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ALKESH SHARMA / Emirates Business
Women active in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), from across the MENA region, are all set to kick-start their start-up dreams in Dubai on Friday. These exceptionally talented women will converge in Dubai to take part in two-day event all-women Smart City Hackathon 2016.
Themed ‘Smart Cities for Women’, this hackathon aims to bring together women tech-entrepreneurs and innovators from across the MENA region, to hack in 48 hours in an exciting race. Nearly 80 females have registered for this competition and they are participating in form of different groups.
“Through this hackathon, we are looking to gather like-minded professionals and young women from STEM fields who are coding prodigies and tech enthusiasts. By investing in this hackathon, we mainly aim to provide a platform to encourage more women to not only opt for STEM careers but to also continue to do what they love,†said Meera Kaul, Chairperson at The Meera Kaul Foundation, organiser of this event.
“We are really excited that this year’s theme of ‘Smart Cities for Women’ will see fantastic ideas and solutions being generated,†pointed
out Kaul.
This competition challenges teams to use technology and innovation to design mobile applications for smart cities. These applications allow women to empower women and create smart opportunities for both women and men. Registrations for the hackathon were open for individuals and teams. On-site team formation is also encouraged to allow participants to meet new people and collaborate with those who may have different skills sets.
“Winners will receive incubation support as well as mentorship opportunities facilitated by The Meera Kaul Foundation, along with other exciting prizes,†said Kaul.
This is the second edition of this much-awaited hackathon that will be held at Astro Labs Dubai. It has seen an outstanding success in its pioneer event last year. This two-day mega event is expecting to witness the congregation of exceptionally talented women.
The event boasts established corporate names and networking partners including Microsoft, Dubai Business Women’s Council, Arab Women in Computing (Arabwic), Emirates Digital Association of Women, Jacky’s, NYUAD (New York University of Abu Dhabi), AUD, Middlesex, Herriot Watt and Astrolabs among others.