 1/1/2024
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1225-Yollanda-150x150.png)
Fellow leads 3rd place win at UbuntuNet hackathon
Fellow(s): Yollanda Washaya
Country: Zimbabwe
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Fellow leads 3rd place win at UbuntuNet hackathon
“We came, we CODED, we conquered,” shared fellow Yollanda Washaya (Zimbabwe, 2022) in a recent post celebrating the victory of Team Kusha from Africa University in Zimbabwe, who won third place out of 300 applicants continent-wide at the first-ever UbuntuNet Alliance Women Hackathon this fall. Held in advance of the UbuntuNet-Connect 2023 Conference in Uganda, the initiative was created to champion gender equality in STEM fields.
Yollanda serves as the Head of Innovation at Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Her team has recently developed an AI-powered authoring tool called KUSHA “in our quest to make educational articles more palatable,” she wrote in another recent post showcasing the AI’s generative abilities.
Read More »
Report Date...: 12/25/2023