She Loves Tech 2021, a women-centric global technology startup acceleration competition, is returning to Pakistan for the fifth time, thanks to women-led startup CIRCLE.
CIRCLE will organise She Loves Tech Pakistan in 13 cities throughout Pakistan this year, including Gilgit Baltistan, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Multan, and Faisalabad, while collaborating with NGOs, academic organisations, incubators, and ecosystem partners.
Because of the ongoing pandemic, CIRCLE hosted the tournament virtually in 2020 and had the opportunity to expand it to ten cities. The competition was well-received, with over 250 applications received, demonstrating that women desire to be a part of the technological sector.
She Loves Tech 2021, a global women-centric technology startup acceleration challenge, is returning to Pakistan for the fifth time, organised by women-led startup CIRCLE.
This year, CIRCLE will hold She Loves Tech Pakistan in 13 cities across the nation, including Gilgit Baltistan, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Multan, and Faisalabad, in collaboration with NGOs, academic institutes, incubators, and ecosystem partners.
Because of the ongoing pandemic, CIRCLE was able to extend the competition to ten cities in 2020. More than 250 applications were received in response to the competition, demonstrating that women desire to be involved in the technology sector.
A look closer at She Loves Tech 2021
Hira Irshad of APRUS Technology won the Pakistan She Loves Tech National competition in 2020, earning her the opportunity to represent Pakistan at the Global finals, where she will fight against 30 highly competitive startups from around the world.
“The platform allowed me to have a bird’s eye view of what was going on in the global entrepreneurial ecosystem,” she said.
“The mentors, judges, and founders make up an unequalled set of thought leaders from which one may truly learn,” she concluded.
Hira was able to engage with women entrepreneurs from all over the world as part of the competition, which provided her a better understanding of how to expand her business.
She Loves Tech 2021 will take place in more than 40 cities throughout the world, including China, Germany, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
CIRCLE is enlisting the help of major incubators and partners to run the competition’s local rounds.
In September, 60 startups from the local rounds will pitch, with the best 10 competing in the Pakistan final in October.
Prior to the final, industry experts will present fascinating workshops, and top mentors will be allocated to the finalists, who will be able to have office hours with the mentors on issues such as marketing, business planning, and fundraising.
Lastly, along with business contacts and exposure, the winning startup will receive a cash prize of $50,000.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must be early-stage entrepreneurs with a viable product that has progressed beyond the concept stage.
Male entrepreneurs can also apply if their technology firm has a beneficial impact on women or if the founding team includes at least one woman entrepreneur. Answering the following questions can help a startup determine its eligibility:
- Are a significant proportion of end-users or consumer’s female?
- Are products specifically designed with women users in mind?
- Does the product itself address a problem that disproportionately affects women?
