KARACHI: Active women participation in businesses and other activities will spur the much-needed economic growth at a time when the country is going through a stabilisation programme, said former State Bank Governor Shamshad Akhtar while speaking at the final round of CIRCLE “She Loves Tech” competition at the Karachi Arts Council.

It’s an entrepreneurship event that aims to promote women in tech businesses and saw 12 women-run tech startups, who had come through the city rounds, pitch for prize money and the chance to represent at the competition’s global edition. There were female-led businesses from across the country and sectors as diverse as travel and nano technology.

‘DOT – Mind Unlocked’, a startup analysing mental health through a headset which reads brainwave activity and provides diagnosis, came out the winner and won a prize money of Rs150,000 as well as a ticket to China to compete in the competition’s global round.

The first runner up was ‘Pakistan Space and Science Education Centre’, which educates students about science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects by providing a hands-on learning experience, winning Rs75,000. Mean­while, ‘The Mad Hatters’, a platform for adventure seekers, came in third and bagged Rs50,000.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2019